FSU 77 Colorado 71 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
A resume building win for the NCAAT, FSU knocks off 18th ranked Colorado in overtime improving to 4-1 while handing the Buffs their first loss of the season. Not only was it Leonard Hamilton's 57th win over a ranked team when his team is unranked, it extended the Seminoles' overtime record to its 14th straight victory in the extra period. A close contest the entire way with back and forth runs, the game featured double digit ties and nearly double digit lead changes.
Coming into the game, several stats favored CU such as the Buffs offense is ranked 19th in the country and is 11th in FG% shooting 53% The FSU defense is 208th. An area where FSU is not exactly the best, Colorado is the second best three point shooting team in Div 1 at nearly 50%. Luckily stats don't win games. An active defense that created 17 steals, FSU held the Buffs to just 35% from the floor. Even better, CU was just 5-20 (25%) from distance. At one point Colorado was just 17% from the arc.
Each team during regulation had their opportunities to win. For Colorado, the Buffs took a 60-57 lead with 2:51 to play. The FSU defense stiffened and the Buffs could not score another point. With the score tied at 60, Julian Hammond had a short jumper from the right baseline with 24 seconds left that was partially blocked. Earlier, Jalen Warley tied the game at 60, but only made one of two from the stripe. FSU still had another chance with 18 seconds on the clock when Jamir Watkins drove the ball in from the right only to get caught under the basket. His pass to the perimeter went OB and the 'Noles were unable to get a shot off.
Overtime belonged to the Seminoles as they jumped out to a nine point lead, 69-60, with just 1:30 remaining. CU made it interesting closing to 75-71 thanks to two turnovers on the inbound play and some ill-advised fouls stopping the clock. But only 14 seconds remained and the 'Noles successfully inbounded the ball with Chandler Jackson smartly getting the ball to their best FT shooter, Darin Green. He finished off Colorado at the line with :09 seconds left, The Buffs could only launch a long three that missed its mark and the Seminoles came away winning the Sunshine Slam Championship.
Hero of the game. Jamir Jalen Watkins Warley. Impossible to pick which one was the hero. Both delivered key contributions throughout the game in particular in OT. Watkins had another double double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 4 assists and 4 steals. Warley had a season high 19 points with 3 assists and 3 steals. Warley got FSU off on the right foot in OT sinking the jumper scoring 5 points the extra period along with dishing out to the right wing to a wide open Darin Green who nailed the three giving FSU the 69-60 advantage. Jalen was Mr. Hustle out there tonight causing a lot of chaos on both ends of the floor. Watkins made two FTs to make it a three possession game, 72-65, and 48 seconds left. He was a wrecking machine in regulation. Watkins was named tournament MVP.
Other notable players. De'Ante Green who logged more minutes than expected (30) and made the most of it scoring 10 by muscling his way to the basket. Darin Green (12 points). Held in check for much of the game, his contested three from the right wing gave FSU a needed boost at the right moment. He added four steals as well, one coming at a key moment in the game coming out of nowhere to pick it off the hands of the CU player.
Iron Man award goes to both Watkins and Darin Green who played 38 and 40 minutes respectively. That is after playing back to back games and three in five days.
Plays of the game. De'Ante with a nice spin move for the layup, 7-6. Watkins following his missed three and the putback layup, 18-12 on a 6-0 FSU run. Watkins with the reverse layup to start the 2nd period. It ignited a 17-5 run finished off by Darin's first basket of the game (a three in transition from the right wing) giving FSU a 44-35 lead. The CU defense fooled into thinking Baba Miller was going to pass back to a trailing Darin Green on the break but instead took it right around the defender for the slam and 64-60 lead in OT. Warley's run out on the inbound play and the wide open layup for a 74-67 lead and just 32 seconds left.
The Bad
Cameron Corhen going down with what Hamilton described as a toe injury in the first half. He remained on the bench the rest of the game. Let's not start another rash of injuries here. De'Ante Green filled in for him nicely though.
While Baba managed to only pick up one more foul, he ended up on the bench after his second foul with more than ten minutes left in the half. He got caught on a switch ending up on Eddie Lampkin where is outweighed by more than 60 pounds. That would be a tough assignment for anyone.
After stretching out to a 47-37 lead, CU rattled off ten straight to tie it at 47.
Josh Nickelberry and the cross court pass at the time line to his teammate. Except that it wasn't his teammate but Luke O'Brien who slammed it in to trail 47-44. O'Brien was just sitting back waiting on that pass and Nickelberry didn't realize that. By the time the ball left Josh's hands, O'Brien was already making the move to intercept the pass.
The FSU defense still struggling with switching notably among the guards. Too often confusion seemed to reign as defenders got mixed up on who was doing what. That was the case when Julian Hammond found himself wide open for the three at the buzzer at the half, 30-27. Virtually the same thing happened in the second period that gave CU that 60-57 lead. Inopportune moment to have that happen. Fortunately it did not cost in the end.
Off night for Cam'Ron Fletcher who was 0-5, 0-4 from the arc.
The Ugly
Warley with some tired legs clangs the dribble drive layup off the front of the rim. Defense failed to get back and J'vonne Hadley on the fast break converted the layup to tie the game at 55.
Rebounding notably on the offensive end. It was bad enough being outrebounded 46-38, but 19-5 on the offensive boards???? Put a body on somebody. Anybody.
Thank goodness the two inbound passes in OT that were fumbled away did not make a difference at the end of the game. Either Baba improves in that area in inbounding the ball in those situations or try someone else.
Up Next
After playing three games in five days, a well deserved week off. The Seminoles do not play again until Nov 29. As part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, FSU will host the 2-3 Georgia Bulldogs. UGA has taken on some tough opponents early on losing to Oregon, Providence, and Miami and winning over Wake Forest. The Bulldogs have only two players in double figures. Tip is at 9:15 and will be aired on the ACCN.
The Good
A resume building win for the NCAAT, FSU knocks off 18th ranked Colorado in overtime improving to 4-1 while handing the Buffs their first loss of the season. Not only was it Leonard Hamilton's 57th win over a ranked team when his team is unranked, it extended the Seminoles' overtime record to its 14th straight victory in the extra period. A close contest the entire way with back and forth runs, the game featured double digit ties and nearly double digit lead changes.
Coming into the game, several stats favored CU such as the Buffs offense is ranked 19th in the country and is 11th in FG% shooting 53% The FSU defense is 208th. An area where FSU is not exactly the best, Colorado is the second best three point shooting team in Div 1 at nearly 50%. Luckily stats don't win games. An active defense that created 17 steals, FSU held the Buffs to just 35% from the floor. Even better, CU was just 5-20 (25%) from distance. At one point Colorado was just 17% from the arc.
Each team during regulation had their opportunities to win. For Colorado, the Buffs took a 60-57 lead with 2:51 to play. The FSU defense stiffened and the Buffs could not score another point. With the score tied at 60, Julian Hammond had a short jumper from the right baseline with 24 seconds left that was partially blocked. Earlier, Jalen Warley tied the game at 60, but only made one of two from the stripe. FSU still had another chance with 18 seconds on the clock when Jamir Watkins drove the ball in from the right only to get caught under the basket. His pass to the perimeter went OB and the 'Noles were unable to get a shot off.
Overtime belonged to the Seminoles as they jumped out to a nine point lead, 69-60, with just 1:30 remaining. CU made it interesting closing to 75-71 thanks to two turnovers on the inbound play and some ill-advised fouls stopping the clock. But only 14 seconds remained and the 'Noles successfully inbounded the ball with Chandler Jackson smartly getting the ball to their best FT shooter, Darin Green. He finished off Colorado at the line with :09 seconds left, The Buffs could only launch a long three that missed its mark and the Seminoles came away winning the Sunshine Slam Championship.
Hero of the game. Jamir Jalen Watkins Warley. Impossible to pick which one was the hero. Both delivered key contributions throughout the game in particular in OT. Watkins had another double double with 18 points and 11 rebounds to go along with 4 assists and 4 steals. Warley had a season high 19 points with 3 assists and 3 steals. Warley got FSU off on the right foot in OT sinking the jumper scoring 5 points the extra period along with dishing out to the right wing to a wide open Darin Green who nailed the three giving FSU the 69-60 advantage. Jalen was Mr. Hustle out there tonight causing a lot of chaos on both ends of the floor. Watkins made two FTs to make it a three possession game, 72-65, and 48 seconds left. He was a wrecking machine in regulation. Watkins was named tournament MVP.
Other notable players. De'Ante Green who logged more minutes than expected (30) and made the most of it scoring 10 by muscling his way to the basket. Darin Green (12 points). Held in check for much of the game, his contested three from the right wing gave FSU a needed boost at the right moment. He added four steals as well, one coming at a key moment in the game coming out of nowhere to pick it off the hands of the CU player.
Iron Man award goes to both Watkins and Darin Green who played 38 and 40 minutes respectively. That is after playing back to back games and three in five days.
Plays of the game. De'Ante with a nice spin move for the layup, 7-6. Watkins following his missed three and the putback layup, 18-12 on a 6-0 FSU run. Watkins with the reverse layup to start the 2nd period. It ignited a 17-5 run finished off by Darin's first basket of the game (a three in transition from the right wing) giving FSU a 44-35 lead. The CU defense fooled into thinking Baba Miller was going to pass back to a trailing Darin Green on the break but instead took it right around the defender for the slam and 64-60 lead in OT. Warley's run out on the inbound play and the wide open layup for a 74-67 lead and just 32 seconds left.
The Bad
Cameron Corhen going down with what Hamilton described as a toe injury in the first half. He remained on the bench the rest of the game. Let's not start another rash of injuries here. De'Ante Green filled in for him nicely though.
While Baba managed to only pick up one more foul, he ended up on the bench after his second foul with more than ten minutes left in the half. He got caught on a switch ending up on Eddie Lampkin where is outweighed by more than 60 pounds. That would be a tough assignment for anyone.
After stretching out to a 47-37 lead, CU rattled off ten straight to tie it at 47.
Josh Nickelberry and the cross court pass at the time line to his teammate. Except that it wasn't his teammate but Luke O'Brien who slammed it in to trail 47-44. O'Brien was just sitting back waiting on that pass and Nickelberry didn't realize that. By the time the ball left Josh's hands, O'Brien was already making the move to intercept the pass.
The FSU defense still struggling with switching notably among the guards. Too often confusion seemed to reign as defenders got mixed up on who was doing what. That was the case when Julian Hammond found himself wide open for the three at the buzzer at the half, 30-27. Virtually the same thing happened in the second period that gave CU that 60-57 lead. Inopportune moment to have that happen. Fortunately it did not cost in the end.
Off night for Cam'Ron Fletcher who was 0-5, 0-4 from the arc.
The Ugly
Warley with some tired legs clangs the dribble drive layup off the front of the rim. Defense failed to get back and J'vonne Hadley on the fast break converted the layup to tie the game at 55.
Rebounding notably on the offensive end. It was bad enough being outrebounded 46-38, but 19-5 on the offensive boards???? Put a body on somebody. Anybody.
Thank goodness the two inbound passes in OT that were fumbled away did not make a difference at the end of the game. Either Baba improves in that area in inbounding the ball in those situations or try someone else.
Up Next
After playing three games in five days, a well deserved week off. The Seminoles do not play again until Nov 29. As part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, FSU will host the 2-3 Georgia Bulldogs. UGA has taken on some tough opponents early on losing to Oregon, Providence, and Miami and winning over Wake Forest. The Bulldogs have only two players in double figures. Tip is at 9:15 and will be aired on the ACCN.
