FSU 82 Pitt 70 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
FSU improves to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the ACC picking up their first quality win this season. Pitt was ranked 28th in the NET rankings giving the Seminoles a hard fought Quad 1 win. The 'Noles move into a tie for 7th in the league standings with ............ Pittsburgh. Coming into the game, Pitt was on a two game losing streak. Make that a three game losing streak. Oddly, Leonard Hamilton sounded frustrated in his post game interview that his team could not play this well every game. As he said, the players have not gotten faster in the last three days. They have not gotten stronger in the last three days. The only way this win means anything is if the same mental attitude is brought to the game on Saturday Hamilton commented.
If you like a fast paced, really physical, maybe too physical considering how things ended, this was your game.
FTs. FSU is very good at drawing fouls ranking fifth in the ACC. And they did that tonight with 28-33 (85%) from the stripe. With just over two minutes left and the 'Noles leading 68-62, FSU made their way to the line 12 times and converting 10 stretching out a lead that Pitt could not overcome. Pitt made a run closing to five and six points. FSU converting its chances at the line was key in the Seminoles earning the victory.
Blocked shots. The Seminoles are ranked #2 in that category and certainly showed that tonight with 7 blocks. Taylor Bol Bowen logged four of them. Malique Ewin added three.
As the second half began, Pitt scored the first four points to make the score 28-27. FSU answered with a 22-7 run to lead 49-35.
The defensive job on Jaland Lowe. OK, Pitt's leading score at 17.2 ppg had 22. Nut he really had to work at it and only had 2 at halftime. Many of those 20 second half points came fairly late in the game. Credit Dequan Davis who had the main assignment in holding him in check. It could have been that Davis suffered a lower left leg injury, likely a cramp that slowed him down a bit. But Davis did a heck of a job in not allowing Lowe to score in that first twenty minutes, but also forcing the Pitt player into numerous mistakes. Eight of them in fact. That was far above his season high for turnovers. The 17 team turnovers was a season high for the Panthers.
The second half FSU offense that blistered the nets shooting 67%. A total turnaround from the first period where hitting the backboard with the ball was an accomplishment.
Players of the game: Jamir Watkins (no surprise there) who finished with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Watkins started out the game on fire from the arc, cooled for a while, sat out a chunk of the second half due to foul trouble, and then carried the team across the finish line mostly at the charity stripe (11-12). Ewin with yet another double double, 18 points and 13 boards. Ewin is leading the ACC in shooting percentage at 58%. Tonight Ewin was 6-9 (67%). Chandler Jackson with 13 points who filled in the offense when Watkins was on the bench. Davis with 11 points.
Plays of the game: Watkins with back to back threes from the same spot 25 feet away from the rim, 8-4. Bol Bowen with a four point play when he was fouled in the right corner after his high arcing shot found all net. Davis anticipating the inbound pass and taking it right to the hole, 19-14. Ewin with the backhand bounce pass to Watkins cutting to the basket along the baseline for the slam. The 9 minute stretch the FSU defense held Pitt to zero FGs. The effort on that side of the court resulted in holding the Panthers to just 23 first half points tying the season low. Jackson corralling the ball as it ricochet off the backboard and floated the ball in at the buzzer, 28-23. Ewin crashing into a Panther where both were going for a loose ball with Ewin gaining control for the uncontested slam dunk. And then Ewin proceeded to rattle off the next 8 points and next thing you know FSU was up 40-29. Passing the ball quickly around the floor twice resulted in Bol Bowen's open three, 45-33. Davis with blazing speed right by the Pitt defender and the lay up. Ewin grabs the offensive board, kicks out to Justin Thomas above the key and the open three, 52-39.
The Bad
Despite the defense holding Pitt to a long shooting drought and forcing many turnovers, FSU only led by five at the break. Primarily because the 'Noles had their own difficulties in making shots.
Zero points from the bench at the half. For the game, the bench added just 11 points. FSU is going to need more production from its reserve players.
Early in the second period, Watkins with two fouls in the span of 1:30 forcing him to the bench. And then Ewin picks up his third with 15:46 remaining. TO make it even more precarious, Watkins then picks up his fourth at the 10:46 mark. But as he has done before, he managed to stay in the game. Thank goodness he did as his FTs were very crucial to getting the W.
And speaking of FTs, Pitt made sure they got their monies worth any time they fouled Watkins. Especially former FSU player Cam Corhen. Watkins was usually sent crashing to the floor due to the hard fouls.
The Ugly
With just over four minutes gone in the game, both teams were a combined 1-11 from the floor. Hardly an offensive duel. It did not improve much as the half went on. At the under eight timeout, it was a combined 7-30. And at halftime, 14-51. Both teams were just over 27%.
AJ Swinton in the first half with what looked like a serious injury to his lower right leg. He had to be helped to the locker room and could not put any weight on it.
The melee after the final buzzer. Things were getting a tad intense on the floor during the game anyway. It likely did not help when Ewin went ahead and took a slam dunk shot with just one second left, something that is poor form to do when you have the game clearly won. Tempers erupted on the bench and the two teams had to be separated by coaches and security. Reportedly the Pitt players picked fights with students in the student section. There had been a strange moment during the game when Ewin stared down Pitt head coach, Jeff Capel as he passed by the Panthers' bench. Hamilton would not comment on the incident.
Up Next
FSU hosts Georgia Tech Saturday for a noon tip off and broadcast on The U (not to be confused with Ohio State). The Yellow Jackets (8-10, 2-5) are on a three game losing streak with their last loss a 70-59 defeat to Clemson on Tuesday night.
The Good
FSU improves to 12-5 overall and 3-3 in the ACC picking up their first quality win this season. Pitt was ranked 28th in the NET rankings giving the Seminoles a hard fought Quad 1 win. The 'Noles move into a tie for 7th in the league standings with ............ Pittsburgh. Coming into the game, Pitt was on a two game losing streak. Make that a three game losing streak. Oddly, Leonard Hamilton sounded frustrated in his post game interview that his team could not play this well every game. As he said, the players have not gotten faster in the last three days. They have not gotten stronger in the last three days. The only way this win means anything is if the same mental attitude is brought to the game on Saturday Hamilton commented.
If you like a fast paced, really physical, maybe too physical considering how things ended, this was your game.
FTs. FSU is very good at drawing fouls ranking fifth in the ACC. And they did that tonight with 28-33 (85%) from the stripe. With just over two minutes left and the 'Noles leading 68-62, FSU made their way to the line 12 times and converting 10 stretching out a lead that Pitt could not overcome. Pitt made a run closing to five and six points. FSU converting its chances at the line was key in the Seminoles earning the victory.
Blocked shots. The Seminoles are ranked #2 in that category and certainly showed that tonight with 7 blocks. Taylor Bol Bowen logged four of them. Malique Ewin added three.
As the second half began, Pitt scored the first four points to make the score 28-27. FSU answered with a 22-7 run to lead 49-35.
The defensive job on Jaland Lowe. OK, Pitt's leading score at 17.2 ppg had 22. Nut he really had to work at it and only had 2 at halftime. Many of those 20 second half points came fairly late in the game. Credit Dequan Davis who had the main assignment in holding him in check. It could have been that Davis suffered a lower left leg injury, likely a cramp that slowed him down a bit. But Davis did a heck of a job in not allowing Lowe to score in that first twenty minutes, but also forcing the Pitt player into numerous mistakes. Eight of them in fact. That was far above his season high for turnovers. The 17 team turnovers was a season high for the Panthers.
The second half FSU offense that blistered the nets shooting 67%. A total turnaround from the first period where hitting the backboard with the ball was an accomplishment.
Players of the game: Jamir Watkins (no surprise there) who finished with 26 points and 8 rebounds. Watkins started out the game on fire from the arc, cooled for a while, sat out a chunk of the second half due to foul trouble, and then carried the team across the finish line mostly at the charity stripe (11-12). Ewin with yet another double double, 18 points and 13 boards. Ewin is leading the ACC in shooting percentage at 58%. Tonight Ewin was 6-9 (67%). Chandler Jackson with 13 points who filled in the offense when Watkins was on the bench. Davis with 11 points.
Plays of the game: Watkins with back to back threes from the same spot 25 feet away from the rim, 8-4. Bol Bowen with a four point play when he was fouled in the right corner after his high arcing shot found all net. Davis anticipating the inbound pass and taking it right to the hole, 19-14. Ewin with the backhand bounce pass to Watkins cutting to the basket along the baseline for the slam. The 9 minute stretch the FSU defense held Pitt to zero FGs. The effort on that side of the court resulted in holding the Panthers to just 23 first half points tying the season low. Jackson corralling the ball as it ricochet off the backboard and floated the ball in at the buzzer, 28-23. Ewin crashing into a Panther where both were going for a loose ball with Ewin gaining control for the uncontested slam dunk. And then Ewin proceeded to rattle off the next 8 points and next thing you know FSU was up 40-29. Passing the ball quickly around the floor twice resulted in Bol Bowen's open three, 45-33. Davis with blazing speed right by the Pitt defender and the lay up. Ewin grabs the offensive board, kicks out to Justin Thomas above the key and the open three, 52-39.
The Bad
Despite the defense holding Pitt to a long shooting drought and forcing many turnovers, FSU only led by five at the break. Primarily because the 'Noles had their own difficulties in making shots.
Zero points from the bench at the half. For the game, the bench added just 11 points. FSU is going to need more production from its reserve players.
Early in the second period, Watkins with two fouls in the span of 1:30 forcing him to the bench. And then Ewin picks up his third with 15:46 remaining. TO make it even more precarious, Watkins then picks up his fourth at the 10:46 mark. But as he has done before, he managed to stay in the game. Thank goodness he did as his FTs were very crucial to getting the W.
And speaking of FTs, Pitt made sure they got their monies worth any time they fouled Watkins. Especially former FSU player Cam Corhen. Watkins was usually sent crashing to the floor due to the hard fouls.
The Ugly
With just over four minutes gone in the game, both teams were a combined 1-11 from the floor. Hardly an offensive duel. It did not improve much as the half went on. At the under eight timeout, it was a combined 7-30. And at halftime, 14-51. Both teams were just over 27%.
AJ Swinton in the first half with what looked like a serious injury to his lower right leg. He had to be helped to the locker room and could not put any weight on it.
The melee after the final buzzer. Things were getting a tad intense on the floor during the game anyway. It likely did not help when Ewin went ahead and took a slam dunk shot with just one second left, something that is poor form to do when you have the game clearly won. Tempers erupted on the bench and the two teams had to be separated by coaches and security. Reportedly the Pitt players picked fights with students in the student section. There had been a strange moment during the game when Ewin stared down Pitt head coach, Jeff Capel as he passed by the Panthers' bench. Hamilton would not comment on the incident.
Up Next
FSU hosts Georgia Tech Saturday for a noon tip off and broadcast on The U (not to be confused with Ohio State). The Yellow Jackets (8-10, 2-5) are on a three game losing streak with their last loss a 70-59 defeat to Clemson on Tuesday night.
