By TERRANCE HARRIS
Associated Press
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida State made the most of its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2012, beat a Sunshine State opponent.
The third-seeded Seminoles held off No. 14 Florida Gulf Coast 86-80 in a West Region game Thursday night despite some sloppy play that allowed a late double-digit lead to disappear. The Seminoles made some clutch free throws and came up with just enough stops in the waning moments to spoil the Eagles' upset bid.
"There is some satisfaction because we won," said Dwayne Bacon, who led the Seminoles with 25 points. "All that other stuff, how the game looked, that doesn't matter when you win."
The victory sets up a second round matchup between the Seminoles and No. 11 seed Xavier on Saturday. FSU knows it must play better if it doesn't want to be the next upset for the Musketeers, who stunned No. 6 Maryland earlier Thursday night.
The Seminoles missed some free throws down the stretch Thursday that helped create some drama at the end.
"When we hit our free throws, we don't have an issue," said FSU coach Leonard Hamilton, whose team improved to 26-8. "We didn't shoot free throws very well down the stretch, and if you don't knock those free throws down, you put yourself in position where this stuff can happen. It makes everything look bad."
It marred a narrative in which the Seminoles dominated a game with two athletic teams that get up and down the floor and finish well around the rim. The Seminoles beat the team known as "Dunk City" at its own game most of the night.
The crowd was mostly behind the Seminoles with many fans making the trip from the north part of the state.
Both teams like to dominate the paint, but the Eagles found that hard to do with 7-foot-1 Michael Ojo and 7-4 Christ Koumadje taking turns protecting the rim. That forced FGCU to rely heavily on its perimeter shooting, which wasn't the Eagles strength Thursday night.
The Seminoles had nine blocked shots on the night while holding the Eagles to 29 percent shooting from 3-point range and 41 percent from the field. FSU shot nearly 56 percent from the field while shooting primarily high-percentage shots.
Brandon Goodwin led the Eagles with 28 points and Zach Johnson added 17.
"It's hard to simulate what (the Seminoles) do," said FGCU coach Joe Dooley, whose team ends its season at 26-8. "You can't simulate height and length and athleticism like they have."
In addition Bacon, FSU got big production from Jonathan Isaac (17 points and 10 rebounds) along with Terance Mann (11 points) and Xavier Rathan-Mayes (10).
WINNING WAYS
FSU now has three consecutive opening game wins in the NCAA Tournament and its ninth first-round win in 15 NCAA appearances.
TOURNAMENT REGULARS
Florida Gulf Coast was in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years. FGCU made it to the Sweet 16 in 2013.
Showing posts with label Florida State. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida State. Show all posts
Friday, March 17, 2017
Thursday, March 16, 2017
Florida Gulf Coast-Florida St. Preview
Stats, LLC
Back in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons, Florida Gulf Coast has proven to be more than a one-time wonder after its “Dunk City” phenomenon fueled a Sweet 16 run while captivating the country four years ago.
Florida State expects this trip to the tournament will finally be the start of a consistent run of its own after four straight years of missing out.
In a clash of two teams capable of unleashing plenty of offensive highlights, the No. 3 seed Seminoles and No. 14 seed Eagles open West Region play with a first-round game in front of what each program could almost consider a home crowd Thursday night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.
“It’s finally here,” said FGCU junior guard Brandon Goodwin, who leads the team in scoring at 18.2 points per game. “This is something we’ll all be able to enjoy for the rest of our lives.”
The Eagles (26-7) have become something of a cult favorite among college basketball fans in recent seasons.
FGCU made a stunning run to the Sweet 16 as a high-flying, did-you-see-that No. 15 seed the only such seed to advance that far in the tournament in 2013 by upsetting Georgetown and San Diego State before falling to Florida. Last season, the Eagles won a play-in game over Fairleigh Dickinson before losing to eventual national runner-up North Carolina.
Efficient offense fuels these Eagles, who were fifth in the country in field goal percentage during the regular season at 50.2 percent.
The Seminoles (25-8) have struggled to make the Big Dance with regularity under longtime coach Leonard Hamilton. But this FSU squad, which finished second in the ACC during the regular season, also boasts a dynamic offense coming from one of the most talented lineups in the tournament.
Jonathan Isaac, a 6-foot-10 freshman forward, looks like an NBA lottery pick and is averaging 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Dwayne Bacon, a sophomore guard, leads the Seminoles in scoring at 16.9 points per game, while junior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes contributes 10.4 points and 4.8 assists per game. FSU averaged 82.5 points per game during the regular season, which was 18th in the country.
“Anytime you’re one of the top 4 seeds, it’s a significant position for your team and for your program,” said Hamilton, whose program was one of nine from the ACC to make the tournament. “We’re moving in the right direction. It gives us something to be proud of, feeling like they accomplished something over the course of the year. But they have to realize now, it’s a new season.”
The winner of Thursday’s game will face either Maryland or Xavier in the second round Saturday.
For FGCU to pull off another upset, the Eagles will have to contend with the size of Isaac and 7-foot-1 senior center Michael Ojo. That begins with senior forward Demetris Morant, whose 10.7 points and eight rebounds per game gives the Eagles some toughness in the paint.
From there, FGCU will need its backcourt to hold up against Bacon and Rathan-Mayes. Zach Johnson, a sophomore guard, adds 11.8 points per game for the Eagles while junior guard Christian Terrell chips in with 10.3.
“We know what to expect,” Terrell said. “Coach 1/8Joe Dooley 3/8 told us a long time ago that it gets better and better as you keep going on. That’s what we want to get to. It was fun the first time, but we want to get further and further.”
Back in the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five seasons, Florida Gulf Coast has proven to be more than a one-time wonder after its “Dunk City” phenomenon fueled a Sweet 16 run while captivating the country four years ago.
Florida State expects this trip to the tournament will finally be the start of a consistent run of its own after four straight years of missing out.
In a clash of two teams capable of unleashing plenty of offensive highlights, the No. 3 seed Seminoles and No. 14 seed Eagles open West Region play with a first-round game in front of what each program could almost consider a home crowd Thursday night at the Amway Center in Orlando, Fla.
“It’s finally here,” said FGCU junior guard Brandon Goodwin, who leads the team in scoring at 18.2 points per game. “This is something we’ll all be able to enjoy for the rest of our lives.”
The Eagles (26-7) have become something of a cult favorite among college basketball fans in recent seasons.
FGCU made a stunning run to the Sweet 16 as a high-flying, did-you-see-that No. 15 seed the only such seed to advance that far in the tournament in 2013 by upsetting Georgetown and San Diego State before falling to Florida. Last season, the Eagles won a play-in game over Fairleigh Dickinson before losing to eventual national runner-up North Carolina.
Efficient offense fuels these Eagles, who were fifth in the country in field goal percentage during the regular season at 50.2 percent.
The Seminoles (25-8) have struggled to make the Big Dance with regularity under longtime coach Leonard Hamilton. But this FSU squad, which finished second in the ACC during the regular season, also boasts a dynamic offense coming from one of the most talented lineups in the tournament.
Jonathan Isaac, a 6-foot-10 freshman forward, looks like an NBA lottery pick and is averaging 11.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. Dwayne Bacon, a sophomore guard, leads the Seminoles in scoring at 16.9 points per game, while junior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes contributes 10.4 points and 4.8 assists per game. FSU averaged 82.5 points per game during the regular season, which was 18th in the country.
“Anytime you’re one of the top 4 seeds, it’s a significant position for your team and for your program,” said Hamilton, whose program was one of nine from the ACC to make the tournament. “We’re moving in the right direction. It gives us something to be proud of, feeling like they accomplished something over the course of the year. But they have to realize now, it’s a new season.”
The winner of Thursday’s game will face either Maryland or Xavier in the second round Saturday.
For FGCU to pull off another upset, the Eagles will have to contend with the size of Isaac and 7-foot-1 senior center Michael Ojo. That begins with senior forward Demetris Morant, whose 10.7 points and eight rebounds per game gives the Eagles some toughness in the paint.
From there, FGCU will need its backcourt to hold up against Bacon and Rathan-Mayes. Zach Johnson, a sophomore guard, adds 11.8 points per game for the Eagles while junior guard Christian Terrell chips in with 10.3.
“We know what to expect,” Terrell said. “Coach 1/8Joe Dooley 3/8 told us a long time ago that it gets better and better as you keep going on. That’s what we want to get to. It was fun the first time, but we want to get further and further.”
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