The Upside- Florida State

[SWC75]

- Despite the loss of Chris McCullough, we played our best game of the year on both ends. Offensively, we moved the ball sharply. We didn’t shoot a great percentage overall because of the tall trees inside, (three 7 footers, a 6-9 guy and a 6-8 guy: Kentucky can’t be much bigger). But we hit 10 threes, many of them at just the right time to enable us to maintain a solid lead throughout. No late collapse and no concern over the other team’s last trip down court. If the rest of our guys stay healthy and avoid foul trouble, we can beat a lot of people.

- Trevor Cooney had the best game of his career. He scored more against Notre Dame last year when they had a freshman guarding him. In this game he nearly always had a hand in his face. But he was able to dribble the ball to get some open shots and he drilled nearly everything, including two huge threes in the final minutes that gave us a safe lead. Tonight he was every bit the “go-to guy” we’ve been looking for him to be his whole career. (JB in his presser said he’s been playing that way all season. That depended on when you think the season began.)

- We out-rebounded one of the country’s best rebounding teams, 39-35. We got 31% of our misses but they only got 26% of theirs. Meanwhile we were +5 in turnovers and out-shot them from the field, the arc and the line. That’s winning basketball.

- Rak Christmas, despite being in obvious pain and battling three seven footers who held him to 5 of 13 shooting, still managed his fifth double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

- Mike Gbinije almost matched him with 11 points, 9 rebounds, to go with 5 assists.

- Kaleb Joseph didn’t score much, (5 points) but had 7 assists to 1 turnover. Since the Villanova game, his assist-to-turnover ratio is 37-12.

- Tyler Roberson had trouble shooting but played aggressively going after the ball and secured 9 rebounds . He’s the guy now and he’s got to do it each game.

12-4 with 15+ more

LET’S GO ORANGE!!!!

 

[bballbeadle]

I kept expecting them to fall apart in the second half and for Florida State to make it a close game. Finally it began to dawn on me that what was transpiring before my eyes was something exceedingly rare this season: a relaxing game. We can take absolutely no team for granted in the ACC. I watched Duke get down 19 to State and then come roaring back to get within 9. Anything can happen!

Cooney was our shining star. Without all those points, the game would have been in doubt. (Duhhhh) He did unto Fla St. what two NC State players did unto Duke. Devastated them.