FSU 94 Kennesaw State 67 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Unfortunately I could not watch the game. I did get to listen to the first half and follow along on the play by play in the second half. I am just going on recaps and the box score for thoughts on the game. So here goes.
The Good
A convincing win and far better result to start the season unlike last year's disappointment against Stetson.
The fact that Florida State dominated this game from start to finish. No ties. No lead changes. FSU led from start to finish. Before five minutes had elapsed, the 'Noles led 13-6. After a lapse of scoring by the Seminoles, the offense kicked into gear and reached its first double digit lead 25-15. Displaying the sharing of the ball offense Leonard Hamilton wants, five different players contributed in the 12-5 run. It only got better there with FSU leading at the break by fifteen, 49-34 and by as many as thirty-five, 73-38 with 12:07 remaining in the game.
An offensive output that just one game into the season eclipsed last season's game high.
Darin Green who with his first three of the game reached 300 three pointers for his career. He finished tying for game high honors with 18 points. It was his 25th consecutive game scoring a three.
Eleven months after injuring his knee, seeing Cam'Ron Fletcher back on the floor and adding 13 points along with 5 boards. Cameron Corhen also was in double digits with 10.
Tom House who on his 20th birthday connected on 3 of 4 from the arc to finish with 9 points. According to recaps, all of those were scored in a matter of less than one minute.
Chandler Jackson on the floor. Obviously he is off suspension. Logged 15 plus minutes and 4 assists.
Freshman Taylor Bol Bowen playing significant minutes (12:24) and making the most of it with 5 rebounds.
Defense at the arc. Apparently FSU's perimeter defense was executing well and held the Owls to a poor 16% from the floor (4-25). Shooting from deep was thought to be a strength of the Owls. Not in this game.
The overall defensive effort that held Kennesaw to 33% from the floor.
23 assists on 34 made baskets. Just reinforces the Seminoles were sharing the ball. Interestingly, Jamir Watkins led the team with 6 assists.
Playing ten players double digit minutes. Nobody was on the floor for more than 25 minutes. That was reflected in the wide margin of scoring by the bench, 46-17.
The Bad
After drawing that 13-6 lead, the Seminoles went on one of those scoring droughts we never like to see not scoring any points over the next 3:09. However the FSU defense did hold off the Owls and the gap only closed to three, 13-10.
While FSU did win the rebounding battle, it was just by two, 48-46. The Owls send multiple players to the board and it appears FSU is going to have some work to do in that area to keep the other team away from the rebound. Watkins did lead the team with 7 boards continuing his fine play in that area that he showed in the exhibition games.
And on Jamir, it was a bit of a disappointment that after leading the team in the preseason games with 37 total points, he finished 1-7 from the floor and just 2 points.
Could have done with less than 15 turnovers especially against a team that did not appear to bring all that much defensively to the floor. Points off turnovers was in favor of the Owls albeit by one, 13-12.
Points in the paint just by two in favor of FSU, 32-30. I guess Kennesaw had to score from somewhere. FSU did have 9 blocked shots so it was not like the paint was not being defended.
While FSU's pace of play and getting out in transition seemed to satisfy Hamilton, the 'Noles did got outscored 16-12 in fast break points.
The Ugly
Because I have to put something in this category (after all this op-ed is not entitled The Good and The Bad), FT shooting. 60% (15-25) is much too low.
Up Next
Central Michigan comes to the Civic Center for a 7 PM tip. The Chippewas opened their season on Monday on the road at Oklahoma. They were pasted in an 89-59 blowout. Central plays at home today against Louisiana-Monroe. So FSU might run into a team maybe a little fatigued and not as prepared as they would want ..... maybe. The game will be aired on the ACCNX.
Unfortunately I could not watch the game. I did get to listen to the first half and follow along on the play by play in the second half. I am just going on recaps and the box score for thoughts on the game. So here goes.
The Good
A convincing win and far better result to start the season unlike last year's disappointment against Stetson.
The fact that Florida State dominated this game from start to finish. No ties. No lead changes. FSU led from start to finish. Before five minutes had elapsed, the 'Noles led 13-6. After a lapse of scoring by the Seminoles, the offense kicked into gear and reached its first double digit lead 25-15. Displaying the sharing of the ball offense Leonard Hamilton wants, five different players contributed in the 12-5 run. It only got better there with FSU leading at the break by fifteen, 49-34 and by as many as thirty-five, 73-38 with 12:07 remaining in the game.
An offensive output that just one game into the season eclipsed last season's game high.
Darin Green who with his first three of the game reached 300 three pointers for his career. He finished tying for game high honors with 18 points. It was his 25th consecutive game scoring a three.
Eleven months after injuring his knee, seeing Cam'Ron Fletcher back on the floor and adding 13 points along with 5 boards. Cameron Corhen also was in double digits with 10.
Tom House who on his 20th birthday connected on 3 of 4 from the arc to finish with 9 points. According to recaps, all of those were scored in a matter of less than one minute.
Chandler Jackson on the floor. Obviously he is off suspension. Logged 15 plus minutes and 4 assists.
Freshman Taylor Bol Bowen playing significant minutes (12:24) and making the most of it with 5 rebounds.
Defense at the arc. Apparently FSU's perimeter defense was executing well and held the Owls to a poor 16% from the floor (4-25). Shooting from deep was thought to be a strength of the Owls. Not in this game.
The overall defensive effort that held Kennesaw to 33% from the floor.
23 assists on 34 made baskets. Just reinforces the Seminoles were sharing the ball. Interestingly, Jamir Watkins led the team with 6 assists.
Playing ten players double digit minutes. Nobody was on the floor for more than 25 minutes. That was reflected in the wide margin of scoring by the bench, 46-17.
The Bad
After drawing that 13-6 lead, the Seminoles went on one of those scoring droughts we never like to see not scoring any points over the next 3:09. However the FSU defense did hold off the Owls and the gap only closed to three, 13-10.
While FSU did win the rebounding battle, it was just by two, 48-46. The Owls send multiple players to the board and it appears FSU is going to have some work to do in that area to keep the other team away from the rebound. Watkins did lead the team with 7 boards continuing his fine play in that area that he showed in the exhibition games.
And on Jamir, it was a bit of a disappointment that after leading the team in the preseason games with 37 total points, he finished 1-7 from the floor and just 2 points.
Could have done with less than 15 turnovers especially against a team that did not appear to bring all that much defensively to the floor. Points off turnovers was in favor of the Owls albeit by one, 13-12.
Points in the paint just by two in favor of FSU, 32-30. I guess Kennesaw had to score from somewhere. FSU did have 9 blocked shots so it was not like the paint was not being defended.
While FSU's pace of play and getting out in transition seemed to satisfy Hamilton, the 'Noles did got outscored 16-12 in fast break points.
The Ugly
Because I have to put something in this category (after all this op-ed is not entitled The Good and The Bad), FT shooting. 60% (15-25) is much too low.
Up Next
Central Michigan comes to the Civic Center for a 7 PM tip. The Chippewas opened their season on Monday on the road at Oklahoma. They were pasted in an 89-59 blowout. Central plays at home today against Louisiana-Monroe. So FSU might run into a team maybe a little fatigued and not as prepared as they would want ..... maybe. The game will be aired on the ACCNX.
