Florida State Collapses In Epic Fashion in Loss to Florida

The primary half was the best basketball we have seen from Florida State this season. The protection was getting turnovers and getting out in transition, Florida was lacking the straightforward seems to be, Darin Inexperienced was hitting each shot he took, Matthew Cleveland had confidence, Colin Castleton was being contained, Caleb Mills was being aggressive, guys that weren’t anticipated to play had been taking part in… it is loopy how briskly it might all change. 

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Regardless of being up 43-26 at halftime, I had a barely uneasy feeling. Whereas the rating was nice, Florida missed a ton of simple seems to be. You could not depend on them to go 1/12 from 3 or 4/10 on layups once more. A powerful first 4 minutes was one thing each groups had been in search of… Florida answered the decision. They got here out of halftime on a roaring 30-5 run over the primary 10 minutes of the half, together with a 12-3 run within the first 4 minutes of the half. Florida took benefit of an FSU group that was taking part in lazy with the ball and was cowering just a bit bit, afraid of getting punched within the mouth. The lead would get as excessive as 11 with about 10 minutes left earlier than FSU began to chip their method again into it, they might simply by no means get all the best way again, and are actually 0-4 for the primary time since 1959 as they’d fall 76-67.

These free throws are an enormous distinction. UF was 25/31 from the stripe whereas FSU was 14/15. Whereas it is an excellent and inspiring proportion , Florida simply continued to get to the road within the second half, capturing 21 of their whole FTs got here within the closing 20 minutes. 

Regardless of having simply 6 factors, 5 rebounds, and 0 blocks within the first half, Colin Castleton was an enormous cause Florida got here again on this recreation. He is such a gradual presence down low, and it is no mistake he completed with 25 factors, 9 rebounds and a block. 

Nearly as good as Matthew Cleveland was within the first half, he could not fairly get it going within the second half. On the break, he had 10 factors, 6 rebounds, and was 4/4 from the charity stripe. Within the second half, he had simply 4 factors. 

The true cause Florida State misplaced this recreation was turnovers. Florida was pressuring closely popping out of the break, and FSU merely could not deal with it early on. Having simply 5 turnovers as a group within the first half, they’d cough it up 11 instances within the closing 20 minutes, main to fifteen Florida factors. They did job rebounding within the first half, taking a 20-17 rebounding benefit into the break, nevertheless it was a a lot totally different story within the second half, as UF out-rebounded the ‘Noles 25-12 within the second half, together with grabbing 8 second half offensive rebounds that led to 11 second probability factors. 

As a group within the second half, FSU shot simply 33.3% from the ground, 0/10 from 3, and scored simply .585 factors per possession (24 whole factors). In the meantime, Florida was 51.6% from the ground, 2/5 from 3, and scored 1.316 factors per possession (50 factors). Sums all of it up proper there. 

Someway, Florida State goes to need to regroup from this. Naheem McLeod got here again from damage a lot prior to we thought he would, and we noticed Chandler Jackson and De’Ante Inexperienced verify in for the primary time of their careers. FSU is beginning to get wholesome, guess they should begin getting wins. 

The ‘Noles are again dwelling Monday after they play Mercer at 6:30. 

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