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Can Noles notch first ACC win at Tech?

Game preview by Bill from Tampa   

The Florida State Seminoles make their second trip to Atlanta in just over a month. This time the opponent will be considerably tougher as the ‘Noles take on Georgia Tech fresh off their upset victory over #11 Duke last Wednesday.

Leonard Hamilton called the Yellow Jackets a young and talented team that is solid with depth playing up to ten people. That depth did decrease by one when guard Lewis Clinch, 13.2 ppg with 30 three pointers to his credit, was suspended for the rest of the season reportedly for violating the school’s honor code.

Very athletic like North Carolina, the Jackets have a balance of youth and veterans. Tech will start two true freshmen, a redshirt freshman, and two juniors, but bring some senior leadership off the bench. The two true freshmen are good enough that many think they may go straight to the NBA after this season.

Georgia Tech is a quick team that is aggressive on defense. That quickness and aggressiveness has resulted in Tech leading the ACC in steals at 10.5 per game.

That same quickness has contributed to their rebounding
prowess, especially on the offensive boards pulling down nearly 15 per game.

Against Duke the Yellow Jackets showed a balanced blend of an inside game led by Ra’Sean Dickey and a very capable perimeter game knocking down 7 of 12 three point attempts.

The Yellow Jackets play a lineup that could give FSU some defensive matchup difficulties starting just one guard, three forwards, and one center.

Jarvis Crittenton, a 6-5 true freshman, is the only starting guard. The point guard poses problems on offense and defense averaging 13.7 ppg while leading the team in steals with 31. Crittenton is an excellent shooter at 49% from the floor overall and 44% from behind the arc. With his ability to break down defenses his play making ability has added up to almost 6 assists per game. As with any freshman mistakes happen which has resulted in 60 turnovers for Jarvis.

The other true freshman on the Jackets is 6-8 forward Thaddeus Young. A top ten recruit as Crittenton was, Young is extremely active on the floor leading the team in scoring at 14.1 ppg. He is third in rebounds at 5.3 per game. Although Young can knock down the three, he is much more adept at slashing to the rim often getting points from offensive rebounds. Young will be a handful for FSU’s defense.

Redshirt freshman 6-10 forward Mohammad Faye from Senegal was recently added to the starting lineup with the suspension of Clinch. His numbers are modest at 4.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg. However with the starting assignment Faye has been a large factor on the boards pulling down 26 boards in his four starts.

At the other forward spot is Jeremis Smith, a 6-8 junior. Smith is averaging 9.1 ppg and is second on the Jackets in rebounds with 5.6 per game. A very athletic leaper, Smith leads the team in offensive rebounds with 36.

Dickey (6-10) had a huge game against Duke dominating the paint with 21 points on 6-8 shooting plus 6 boards. He leads Tech in rebounds at 6.2per game to go along with his 9.3 ppg. If Dickey takes a three point shot make sure to have your camera ready because you will have an extreme rarity for your picture collection. Dickey will rarely roam very far from the basket. But his athletic ability has made him a dangerous finisher shooting 62%. The Seminoles will need to avoid fouling him as well as Dickey connects from the line very well at 78%. Adding to his prowess in the paint is his defensive ability reflected in his 23 blocked shots.

Off the bench is junior guard Anthony Morrow and redshirt senior Mario West.

Morrow’s main job is to hit the three pointer. That has been an issue as the 6-5 Morrow had to deal with a back injury earlier in the season. That injury appears to be behind him and his legs finally under him as he connected on three from behind the arc against Duke. Morrow averages 8.6 ppg.

West (6-5) is a spark for Tech off the bench. Only averaging 4.4 ppg West is a defensive spark second on the team with 30 steals.

Also off the bench is 6-8 freshman Zach Peacock who will return to the court after a one game suspension for a flagrant elbow to Clemson’s Trevor Booker. Peacock is a solid contributor with 6.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg.

FSU should expect Tech to push the tempo much like North Carolina does. The Jackets are second in the ACC in scoring offense at 83.8 ppg.

They will also crash the boards hard as Tech currently holds an almost +8 rebounding margin.

If the Seminoles are to be successful, not letting the Jackets control the paint and the boards will be key. That has proven difficult for FSU so far given the lack of depth in the frontcourt. It will be up to the guards to prevent the ball from getting to Dickey or Young or prevent the taller Jackets from penetrating.

Tip off is at 6:00 PM and the game will be shown on ESPNU.

Veteran LSU beat writer's take on Jimbo's lack of control in running the Tiger offense

Glenn Guilbeau covers LSU for Gannett News Service, and has covered the Tigers since 1998. We asked him if it was true that LSU's head coach Les Miles meddled in Jimbo Fisher's running of the offense. Here's his answer:

"Jimbo never said Les Miles hindered the offense, but it is my opinion he did. I feel this way having watched Fisher's offenses at LSU since 2000. What LSU was trying to do in its 7-3 loss to Auburn for most of the game was not what Fisher usually tries to do. LSU was running far too much more than it should have with as good a quarterback as it had in JaMarcus Russell and his trio of receivers. They were also using a bunch formation which Fisher had never used and Miles had used at Oklahoma State. They went away from that formation after the Auburn game.

"I think it is only natural that Miles got more involved in the offense after the first season because his background is on the offensive side.

"That said, I think Fisher as well strived too much to run the ball and stay balanced. With a guy like Russell, LSU should've been passing until someone stopped it. Look at the numbers Russell put up, and it is only common sense to say they should've been throwing 35 to 40 times a game."

He's B-a-a-a-a-a-ck

Just when we thought the Jimbo Watch was over, Bobby, Dave Hart, T.K. (and perhaps a Swiss bank account) found a way to snatch victory from the jaws of Nick Saban and others vying for his services.

We believe that the drive and determination to bring Jimbo to Tallahassee is the perfect metaphor for the relentless, hell bent offense that Fisher, Trickett and Dawsey will field.

(P.S. - And we even promise to go back to calling Fisher Jimbo instead of "Limbo," even if it is the state he kept us all in for the better part of a month.)

Noles For Nuts

Despite OSU's weird mascot (actual Buckeye pictured on the left), today is the day all loyal Seminoles put on the Scarlet and Silver of Ohio State and cheer like there's no tomorrow. Because tomorrow will indeed be hell if the unthinkable happens and we all have to face a year of insufferable arrogance by those creepy, crawly swamp creatures. Seriously, if you think the NCAA basketball championship was bad, just imagine how absolutely impossible your orange 'n blue bleeding neighbor, brother-in-law, or co-worker will become if...

So wear something resembling OSU's colors, learn a few key players beyond Troy Smith, crank up the big screen, and join us in a deep-seated, heartfelt, window-rattling... G-O-O-O-O-O-O-O BUCKEYES! BEAT THE GATORS!

Jimbo buries all hope of ever coaching at FSU

Bobby Bowden has laid to rest any hopes of Jimbo Fisher joining the FSU coaching staff. After a month of heavy teasing by Fisher (an amazing record previously held by Paris Hilton), Bowden apparently grew tired of being strung along and said farewell to the former LSU offensive coordinator in the form of a terse statement to the media on Saturday night.

Fisher's endless indecision not only cost FSU valuable time. It's undoubtedly written a large "Rest In Peace" to any future possiblity of his coaching at Florida State — starting with consideration for the top job whenever Coach Bowden retires.

In the immortal words of Long John Silver: "Farewell, Jimbo, we hardly knew ye."

Welcome Dawsey and Trickett

Early Thursday morning the Tampa Tribune delivered part of the good news Noles have been waiting for: All-time great Lawrence Dawsey is headed back to Tallahassee.

What kind of impact will Dawsey have at Florida State? The Tribune's USF beat writer, Brett McMurphy, told us:

"Dawsey is viewed among the Bulls' top recruiters and is definitely a 'players' coach.' His experience — and success — at Florida State and the NFL is something that his receivers at USF definitely respect. Especially since he has played in the league."

Dawsey has only been coaching at USF for three years. Before that he was a graduate assistant at LSU in 2003, a WR coach at Tampa Blake (2002) and Tampa Catholic (1998) high schools, and a training camp assistant with the St. Louis Rams (2001).

Meanwhile, West Virginia's molder of OL monsters, Rick Trickett, is reported to be packing for Seminole territory. 

Buzzer Beater Sticks FSU With Loss In ACC Opener

by Bill from Tampa

Trailing almost the entire game and by as many as 12 points, Florida State worked its way back to tie Clemson 66-66 with just 6.5 seconds left. That was more than enough time for the 18th ranked Clemson as the Tigers slipped out of Tallahassee with a 68-66 win.

Vernon Hamilton fired a bullet pass to Cliff Hammonds who converted the layup with just three seconds left for the winning basket.

“We could not have executed that play any better,” Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said afterwards.

Obviously not and Leonard Hamilton concurred. Not just that one play but the entire game.

“We were beaten by a team that executed their game plan better than we did," said Hamilton. “They were more patient than we were and did a much better job sticking to their game plan,” he added.

Florida State had a hand itself in aiding the Tigers’ cause. The ‘Noles were bothered all game long by Clemson’s full court pressure and 1-3-1 defense committing 21 turnovers. In the first half alone, FSU gave up 19 points off 11 miscues.

“I was disappointed how we played during various stretches of the game giving up two and three turnovers in a row,” commented Hamilton.

Second chances for the Tigers was an issue as well as FSU was out-rebounded at the half 19-14 with Clemson grabbing 12 offensive boards. Although FSU did much better in that category in the second half holding the Tigers to just one offensive rebound, the first half contributed to Clemson getting thirteen more shots in the game than the Seminoles took.

Prior to Hammonds’ game winning shot FSU overcame a four point deficit in the last minute to tie the game when Toney Douglas’ missed three point attempt was tipped in by Ryan Reid. It was Reid’s only points of the game and it looked like it would send the game into overtime when FSU’s defense forced Clemson to call timeout before the five second call. Unfortunately for FSU fans it allowed Purnell to set the play.

“I’m proud how we fought back which is a compliment to our raw talent,” said FSU’s head coach. “But we just didn’t make good decisions tonight. Clemson’s defense had something to do with that. We were beaten by a team that made the last shot and did the little things to win the game.”

Leading the way for FSU was Al Thornton with 19 points on 7-14 shooting along with 6 rebounds. He was joined in double figures by Isaiah Swann with 13 points and 5 assists and Jason Rich with 12 including 7-8 from the free throw line.

What kept FSU in the game despite only taking 50 shots was 16-29 from the charity stripe.

Hamilton led Clemson with 19 points followed by K.C. Rivers’ 16 and James Mays’ 14 points.

FSU played from behind most of the game always playing catch up. Each time Clemson answered.

The Seminoles trailed 31-27 at the 4:50 mark when Swann’s lob over the point forward Sam Perry was picked off and Hamilton connecting on a three in transition. After Casaan Breeden’s layup, Hamilton converted a 15 foot jumper. Perry again stole the ball this time from Ralph Mims and finished the play himself. The run was finished off by Rivers three pointer from the left wing after FSU had passed the ball out of bounds.

With Clemson now leading 41-29, the Tigers looked to increase the lead when Uche Echefu’s lazy pass was picked off. However Clemson missed the easy layup that provided a game changing spark for the ‘Noles.

FSU’s defense forced two turnovers in the final minute of the half and Rich and Douglas each had layups with Echefu getting the traditional three point play.

FSU now trailed by only five 41-36.

The ‘Noles continued their momentum in the opening minutes of the second half. Swann’s three ball from the deep right corner brought FSU to within one, 43-42.

Turnovers caused by Clemson’s trapping defense plagued FSU again and Perry’s layup off a poor pass by Rich gave the Tigers a 51-43 margin.

Again FSU worked its way back. Rich stole the ball and Thornton finished off the play with a layup tying the score at 56 with 5:42 remaining.

After Clemson grabbed the lead back, 61-56, FSU continued to attack the basket drawing fouls. Rich followed a three pointer with two free throws. Douglas made one of two from the line to give FSU a 62-61 lead with 2:20 left.

Seconds later Hammonds took the lead back with a three ball. Thornton missed a contested layup that could have tied the game. Mays, who could have been fouled earlier in the possession, offensive put back gave Clemson a 66-62 lead.

With thirty six seconds left Thornton put back Rich’s missed three point attempt.

With Clemson being a poor free throw shooting team Hammonds was quickly fouled. The strategy paid off as he missed the first free throw. The rebound was corralled by Reid leading to his game tying shot.

With the loss Florida State falls to 12-3 and will attempt to pick up its first conference win Sunday night. That task will not be any easier as the ‘Noles travel to Chapel Hill to take on the 2nd ranked Tar Heels. Tip off is at 7:00 PM.