FSU 80 Miami 65 The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly
The Good
FSU's record improves to 11-4 overall and 2-2 ACC with the 'Noles getting their first ACC road win. FSU took control of the game midway through the first building a 39-25 lead at intermission. As the teams came out after halftime, a flat effort against a more intense attack by UM (led mostly by Mathew Cleveland) saw the Seminoles lead shrink to 54-48. A huge 15-1 FSU run took back control of the game, 71-51 with 6:05 to play. Miami never mounted a serious charge again. Garbage time with walk ons on the floor saw a 25 point lead shrink to 15.
Coming into the game, FSU had won 6 straight over UM. Make that 7 straight.
Coming into the game, FSU had won 12 of 13 games. Make that 13 of 14.
Coming into the game, had won 14 of 16 against the 'Canes. Make that 15 of 17.
Miami's record in its last 25 games is 4-21 including ten straight losses to finish out the 2023-2024 season.
UM's last ACC win was on Feb 24, 2024.
Assists. 26 of them to be exact on 32 made baskets. That ties a school record for most assists in an ACC game on the road.
And speaking of assists, Dequan Davis recorded 10 of them against just 1 turnover. Several were of the alley oop, lob variety with the Seminoles getting out on the break. Davis' ten assists is good for second most in school history in a game trailing only 'Noles' fans favorite palindrome, Otto Petty (12). Oh, and add in 9 points all of which that he scored in the second period.
Then there was shooting the ball which FSU did very well in this game. The 'Noles were 50% from the floor and 10-24 (42%) from the arc. Meanwhile, Miami was just 37% overall and just 24% from distance. The Seminoles' defense made it tough throughout the game causing numerous lengthy stretches where UM was held scoreless.
Players of the game (other that Dequan): Malique Ewin who, despite some foul trouble early in the second half, finished with 20 points on 10-14 shooting. He recorded a double double with 10 boards. Add in 3 assists and he had a another nice game. Once again, Ewin showed a variety of moves around the basket that just make him a nightmare to guard in the post. Taylor Bol Bowen who was a perfect 6-6 from the floor. And that included a stunning 4-4 from three point land. Clearly it was his best shooting game at FSU. And oh yeah, he had 6 boards and 3 assists as well. Jamir Watkins recorded double digits for the 12 consecutive game with 10 points. What makes that remarkable is he spent much of the game on the bench with serious foul trouble. He picked up his 4th foul just several minutes into the second half. Have to give a mention to Chandler Jackson who had three big blocked shots and two steals.
Plays of the game: Dequan getting off to a good start with the alley oop to Bol Bowen for the wide open slam dunk for FSU's first points of the game. Ewin with the nice drop step lay up with the assist to Davis. Watkins with the three from the left corner to give FSU its first lead, 9-7. When Davis was not dishing out the ball, he was playing defense as in getting into perfect position to cause the UM player to lose the ball as he turned to face the timeline only to have Davis right there in his face. The 13-0 FSU run to give FSU that 39-23 halftime lead. UM scored zero points over the last four plus minutes of the period. OK, UM made a move to start the 2nd with Cleveland leading the charge. The former FSU player, scored 8 quick points. Even though he scored 16 (14 in the second half), it was the same old Cleveland however as he was 1-5 from the arc and was an atrocious 3-9 from the charity stripe. On one of the FT attempts (that he made), he was called for stepping over the line and the point taken away. Bol Bowen with the patience to wait for the UM defenders to commit resulting in an uncontested lay up, 54-39. Justin Thomas receiving the cross court pass from Bol Bowen sinking the three from the left corner, 63-50. With the score 71-51 off that 15-1 FSU run, the Miami fans in the stands standing and leaving for the parking lot. On the give and go play, Ewin with the circus shot lay up reversing his body and flipping the ball into the basket, 76-53. And oh yeah, the assist on the play went to Davis. The stretch of the game late in the second that sealed the win as FSU connected on 11 straight shots to lead 80-55. The remaining crowd decided to meet the other UM fans that had left earlier in the parking lot.
The Bad
Ewin early on fouling the UM player out above the key on the three point attempt. The 'Cane made all three and Ewin had picked up his first foul just a couple of minutes into the game.
Seeing his Seminoles playing no where near the energy of UM, Leonard Hamilton had to call a timeout 2:18 into the second period.
As a team that averages 26 FT attempts per game, FSU went to the line just 11 times. Well, I guess when Miami was called for its first foul of the second half with 9:51 to play, you are not going to get a lot of trips to the stripe.
OK, it was garbage time with the game decided and Hamilton inserted the last of his players. But that does not mean you don't follow certain fundamentals like time and score and who or who isn't under the basket. As in the case of Anastasios Rozakeas just launching a three pointer (he missed it btw) as soon as the ball touched his hands. 2:21 to play and FSU leading by 21 and absolutely with no teammate under the basket for a possible rebound.
The Ugly
Both teams at one point in the middle of the first half just putting up circus shots left and right that looked more like a game of HORSE.
By the time the second TV timeout arrived, FSU was 1-5 from the arc. Worse yet was UM who was 1-7. Thankfully FSU improved dramatically. UM thankfully did not.
Miami with just 2 points over the last 7:17 of the first half.
FSU with zero points over the last 4:16 of the first half.
Watkins picking up foul #3 just 1:06 into the final period.
Watkins with foul #4 fouling the UM shooter (Cleveland) with one second on the shot clock falling for the head fake. Once you are in the air, you are in big trouble a lot of times. And that is exactly what Cleveland took advantage up moving into Watkins as he took the shot.
To make matters worse, Ewin picked up two cheap fouls (fouls #2 and #3) with 15:59 remaining.
Up Next
FSU continues on the road as they head to Clemson to take on the Tigers on Saturday at 2 PM and will be broadcast on the ACCN. The Seminoles have lost to Clemson (12-4, 4-1) the last four contests and and not won in Littlejohn in six years. When we last saw the Tigers, Clemson was busy losing to Louisville, who might be better than we thought they were when we lost to them, 84-74.
The Good
FSU's record improves to 11-4 overall and 2-2 ACC with the 'Noles getting their first ACC road win. FSU took control of the game midway through the first building a 39-25 lead at intermission. As the teams came out after halftime, a flat effort against a more intense attack by UM (led mostly by Mathew Cleveland) saw the Seminoles lead shrink to 54-48. A huge 15-1 FSU run took back control of the game, 71-51 with 6:05 to play. Miami never mounted a serious charge again. Garbage time with walk ons on the floor saw a 25 point lead shrink to 15.
Coming into the game, FSU had won 6 straight over UM. Make that 7 straight.
Coming into the game, FSU had won 12 of 13 games. Make that 13 of 14.
Coming into the game, had won 14 of 16 against the 'Canes. Make that 15 of 17.
Miami's record in its last 25 games is 4-21 including ten straight losses to finish out the 2023-2024 season.
UM's last ACC win was on Feb 24, 2024.
Assists. 26 of them to be exact on 32 made baskets. That ties a school record for most assists in an ACC game on the road.
And speaking of assists, Dequan Davis recorded 10 of them against just 1 turnover. Several were of the alley oop, lob variety with the Seminoles getting out on the break. Davis' ten assists is good for second most in school history in a game trailing only 'Noles' fans favorite palindrome, Otto Petty (12). Oh, and add in 9 points all of which that he scored in the second period.
Then there was shooting the ball which FSU did very well in this game. The 'Noles were 50% from the floor and 10-24 (42%) from the arc. Meanwhile, Miami was just 37% overall and just 24% from distance. The Seminoles' defense made it tough throughout the game causing numerous lengthy stretches where UM was held scoreless.
Players of the game (other that Dequan): Malique Ewin who, despite some foul trouble early in the second half, finished with 20 points on 10-14 shooting. He recorded a double double with 10 boards. Add in 3 assists and he had a another nice game. Once again, Ewin showed a variety of moves around the basket that just make him a nightmare to guard in the post. Taylor Bol Bowen who was a perfect 6-6 from the floor. And that included a stunning 4-4 from three point land. Clearly it was his best shooting game at FSU. And oh yeah, he had 6 boards and 3 assists as well. Jamir Watkins recorded double digits for the 12 consecutive game with 10 points. What makes that remarkable is he spent much of the game on the bench with serious foul trouble. He picked up his 4th foul just several minutes into the second half. Have to give a mention to Chandler Jackson who had three big blocked shots and two steals.
Plays of the game: Dequan getting off to a good start with the alley oop to Bol Bowen for the wide open slam dunk for FSU's first points of the game. Ewin with the nice drop step lay up with the assist to Davis. Watkins with the three from the left corner to give FSU its first lead, 9-7. When Davis was not dishing out the ball, he was playing defense as in getting into perfect position to cause the UM player to lose the ball as he turned to face the timeline only to have Davis right there in his face. The 13-0 FSU run to give FSU that 39-23 halftime lead. UM scored zero points over the last four plus minutes of the period. OK, UM made a move to start the 2nd with Cleveland leading the charge. The former FSU player, scored 8 quick points. Even though he scored 16 (14 in the second half), it was the same old Cleveland however as he was 1-5 from the arc and was an atrocious 3-9 from the charity stripe. On one of the FT attempts (that he made), he was called for stepping over the line and the point taken away. Bol Bowen with the patience to wait for the UM defenders to commit resulting in an uncontested lay up, 54-39. Justin Thomas receiving the cross court pass from Bol Bowen sinking the three from the left corner, 63-50. With the score 71-51 off that 15-1 FSU run, the Miami fans in the stands standing and leaving for the parking lot. On the give and go play, Ewin with the circus shot lay up reversing his body and flipping the ball into the basket, 76-53. And oh yeah, the assist on the play went to Davis. The stretch of the game late in the second that sealed the win as FSU connected on 11 straight shots to lead 80-55. The remaining crowd decided to meet the other UM fans that had left earlier in the parking lot.
The Bad
Ewin early on fouling the UM player out above the key on the three point attempt. The 'Cane made all three and Ewin had picked up his first foul just a couple of minutes into the game.
Seeing his Seminoles playing no where near the energy of UM, Leonard Hamilton had to call a timeout 2:18 into the second period.
As a team that averages 26 FT attempts per game, FSU went to the line just 11 times. Well, I guess when Miami was called for its first foul of the second half with 9:51 to play, you are not going to get a lot of trips to the stripe.
OK, it was garbage time with the game decided and Hamilton inserted the last of his players. But that does not mean you don't follow certain fundamentals like time and score and who or who isn't under the basket. As in the case of Anastasios Rozakeas just launching a three pointer (he missed it btw) as soon as the ball touched his hands. 2:21 to play and FSU leading by 21 and absolutely with no teammate under the basket for a possible rebound.
The Ugly
Both teams at one point in the middle of the first half just putting up circus shots left and right that looked more like a game of HORSE.
By the time the second TV timeout arrived, FSU was 1-5 from the arc. Worse yet was UM who was 1-7. Thankfully FSU improved dramatically. UM thankfully did not.
Miami with just 2 points over the last 7:17 of the first half.
FSU with zero points over the last 4:16 of the first half.
Watkins picking up foul #3 just 1:06 into the final period.
Watkins with foul #4 fouling the UM shooter (Cleveland) with one second on the shot clock falling for the head fake. Once you are in the air, you are in big trouble a lot of times. And that is exactly what Cleveland took advantage up moving into Watkins as he took the shot.
To make matters worse, Ewin picked up two cheap fouls (fouls #2 and #3) with 15:59 remaining.
Up Next
FSU continues on the road as they head to Clemson to take on the Tigers on Saturday at 2 PM and will be broadcast on the ACCN. The Seminoles have lost to Clemson (12-4, 4-1) the last four contests and and not won in Littlejohn in six years. When we last saw the Tigers, Clemson was busy losing to Louisville, who might be better than we thought they were when we lost to them, 84-74.
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