FSU 84 Miami 75 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
FSU's record after tonight's win, 11-6 overall, 5-1 ACC in earning its fifth consecutive victory.. Coming into the game, Miami had won 25 of their last 27 at the Watsco Center. Make that 25 of their last 28. Coming into the game, FSU had won five straight at the Watsco. Make that 6-0. It also marks the 1,300th win in the program's history. Even more of a plus when you reach a plateau like that against your rival. Coming into the game, FSU were 5.5 point dogs. Enough said right there. The Seminoles led by as many as sixteen, 53-37, Credit the 'Noles for fending off a furious push by the Hurricanes who closed it to two points twice. Miami caught fire led by Nigel Pack's outrageously deep three pointers. FSU never trailed in the game.
When it was crunch time, the 'Canes went cold at the worst time. In the last 2:02, Miami was 0-4 from the floor, missed two FTs, and turned the ball over twice.
Coach Larranaga waving the white flag and calling off his players with 30 seconds left of the game clock. That's a lot of clock left even if you are down by nine ........ which they were.
Below average. FSU's defense held Miami below their season averages in three pointers made (7 vs nearly the 10 per game) and points scored (75 to 84 ppg). Miami is the second best team at the stripe shooting 79%. Tonight, just 14-24, 58%. Maybe of more interest, to 'Noles fans anyway, was the way below average game of former Seminole and current Hurricane Matthew Cleveland. Miami's second leading scorer at 16.4 ppg scored just 2 points on 1 of 8 shooting. If you recall his play at Florida State, Cleveland almost exclusively went to his right. Not much has changed and FSU players obviously knew that forcing him to take several off balance shots going to his left. Better luck next time Matthew (not really).
Clearly the game plan was to attack the interior of the Miami defense (something confirmed by Baba Miller in his post game interview). Miami plays just eight so they cannot afford to get into foul trouble making it a bit easier to drive to the rim and score. And they have no real shot blocker. All that was exposed tonight as FSU garnered 52 points in the paint shooting a stellar 57% inside the arc (good thing too).
Team effort once again. As noted earlier, Miami plays just eight. FSU OTOH played six reserves tonight. So obviously bench points were far in favor of the 'Noles, 40-14. Various players, both starting and from the bench, had pockets of moments where they dominated the game.
Although Leonard Hamilton commented in postgame that his team needs more wok on ball movement, FSU did dish out 17 assists tonight.
Cameron Corhen (7-7 shooting) and Primo Spears tied for team high honors with 16 points each. Jamir Watkins scored 15 and DeAnte Green added 10.
Plays of the game. Watkins with the sure to be on ESPN's Top Ten and the emphatic slam dunk over Norchad Omier, 81-75. Watkins with the floater, a basket badly needed at that moment, to put FSU back up 57-47. Watkins again with the dribble drive along the left side baseline flipping it in, 62-57. Watkins (you sense a pattern here) using the down screen curling into the lane, receiving the pass, and floating the ball into the hoop, 79-73. Corhen with the three at the buzzer, 71-62. Jalen Warley wrapping the ball around Nomier to DeAnte Green, 49-37. Warley with the one handed bullet pass finding Corhen for the lay up, 27-20. Corhen's steal right under the UM basket plus the foul, 30-20. Warley with a steal and coast to coast slam dunk, 59-49. Gainey's blocked shot right under the FSU rim maintaining 38-28 lead. Ganey's left hand only tap in ORb, 34-24. What a reach to be able to get that ball. Spears blazing drive down the lane, fouled, and sinks both freebies giving FSU its final points of the game. The nine point lead forced Miami to jack low percentage shots.
The Bad
Josh Nickelberry with the charging foul that you could see coming the moment he put the ball on the floor.
To reinforce Hamilton's comment about ball movement, there were too many times that quick shots were launched almost the moment the offense crossed the time line.
Warley driving right into the taller UM defender thinking he could make the basket. He had done that earlier in the game and got away with the wild shot. Not this time as the way off target shot turned into a fast break for Miami and now the 'Canes had it under ten, 54-45. It helped jump start a UM run.
Chandler Jackson with two turnovers, both from poor passing, in 6 minutes PT. Not a memorable game for him.
Warley and a terrible alley oop pass that was picked off igniting a fast break lay up that squeezed the lead down to 59-54. Its odd how he will have these really outstanding plays and then we see something like this. The consistency is not there yet.
Darin Green started off on fire with two early 3's. He was barely heard from again as the 'Noles were not able to get the ball to him.
The Ugly
4-17 three point shooting. Ugh!!!!!
After about three or four times of seeing Miami just race right to the basket with no one trying to stop the ball, you had to wonder if this was going happen all game long. Fortunately it did not as the FSU defense tightened up a bit.
After several games of quality FT shooting in the 80's, FSU backtracked converting just 14-23 (60%). It was actually worse than that for much of the game.
With FSU up 53-37, UM went on a 20-6 and the 'Noles led just 59-57.
Refs to the monitor yet another time. Man, that sort of thing just sllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwsssssss the game down.
Up Next
FSU returns home to face the Clemson Tigers (12-5, 2-4). Tip is at 4 PM and the games will be aired on the ACCN. Clemson at one time was ranked as high as 13th at 9-0. It has been downhill since with the Tigers losing four of their last five, all conference games. Their latest loss was last night in a double OT defeat to GT. Clemson was up by three with seconds left until GT connected on a game tying three to send the game into OT.
The Good
FSU's record after tonight's win, 11-6 overall, 5-1 ACC in earning its fifth consecutive victory.. Coming into the game, Miami had won 25 of their last 27 at the Watsco Center. Make that 25 of their last 28. Coming into the game, FSU had won five straight at the Watsco. Make that 6-0. It also marks the 1,300th win in the program's history. Even more of a plus when you reach a plateau like that against your rival. Coming into the game, FSU were 5.5 point dogs. Enough said right there. The Seminoles led by as many as sixteen, 53-37, Credit the 'Noles for fending off a furious push by the Hurricanes who closed it to two points twice. Miami caught fire led by Nigel Pack's outrageously deep three pointers. FSU never trailed in the game.
When it was crunch time, the 'Canes went cold at the worst time. In the last 2:02, Miami was 0-4 from the floor, missed two FTs, and turned the ball over twice.
Coach Larranaga waving the white flag and calling off his players with 30 seconds left of the game clock. That's a lot of clock left even if you are down by nine ........ which they were.
Below average. FSU's defense held Miami below their season averages in three pointers made (7 vs nearly the 10 per game) and points scored (75 to 84 ppg). Miami is the second best team at the stripe shooting 79%. Tonight, just 14-24, 58%. Maybe of more interest, to 'Noles fans anyway, was the way below average game of former Seminole and current Hurricane Matthew Cleveland. Miami's second leading scorer at 16.4 ppg scored just 2 points on 1 of 8 shooting. If you recall his play at Florida State, Cleveland almost exclusively went to his right. Not much has changed and FSU players obviously knew that forcing him to take several off balance shots going to his left. Better luck next time Matthew (not really).
Clearly the game plan was to attack the interior of the Miami defense (something confirmed by Baba Miller in his post game interview). Miami plays just eight so they cannot afford to get into foul trouble making it a bit easier to drive to the rim and score. And they have no real shot blocker. All that was exposed tonight as FSU garnered 52 points in the paint shooting a stellar 57% inside the arc (good thing too).
Team effort once again. As noted earlier, Miami plays just eight. FSU OTOH played six reserves tonight. So obviously bench points were far in favor of the 'Noles, 40-14. Various players, both starting and from the bench, had pockets of moments where they dominated the game.
Although Leonard Hamilton commented in postgame that his team needs more wok on ball movement, FSU did dish out 17 assists tonight.
Cameron Corhen (7-7 shooting) and Primo Spears tied for team high honors with 16 points each. Jamir Watkins scored 15 and DeAnte Green added 10.
Plays of the game. Watkins with the sure to be on ESPN's Top Ten and the emphatic slam dunk over Norchad Omier, 81-75. Watkins with the floater, a basket badly needed at that moment, to put FSU back up 57-47. Watkins again with the dribble drive along the left side baseline flipping it in, 62-57. Watkins (you sense a pattern here) using the down screen curling into the lane, receiving the pass, and floating the ball into the hoop, 79-73. Corhen with the three at the buzzer, 71-62. Jalen Warley wrapping the ball around Nomier to DeAnte Green, 49-37. Warley with the one handed bullet pass finding Corhen for the lay up, 27-20. Corhen's steal right under the UM basket plus the foul, 30-20. Warley with a steal and coast to coast slam dunk, 59-49. Gainey's blocked shot right under the FSU rim maintaining 38-28 lead. Ganey's left hand only tap in ORb, 34-24. What a reach to be able to get that ball. Spears blazing drive down the lane, fouled, and sinks both freebies giving FSU its final points of the game. The nine point lead forced Miami to jack low percentage shots.
The Bad
Josh Nickelberry with the charging foul that you could see coming the moment he put the ball on the floor.
To reinforce Hamilton's comment about ball movement, there were too many times that quick shots were launched almost the moment the offense crossed the time line.
Warley driving right into the taller UM defender thinking he could make the basket. He had done that earlier in the game and got away with the wild shot. Not this time as the way off target shot turned into a fast break for Miami and now the 'Canes had it under ten, 54-45. It helped jump start a UM run.
Chandler Jackson with two turnovers, both from poor passing, in 6 minutes PT. Not a memorable game for him.
Warley and a terrible alley oop pass that was picked off igniting a fast break lay up that squeezed the lead down to 59-54. Its odd how he will have these really outstanding plays and then we see something like this. The consistency is not there yet.
Darin Green started off on fire with two early 3's. He was barely heard from again as the 'Noles were not able to get the ball to him.
The Ugly
4-17 three point shooting. Ugh!!!!!
After about three or four times of seeing Miami just race right to the basket with no one trying to stop the ball, you had to wonder if this was going happen all game long. Fortunately it did not as the FSU defense tightened up a bit.
After several games of quality FT shooting in the 80's, FSU backtracked converting just 14-23 (60%). It was actually worse than that for much of the game.
With FSU up 53-37, UM went on a 20-6 and the 'Noles led just 59-57.
Refs to the monitor yet another time. Man, that sort of thing just sllllllllooooooooooowwwwwwwwsssssss the game down.
Up Next
FSU returns home to face the Clemson Tigers (12-5, 2-4). Tip is at 4 PM and the games will be aired on the ACCN. Clemson at one time was ranked as high as 13th at 9-0. It has been downhill since with the Tigers losing four of their last five, all conference games. Their latest loss was last night in a double OT defeat to GT. Clemson was up by three with seconds left until GT connected on a game tying three to send the game into OT.
