FSU basketball: Matthew Cleveland is a double-double machine

FSU basketball standout freshman Matthew Cleveland won the ACC Sixth Man of the Year Award last season and announced he’d return to Tallahassee instead of opting for the NBA Draft.

The 2023 season hasn’t been what FSU fans hoped for, but the emergence of Cleveland in year two has been something to behold. He’s become a double-double machine, notching eight consecutive, something that hasn’t happened at FSU since the 1970-71 season by Reggie Royals.

That’s over half a century if you’re counting. Cleveland has nine double-doubles and has drastically improved in nearly every area over his freshman year.

Matthew Cleveland averaged 11.5 ppg and 4.6 rebounds in 26.2 minutes as a freshman. However, those numbers have improved to 14.4 ppg and 8.1 rebounds in 34 minutes per game as a sophomore.

What’s even better? His shooting is light years better, averaging 47 percent overall and 43 percent from the three-point range compared to 45.2 and 11.7 percent from long range as a freshman. The same goes for his work at the charity stripe.

Cleveland averaged 55.5 percent and only 3.8 foul shots attempts per game last season. That’s improved to 68.2 percent and nearly five attempts per game this year. It’s not like he’s putting these numbers up against scrubs, either.

Cleveland has shined against No. 3 Virginia twice, No. 18 Duke, and No. 5 Purdue. It’ll be interesting to see how long he can keep this double-double streak going(I probably just jinxed it).

However, as bad as this season has been, I can only think of what it would have looked like had Cleveland not returned this year. He’s having an amazing season and has improved his draft stock considerably due to his improved shooting.

FSU will not make the NCAA Tournament, but we should all tune in and enjoy Cleveland for as long as we have him.