FSU 86 VT 76 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The Good
With the win, FSU improves its record in the 2024 ACC tournament to 1-0. It ends a three game winning streak by Virginia Tech. Coming into the game, Florida State was 11-1 this season when scoring 80 or more points. Make that 12-1. It also guarantees the Seminoles with a winning record.
After leading 50-42, it looked like the Seminoles were losing momentum as a gritty VT team was able to tie the game at 57. But FSU began getting stops and turned defense turned into fast break points to lead 80-71 with 1:19 left. And then it looked like the 'Noles were going to melt down with two disastrous turnovers allowing the Hokies to close the gap to 80-75 with enough time on the clock (46 seconds) to pull off the comeback. But VT was forced to foul and the Seminoles were stellar from the charity stripe to hold off Tech.
The obvious MVP of the game: Without question, Jamir Watkins. With his career high 34 points, he joined the 1,000 point club easily with a total now of 1,024, Not verified as of this moment, but it was a record number of points for any Florida State player in the ACC tournament. It was Watkins 18th straight game in double figures, 27th overall, his 5th game with 20 or more points in the 2023-2024 season, and his first career 30 plus point game. And to top it off, he made it a double double with 11 rebounds.
Defense into offense. As we all know, FSU is very good at forcing turnovers and capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes. Against the Hokies, the Seminoles were quite good at it today turning 13 VT miscues into 25 points. It helped contribute to 63% shooting from the floor (sans the three point shooting of course).
Another other factor in the win for FSU, FT shooting. Virginia Tech is the 6th best FT shooting team in the country at 79%. But it was FSU that blistered the net from the stripe converting 25 of 30 attempts. That's 83% for those of you keeping score at home. More importantly in crunch time, the 'Noles were a perfect 16-16 from the 2:49 mark. Each and every one of them was important to convert as Tech pushed the ball hard at the basket and were not too shabby from the line either (24-30). Even Baba Miller who has struggled all season from the line converted two to give FSU a three possession lead, 82-75.
Good job guys on the boards outrebounding the Hokies 34-26. The Seminoles don't do that everyday. Today they did.
Honorable mention to Jalen Warley who apparently is now tied for first in the assist to turnover ratio in the ACC. Warley today had 4 assists to just 2 turnovers (one of the very sloppy variety unfortunately).
Interestingly Leonard Hamilton shorted his bench playing just eight today (OK, Chandler Jackson played 6 minutes but was a non factor). But each one contributed with Warley and Primo Spears in double figures, 18 and 10 respectively.
Notable plays in the game: Watkins with the steal and on the break pulls up for the three from the right wing, 7-5. Watkins with another steal in the lane going coast to coast hard at the rim for the lay up, 19-15 VT. A well executed last play before halftime using Darin Green as a decoy allowing Warley to drive the ball in to pull within one, 37-36. Camren Corhen working hard for the offensive rebound and then forcing his way up for the lay in, 42-42. Warley's spinning lay up, 57-54. Sean Padulla's errant pass into the VT backcourt retrieved by Spears who took it the rest of the way, 63-58 and 5:01 to play. Watkins offensive board and the two hand jam immediately followed by Watkins and yet another steal, the outlet pass to Spears finished off by a Warley lay up all part of an 11-0 FSU run, 68-58 and 3:26 to play. Spears trapped at the time line smartly calling time out rather than risk the turnover. Miller getting real lucky that a foul was not called when he kicked the ball to the ref to set the inbound play. He was only warned for a delay of game.
Can't ignore the pass from Mylyjael Poteat to his teammate .... Mike Young, his head coach, sitting on the sideline watching the play develop. I don't think it developed very well. That's a good thing.
On a side note, TV cameras caught Hunter Cattour's fiancee at the game. Not bad Hunter. Not bad Apparently she played for the VT women's t team. Looks like that will be a tall wedding.
The Bad
After the first half that saw just 7 fouls and only 4 FTs taken, the refs apparently remembered in the second period how their whistles worked. Yeah, there were a number of intentional fouls at the end, but for a while there it seemed like it was every other play.
The FSU defense not able to stop the VT offense. In the first half, VT shot 11 of 15. With 10:37 left in the period, Hamilton had to call a timeout to remind his team that defense was not optional.
Warley called for the flagrant one after grabbing the VT player's arm apparently trying to make amends for a Jaylen Gainey turnover. Jalen, the guy was already past you. Let it go. That could have turned out to be a five point turnaround for VT. Fortunately it was just three.
Give VT credit for being very good at the head fake, getting the defender in the air, and leaning in to draw the foul. FSU fell for it seemingly every time.
I counted three charges called on FSU. And here I thought with the new rule regarding charges, they would be rare.
How would it not be a game without our usual at least one goaltending call.
The Ugly
Here's a recurring theme. 3-13 from the arc. Doing the math, that's 23%. Oh let's make it an exact number. 23.1%. Yeah, that makes it look better.
Warley stepping OB on a drive along the left baseline. How many times are we going to see a player not recognize where he is on the floor? Apparently at least one more time as Miller stepped on the end line trying to inbound the ball. With just 2:52 left, not the time you want to make that kind of mistake.
Really?? You want Taylor Bol Bowen taking that three from the right corner? Really? With the two he missed today, the guy is 6 of 32 (18.75%).
Warley trapped in the corner after receiving the inbound pass and inexplicably throwing it up for grabs. It was of course easily picked off and the ensuing two points. No idea whatsoever what he was thinking. None. Just SMH on that one.
And if that was not bad enough, the baseball pass to Watkins that was off his finger tips along the sideline in front of the Seminole bench. Two more points ensured and VT now trailed by just five, 80-75.
Honorable mention to the clock problem that occurred immediately after tip off. What a way to get a game started.
Up Next:
Its a rematch with North Carolina, the #1 seed in the ACCT. Tip is again at noon and aired on ESPN. As you may recall, earlier this season FSU held a double digit lead at around the 14 minute mark of the second half. It all went down hill from that point and Florida State ended up losing 78-70.
The Good
With the win, FSU improves its record in the 2024 ACC tournament to 1-0. It ends a three game winning streak by Virginia Tech. Coming into the game, Florida State was 11-1 this season when scoring 80 or more points. Make that 12-1. It also guarantees the Seminoles with a winning record.
After leading 50-42, it looked like the Seminoles were losing momentum as a gritty VT team was able to tie the game at 57. But FSU began getting stops and turned defense turned into fast break points to lead 80-71 with 1:19 left. And then it looked like the 'Noles were going to melt down with two disastrous turnovers allowing the Hokies to close the gap to 80-75 with enough time on the clock (46 seconds) to pull off the comeback. But VT was forced to foul and the Seminoles were stellar from the charity stripe to hold off Tech.
The obvious MVP of the game: Without question, Jamir Watkins. With his career high 34 points, he joined the 1,000 point club easily with a total now of 1,024, Not verified as of this moment, but it was a record number of points for any Florida State player in the ACC tournament. It was Watkins 18th straight game in double figures, 27th overall, his 5th game with 20 or more points in the 2023-2024 season, and his first career 30 plus point game. And to top it off, he made it a double double with 11 rebounds.
Defense into offense. As we all know, FSU is very good at forcing turnovers and capitalizing on their opponent's mistakes. Against the Hokies, the Seminoles were quite good at it today turning 13 VT miscues into 25 points. It helped contribute to 63% shooting from the floor (sans the three point shooting of course).
Another other factor in the win for FSU, FT shooting. Virginia Tech is the 6th best FT shooting team in the country at 79%. But it was FSU that blistered the net from the stripe converting 25 of 30 attempts. That's 83% for those of you keeping score at home. More importantly in crunch time, the 'Noles were a perfect 16-16 from the 2:49 mark. Each and every one of them was important to convert as Tech pushed the ball hard at the basket and were not too shabby from the line either (24-30). Even Baba Miller who has struggled all season from the line converted two to give FSU a three possession lead, 82-75.
Good job guys on the boards outrebounding the Hokies 34-26. The Seminoles don't do that everyday. Today they did.
Honorable mention to Jalen Warley who apparently is now tied for first in the assist to turnover ratio in the ACC. Warley today had 4 assists to just 2 turnovers (one of the very sloppy variety unfortunately).
Interestingly Leonard Hamilton shorted his bench playing just eight today (OK, Chandler Jackson played 6 minutes but was a non factor). But each one contributed with Warley and Primo Spears in double figures, 18 and 10 respectively.
Notable plays in the game: Watkins with the steal and on the break pulls up for the three from the right wing, 7-5. Watkins with another steal in the lane going coast to coast hard at the rim for the lay up, 19-15 VT. A well executed last play before halftime using Darin Green as a decoy allowing Warley to drive the ball in to pull within one, 37-36. Camren Corhen working hard for the offensive rebound and then forcing his way up for the lay in, 42-42. Warley's spinning lay up, 57-54. Sean Padulla's errant pass into the VT backcourt retrieved by Spears who took it the rest of the way, 63-58 and 5:01 to play. Watkins offensive board and the two hand jam immediately followed by Watkins and yet another steal, the outlet pass to Spears finished off by a Warley lay up all part of an 11-0 FSU run, 68-58 and 3:26 to play. Spears trapped at the time line smartly calling time out rather than risk the turnover. Miller getting real lucky that a foul was not called when he kicked the ball to the ref to set the inbound play. He was only warned for a delay of game.
Can't ignore the pass from Mylyjael Poteat to his teammate .... Mike Young, his head coach, sitting on the sideline watching the play develop. I don't think it developed very well. That's a good thing.
On a side note, TV cameras caught Hunter Cattour's fiancee at the game. Not bad Hunter. Not bad Apparently she played for the VT women's t team. Looks like that will be a tall wedding.
The Bad
After the first half that saw just 7 fouls and only 4 FTs taken, the refs apparently remembered in the second period how their whistles worked. Yeah, there were a number of intentional fouls at the end, but for a while there it seemed like it was every other play.
The FSU defense not able to stop the VT offense. In the first half, VT shot 11 of 15. With 10:37 left in the period, Hamilton had to call a timeout to remind his team that defense was not optional.
Warley called for the flagrant one after grabbing the VT player's arm apparently trying to make amends for a Jaylen Gainey turnover. Jalen, the guy was already past you. Let it go. That could have turned out to be a five point turnaround for VT. Fortunately it was just three.
Give VT credit for being very good at the head fake, getting the defender in the air, and leaning in to draw the foul. FSU fell for it seemingly every time.
I counted three charges called on FSU. And here I thought with the new rule regarding charges, they would be rare.
How would it not be a game without our usual at least one goaltending call.
The Ugly
Here's a recurring theme. 3-13 from the arc. Doing the math, that's 23%. Oh let's make it an exact number. 23.1%. Yeah, that makes it look better.
Warley stepping OB on a drive along the left baseline. How many times are we going to see a player not recognize where he is on the floor? Apparently at least one more time as Miller stepped on the end line trying to inbound the ball. With just 2:52 left, not the time you want to make that kind of mistake.
Really?? You want Taylor Bol Bowen taking that three from the right corner? Really? With the two he missed today, the guy is 6 of 32 (18.75%).
Warley trapped in the corner after receiving the inbound pass and inexplicably throwing it up for grabs. It was of course easily picked off and the ensuing two points. No idea whatsoever what he was thinking. None. Just SMH on that one.
And if that was not bad enough, the baseball pass to Watkins that was off his finger tips along the sideline in front of the Seminole bench. Two more points ensured and VT now trailed by just five, 80-75.
Honorable mention to the clock problem that occurred immediately after tip off. What a way to get a game started.
Up Next:
Its a rematch with North Carolina, the #1 seed in the ACCT. Tip is again at noon and aired on ESPN. As you may recall, earlier this season FSU held a double digit lead at around the 14 minute mark of the second half. It all went down hill from that point and Florida State ended up losing 78-70.
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