The Florida State Seminoles were overpowered by the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils 100-65 on Saturday night. With this victory, Duke advances to 17-1 in the ACC and 26-3 overall, continuing to demonstrate their dominance.
This was an impressive performance by the Blue Devils (26-3), even with the absence of junior guard Tyrese Proctor. Despite starting four freshmen, Duke managed to be dominant while playing much of the first half without freshman sensation Cooper Flagg. The Blue Devils continue to prove why they are in serious contention for a national title this season. Freshman Isaiah Evans led the team in scoring in his first college start, scoring 19 points.
This was an important win for the odds-on favorite Duke Blue Devils as they continue to establish themselves as contenders for another NCAA championship. The victory solidifies their one-game lead over the Clemson Tigers within the ACC, allowing the team to control their own destiny as the season concludes.
For Florida State (16-13) fans, this loss is not all bad. The Seminoles managed to keep the game competitive for much of the first half, despite missing star player Malique Ewin. A bright spot in the contest was the major contribution of Jamir Watkins, who totaled 21 points while shooting 8-of-15 from the field.
Ewin’s absence was certainly felt. Without their leading rebounder, the Seminoles were seriously outmatched on the glass. Florida State totaled 12 less offensive rebounds than the Blue Devils, causing a major discrepancy in second chance opportunities.
The offensive rebounds were not the only issue. The Seminoles also lost the turnover battle 14-4. A combination of miscommunication and mistakes on offense enabled the Blue Devils to control the pace for much of the match. Improving on these issues will likely be a focus for the Seminoles going forward.
Florida State will look to bounce back and snap a three-game losing streak on the road against the Virginia Cavaliers (14-15) on March 4th. As we approach the end of the season, the Seminoles are playing for seeding in the upcoming ACC championship tournament. The Noles will have a piece of extra motivation as head coach Leonard Hamilton is seeking his 200th ACC regular–season victory before his retirement at the end of the season.