Florida State played for the first time in a week after a narrow loss to Duke. Instead of showing a refreshed, improved product, the Seminoles were lethargic and flat.
The first half was dreadful on both ends of the court: FSU missed 10 of 12 3-point attempts and didn't grab an offensive rebound after 17 missed attempts from inside or outside the arc. The Seminoles also allowed NC State to make 11 3-pointers.
From an energy standpoint, it was some of the worst basketball FSU has played for a half. And it shows just how far the Seminoles still must go if they are to improve an grab their first ACC win.
NC State had little trouble in building a 25-point halftime lead en route to a 113-69 win on Saturday afternoon. Matt Able was 4 of 6 and Paul McNeil Jr. was 5 of 10 from deep as NC State hit 3s early and often.
“From top to bottom, we were terrible tonight, and obviously the score reflects that,” FSU coach Luke Loucks said. “As a coaching staff, I thought we got outcoached from top to bottom. They adjusted. We tried to adjust. None of it worked. Our players did not play again with the level of effort and competitive spirit that we need. Our execution was terrible. Our sense of urgency was bad. We didn't attack.”
FSU’s loss is thought to be its most lopsided in ACC play at home since joining the league in 1992.
The Wolfpack shot 19 of 35 from 3-point range, the highest total made shots from beyond the arc against FSU this season. (Texas A&M had 15 out of 34 attempts.) NC State came into the game averaging 10.6 3-pointers per game.
Thomas Bassong had a good sequence with a basket down low out of a timeout and then his steal led to an easy basket. The freshman had 14 points on 5 of 6 shooting and two steals but no rebounds in 21 minutes. Loucks suggested postgame that Bassong would be earning more minutes.
But the Seminoles shot just 5 of 23 (21.7 percent) from 3-point range and 22 of 56 (39.3 percent) from the floor.
Kobe MaGee scored 10 points but was just 2 of 6 from 3-point range for FSU (7-9, 0-3 ACC).
Robert McCray fouled out with 10 points, two rebounds and an assist but no turnovers.
Alex Steen grabbed FSU’s first two offensive boards early in the second half, with the second one a putback dunk. Steen had six points and three rebounds.
Paul McNeil Jr. had 21 points for the Wolfpack. Darrion Williams finished with 20 points on 6 of 13 shooting, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc, as NC State (12-5, 3-1 ACC) took control early with a 15-1 run in the first half.
Loucks sounds off postgame on FSU’s effort
Much of Loucks’ postgame press conference revolved around FSU’s shortcomings. While media and fans can acknowledge the lack of money to acquire talent, some of FSU’s struggles are to be expected.
But Loucks pointed to the inability to close out on 3-point shooters and a rebounding gap of 44-25 as part of the effort that was lacking on Saturday. When asked about his comments on Bassong earning more time, or if he could use minutes as a motivator, Loucks didn’t hold back.
“At a bare minimum, I can't play guys that don't want to give it all. I love these kids. Most of our team is coming up from the lower or mid-major level. This is big-time basketball. This is as close to professional basketball, some people would argue it is professional basketball. These guys are making a lot of money to play basketball, maybe not as much as our opponent on any given night, but the reality is you're getting a lot of money to show up and go to school, you got to graduate, you got to stay eligible and hopefully get a good degree. And then you got to perform as a basketball player. It's as simple as that. And right now, if you don't perform similar to what I said earlier, going back to life, if you don't perform in life, you're going to get replaced. You call it harsh, that's life.
“If I coach basketball the way I coached tonight, eventually our administration will let me go. And they'll find someone that's better. If you're a player and you don't perform, you play a little bit less, maybe you get pulled from the starting lineup. You play a little bit less. Eventually, don't play at all, and eventually you never play basketball again. You got to find a real job. That may be harsh in black and white, but that is a reality of currently, what we're living in and what they're going to see in life.
“To me, it's not pressure. It is an absolute privilege to get to show up and play basketball at a high level in front of a lot of fans that want to cheer you on and have the opportunity every night to compete. A lot of people in life don't get that opportunity. They got to sit at a desk and work a job they might not like. I hope our guys like their job. I freaking love basketball. I love playing it. I love coaching it. I'm eager every day to get back in the office. If you don't have that at minimum like, but love for the game, you're going to be in trouble.”
Up next
FSU plays at Syracuse on Tuesday at 9 p.m.
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