FSU basketball: Noles too reliant on three-point shot in loss to Clemson

FSU basketball has lost two games by double-digit points.

FSU basketball (5-2, 1-1 ACC) isn’t close to the same team as last year, and if they don’t change things offensively, I think we’re going to see more of these types of performances.

The Noles fell to Clemson 77-67 Tuesday night, and it’s easy to point to things that stood out in the loss.

• FSU had 17 turnovers
• Clemson was +11 on the offensive glass
• Clemson shot 33 free throws compared to nine for FSU
• 52 percent of FSU’s shots were three-pointers

That was the ballgame right there. The Noles were sloppy with the ball, got outhustled on the offensive glass, and settled for jump shots while Clemson was more aggressive taking the ball to the rim.

The refs were not particularly good, but you’re going to get a big discrepancy at the free-throw line when literally over half of your shots are from beyond the arc. Clemson only had 12 turnovers in the game as well.

Scottie Barnes got his fourth foul early in the fourth half but led the team with 14 points. MJ Walker has 11 points but was only (1-6) from beyond-the-arc. Raiquan Gray was (0-5) from beyond-the-arc, and Malik Osbourne was (0-3).

Final Thoughts

I have to remind myself this was only the seventh game of the season with a younger team than last year.

However, Leonard Hamilton has to find a way to make this offense more balanced if this team wants to have any hopes of going deep in the NCAA Tournament. Is Scottie Barnes the answer at the point position?

He’s shown the ability to get to the rim and finish when he wants to. MJ Walker can get to the rim off the dribble as well.

FSU has taken 123 shots over the last two games, with 65 of them coming from three-point range (53 percent of their shots). They are becoming Duke for some reason, living and dying by the three-pointer.

Ironically, that’s who they’ll face Saturday night at 8 p.m. in the Tucker Center.