Off And Running: Florida State men open season with 94-67 rout of Kennesaw State

The depth was back. So was the defense. And the smiles.

Throw in some impressive shooting, particularly from senior guard Darin Green Jr., and the Florida State men’s basketball team got off to a great start to the 2023-24 season Friday night.

Playing against a Kennesaw State team that won 26 games a year ago, FSU sprinted out to a 15-point advantage at halftime, led by as many as 35 in the second half and rolled to a 94-67 victory.

“We got a lot of deflections,” Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton said of the Seminoles’ defensive effort, particularly early in the second half. “We played to who we are, who we’re trying to become. … I was also pleased with our rotation. Hallelujah! It was good to be able to have some subs. That’s been the staple of our program for years, and it looks like we’re back to that level of rotation, where we can sustain our energy for long periods of time.”

Thanks in large part to that improved depth, it was a much more promising start than one year ago, when an injury-depleted Seminoles lineup opened the year with four straight losses and eventually slumped to a 1-9 record.

Green got Florida State going in the first half with 15 points on 5-of-7 shooting (2-of-4 from 3-point range), and the Seminoles also got a lift when sophomore Tom House came off the bench and hit three 3-ponters in less than four minutes of action.

Green finished the night with 18 points, and he also provided veteran leadership for a team that is heavily dependent on sophomores and juniors.

“He played the game the right way,” Hamilton said of his sharp-shooting senior. “I’m wanting him to become more and more and more of a complete player — attacking the basket, going left and right. [Hitting] pull-ups, I think he had a couple of those tonight. He showed he’s concentrating on that.”

Hamilton used 11 different players extensively — each playing more than 10 minutes — which allowed the Seminoles to spread the wealth offensively and wear down the visiting Owls. Florida State’s starting five combined to score 48 points, and the bench contributed 46.

“That’s huge,” Hamilton said. “It’s bigger than big. Being able to have your guys understand that everybody’s important. Those guys that play 12, 15 or 16 minutes are just as important as those guys who are starting.”

Florida State got 13 points from Cam’Ron Fletcher, 10 from Cam Corhen, and 9 apiece from Jalen Warley, Baba Miller, Josh Nickelberry and House. Jamir Watkins only scored two points, but he led the Seminoles with 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

The Seminoles shot 47 from the field and held Kennesaw State to 32 percent. Florida State also claimed a slight 48-46 rebounding advantage.

The Seminoles will return to action Monday at 7 p.m. against visiting Central Michigan.

BOX SCORE: FSU 94, Kennesaw State 67

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