FSU Basketball: Seminoles Win Opener 81-66

Aaron Thomas led the Seminoles, scoring 14 points as FSU Basketball opened its season with an 81-66 win over the Manhattan Jaspers on Saturday afternoon. 

The Florida State Seminoles’ men’s basketball team won their season opener against Manhattan 81-66 on Saturday afternoon. Led by Aaron Thomas’ 14 points, FSU had six players score in double digits and shot at a 57.5% clip against a Manhattan team that made the NCAA tournament last year.

It wasn’t a perfect effort, but — as FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton said after the game — it was a promising start for Florida State’s season.

“The success of this team this year will be in direct proportion to how much we’re able to develop [early on],” said Hamilton. “I thought tonight our guys exceeded some of my expectations.”

Florida State struggled early in the first half against Manhattan’s press and its three-point shooting. After Thomas hit the opening bucket, the Jaspers were able to grab control of the game early by forcing turnovers and hitting open looks along the perimeter.

FSU found itself down by as many as 10 at one point today before finally settling in and finding its rhythm.

“We had a lapse there where we were just forcing things too much, they sped us up, which I think that affected us on defense, we weren’t able to get out and contest shots, play our principles,” said Thomas.

It was almost all Seminoles from then on out though. FSU held Manhattan to just 28.6% shooting on the day while forcing 21 turnovers. After the game, Manhattan coach Steve Maisello credited FSU’s length with making it difficult to operate and score underneath the basket.

“They’re as big a team as I’ve ever seen,” said Maisello, adding that there must be something in the water down here.

Part of FSU’s size comes from getting back Kiel Turpin. Turpin — who was expected to play a big role last season — missed last year with a leg injury and was given another season of eligibility by the NCAA. Today, his presence was felt immediately. Turpin played 23 minutes and scored 13 points, but his head coach expects much more.

“I didn’t think we got anything close to what we needed out of Turpin,” said Hamilton, who was unhappy with Turpin’s rebounding. “I think he’s capable of playing better.”

But, on the afternoon, Turpin was able to score– just like most of his teammates. In addition to Turpin’s contribution, sophomore F Jarquez Smith had 13 points, junior G Devon Bookert had 11, junior G/F Montay Brandon had 12 and freshman guard Robbie Berwick had 11.

Berwick wasn’t the only newcomer to have a nice debut, either. Phil Cofer had four points and six boards before leaving the game early with a left leg injury. And Dayshawn Watkins also played 20 minutes and had three points and an assist.

“It’s actually really good for us, as a team, we know we can trust any of the new guys right now, making sure that they’ll do the job that needs to be done and defensively they’ll be where they need to be at,” Turpin said.

It wasn’t all good for FSU though. As Hamilton alluded to, the Seminoles lost the battle on the boards 33-32 and allowed the Jaspers 15 offensive rebounds. Despite the return of Turpin, FSU’s other big men — Boris Bojonovsky and Michael Ojo — combined to play just six minutes and didn’t collect a single rebound.

Smith and Cofer did the heavy lifting for FSU, grabbing six boards each.

“We need to make sure that everyone’s just going right now, defensively for us our bigs are having to go out and block shots for the guards. We just need the guards to come down and make sure our guys aren’t getting free open put-backs,” said Turpin. “But it’s the first game, we’re still trying to get used to play with each other.”

“I think after a while we’re going to be fine.”

Next up for FSU is Northeastern, a team the Seminoles played — and beat by two points — last season.

Notebook: The long awaited debut of Xavier Rathan-Mayes will wait just a little longer. Leonard Hamilton — who doesn’t typically give information on player discipline — would only say that XRM didn’t dress for tonight, but that he’s good for the rest of the season. Translation: XRM should be on the court next game… Hamilton didn’t mince words when asked about starting with a team like Manhattan, “usually you want to face teams who let you get your feet under you,” Hamilton said… Hamilton referred to Aaron Thomas, Devon Bookert and Montay Brandon as the leaders of this team and said the Seminoles will go as far as the trio can take them… Phil Cofer left the game early with cramps, but he isn’t expected to miss any time going forward.