Can the Golden Eagles top the Seminoles in the championship of the Old Spice Classic?
Marquette vs. Florida State – Old Spice Classic Championship – 6:30 CT ESPN2
Leonard Hamilton knows that FSU Basketball is synonymous with potential, and the same can be said about his roster this year.
After finally breaking through and making the NCAA tournament last year, the Seminoles lost leading scorer and ACC Defensive player of the year Toney Douglas. Now, Hamilton and his strong recruiting class have a lot to work to do to get back to the tournament.
The 2009-10 Seminoles have shown their youth in the Old Spice Classic thus far. Hamilton’s crew has turned the ball over 40 times in two games which can be attributed to heavy defensive pressure from both Iona and Alabama. FSU also does not have a true point guard, and that could hurt down the stretch.
The Golden Eagles will put the same pressure on as Alabama, even some full court man-to-man. This will cause the inexperienced guards of Florida State to make some mistakes, leading to transition buckets for MU.
FSU Frontcourt
C – Soloman Alabi – The redshirt sophomore center stands 7′1” 250 lbs. and is still very raw. Alabi has been given great praise from writers around the country due to his athleticism and agility. His potential is sky high, but he hasn’t shown it yet this year. Alabi isn’t very strong around the hoop yet, and the lack of strength hurts him offensively. On the defensive end, Alabi gets rebounds due to his height. MU should be weary of him around the basket, as he is a shot-blocking machine. He averaged 2.1 blocks per game last season, and is averaging 2.6 this season. If the Golden Eagles go small, Hamilton has two choices. He could put Alabi on Hayward, which would allow Marquette to open up lanes by pulling Alabi out of the paint. He could also choose to sit Alabi and play a quicker lineup. Alabi will be a force one day, and the Golden Eagles are fortunate that he’s not at that level yet.
F – Chris Singleton – The former McDonald’s All-American is the ‘Noles best player. The sophomore from Dunwoody, Georgia has a great skill set. He can sure fill a stat sheet, as he leads the team in points, rebounds, assists and steals going into the game against Alabama. The 6′9” forward is also oozing with potential but can make the wrong play on both ends of the ball. His aggressiveness can get the best of him and he often gets into foul trouble. For Marquette to knock out FSU early, the Golden Eagles could go at him early, and draw a few fouls.
F – Xavier Gibson – Gibson is the third of the trio of sophomore big men for FSU. Gibson is 6′11” 240 and his length helps him contribute on both ends of the court. While he needs to get stronger, he’s a shot blocker, and can finish down low.
F – Ryan Reid – Reid, a 6′8” senior, is a leader in the frontcourt. A starter as a sophomore, Reid has taken a backseat to the more talented big men. Reid is a bruiser down low, and can be tough on both the offensive and defensive glass.
F – Jordan DeMercy – DeMercy sees about 15 minutes a game, and he’s your typical tweener. He can do multiple things on the court, but none of them extremely well. DeMercy is smaller than the other forwards at 6′7” 215, but can shoot an open three and takes care of the ball.
FSU Backcourt
G – Derwin Kitchen – Kitchen is in his second year at Florida State after transferring from Iowa Western Community College. His first year did not go so well, but he’s looked better on the stat sheet this year. The 6′4” guard can shoot it from deep, and is a three-point threat. Kitchen, though, cannot handle the ball like an ACC guard, and it has led to a few turnovers early in the season. Confidence is key in Kitchen’s game, and if he plays tentative on Sunday, the Seminoles could be in for a long night. Look for Dwight Buycks and Darius Johnson-Odom to pressure him into a few mistakes.
G – Michael Snaer – Marquette fans have heard this name a lot before. The 6′5” freshman from Rancho Verde, California chose Florida State over Marquette a few years ago. Snaer has the ability to fill it up at any time, but hasn’t yet at FSU. Snaer hasn’t scored more than five points since his 14 point debut against Jacksonville. He sees about 20 minutes a game, and although he hasn’t found his touch yet, he will want to perform well against MU and Buzz Williams.
G -Deividas Dulkys – The 6′5” guard from Lithuania scores one way – three-point baskets. The sophomore guard hit a few big three’s in FSU’s win over Alabama. Hamilton looks to run him off a lot of screens to get him looks at the basket. His success from deep this year has kept Snaer from getting 25-30 minutes a game.
G – Luke Loucks – The pass-first 6′5” point guard has struggled to start his sophomore season. He’s been careless with the ball, as he leads the team in turnovers per game, and he has found it difficult to hit shots from the outside. Loucks will get a chance if Kitchen struggles, but it looks like he won’t get too many minutes.
Hamilton will have his hands full with Buzz Williams bunch who have won their last two games convincingly. Marquette has the advantage at the guard spot, and while Florida State’s bigs have great potential, they haven’t reached it yet. Ball pressure and points in transition are the keys for Marquette in this game. Getting to the free-throw line is a must, and the quicker Singleton and Alabi get into foul trouble, the earlier Marquette can take a big lead.
