by Bill from Tampa
After the thirty three point pasting of North Carolina on Saturday, the question was how would Florida State come out and play against Maryland particularly on offense?
That question was answered with another very solid offensive game, beating the Terrapins 84-70 on Tuesday night.
Perhaps the Seminoles have finally found their offensive stride as FSUused a variety of ways to score. The 'Noles were very efficient in the half court scoring 42 points in the paint, 17 from offensive put backs, and 11 fast break points. The defense kicked in as usual with 19 off of 15 Maryland turnovers.
That efficient offense was reflected in the 48% shooting from the floor. Add to that a stellar 20 of 23 from the free throw line. Screening to open up shooters or lanes to the rim was especially well executed.
Defensively it was not quite the gem the UNC game was. Maryland became just the third team in well over one hundred games to shoot 50%. However, several baskets were scored near the end of the game when the outcome had long since been settled making the final score look closer than it actually was.
Florida State jumped out to a 15-7 lead on a three pointer from Ian Miller from the right corner. Maryland hung around, however, mostly on the strong shooting of Terrell Stoglin who had 12 of his 27 points in the first half. A three ball and three free throws later made it a two point game, 34-33, with 1:11 left.
A dribble drive lay up by Miller with seconds left ended the scoring giving he Seminoles a 36-33 lead where FSU was 11-0 after holding the lead at intermission.
That stat proved to be accurate.
The Terps however tied the game up almost immediately coming out of intermission off a curl screen three pointer by Stoglin. A three from above the key behind a screen tied it again 40.
When it looked like Maryland might me making a move taking their only lead at 42-40, Luke Loucks answered seconds later with a wide open pull up three from the right wing.
The shot ignited a 21-3 run. Key in the run was, with the score 49-45 after Sean Mosley's only points of the game (a three pointer), the star of Saturday's win, Devidas Dulkys, hit back to back threes both from the left side. Miller finished the run with two charity shots with 12:30 left to play giving the 'Noles a 61-45 lead.
With Maryland only able to mostly rely on Stoglin for points, FSU maintained control of the game, eventually stretching out the lead to twenty-one points, 83-62, with 2:43 remaining.
With the starters on the bench, the Terps whittled down the score to a more respectable margin. But clearly the game was another blowout for the Seminoles.
Perhaps the most understated comment about the runaway win came from Leonard Hamilton.
"We are just learning how to play within ourselves," FSU coach Hamilton said. "I think we are moving the ball little better. We are involving more people ... we cut down our turnovers."
Sliced with a machete is more like it. The Seminoles committed just nine miscues in the game.
After the past three games -- all conference wins to improve to 12-6, 3-1 -- apparently they are learning well.
Reflecting the improved offense, FSU put four players in double figures with Michael Snaer leading the way with 19 points. Miller added 18. Bernard James scored 17 with his highlight basket an interception of a pass to James Padgett, taking it the distance for a slam dunk. Okaro White added 13.
Nick Faust was the only other Terrapin in double digits with 10.
Next up for FSU is another tough test when they travel to Durham Saturday for a 4:00 PM contest against Duke. The Seminoles are 1-17 at Cameron.
Why are home basketball crowds at FSU's Tucker Center so boring? And where are the students? This team is pretty good and definitely entertaining, why is game attendance so mediocre?
Posted by: Dave | January 18, 2012 at 10:01 AM