Florida State got its first look at a very different roster on Wednesday night, and the Seminoles made the most of it. In Birmingham, Ala., they used a massive night from Marcis Ponder and a steady second-half push to beat Auburn 82-71 in an exhibition game.
Ponder was the anchor throughout, finishing with 13 points and 21 rebounds for the game’s only double-double. Every point came in the paint. He went 4-of-9 from the floor and 5-of-6 at the free-throw line, giving Florida State exactly the kind of interior presence Luke Loucks believed he was getting when he signed one of the nation’s top center prospects.
That performance fit the profile of a roster built around size, pressure inside and efficiency at the line. Florida State had the edge on the glass, 51-40, and the Seminoles repeatedly cashed in at the stripe while Auburn could not keep up.
Kameron Taylor supplied the scoring punch with 19 points and did it without missing a free throw, going 10-for-10 from the charity stripe. Taylor arrived after two seasons at UNC Asheville and looked comfortable right away.
Shon Abaev added 15 points and eight rebounds after spending his freshman season at Cincinnati. Sebastian Rancik chipped in 14 points and went 11-of-13 at the free-throw line after two seasons in Colorado.
Auburn got 20 points from Tahaad Pettiford, though it took 6-of-18 shooting to get there, including 4-of-11 from three. Adam Olsen finished with 11 points, and Kevin Overton added 10.
The Seminoles did their damage from the line in a way that ultimately separated the teams. Florida State made 20 more free throws than Auburn attempted. That mattered because Auburn still made three more field goals and seven more three-pointers, but the Tigers couldn’t overcome Florida State’s physical edge and a defense that held them to 28.6 percent shooting overall and 26.3 percent from deep.
The game opened tight, with Florida State grabbing a 14-13 lead with 11:16 left in the first half. A stretch that included an Anthony Robinson II three pushed the Seminoles ahead 22-13, but Auburn answered quickly. Pettiford knocked down a three, and the Tigers rolled from there, outscoring Florida State 19-6 over the next six minutes to move in front 32-28 with just under three minutes remaining in the half.
Auburn carried a 37-32 lead into halftime, but the Seminoles flipped the game after the break. Florida State won the second half 50-34 and never really let the Tigers back in once it seized control.
Down 46-41 with 14:50 to play, the Seminoles strung together a 10-2 run to take a 53-48 lead. Elisèe Assui started that surge with a jump shot, and Florida State stayed in front the rest of the way, closing out a strong exhibition showing for its revamped group.
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Florida State's Miami Upset Hopes May Ride On One Breakthrough
Florida State heads into its matchup with unbeaten Miami knowing the Hurricanes bring one of the nations most complete profiles, from a top-ranked offense to a rushing defense that has been especially stingy. For the Seminoles to have any real chance at an upset, theyll need a way to keep the game from being dictated at the line of scrimmage, and that puts the spotlight squarely on Ousmane Kromah, whose balance, power and ability to create after first contact have made him one of the leagues most difficult backs to corral.
Miami linebacker Mohamed Toure figures to be central to that effort, while Mike Norvell and Florida State have their own job of finding answers that can turn the game into something less predictable. The larger question is whether the Seminoles can get the kind of breakthrough they need in the run game to make Miami play on uncomfortable terms, because against a team this balanced, even one problem spot can decide the night. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Norvell Decision Carries A Risk Fans Can't Ignore
Florida States football program is back in a familiar spot, staring at a decision that could shape the next several years. Mike Norvells on-field struggles have put the school under pressure to consider a change, but this is not the kind of move made in a vacuum. The Seminoles are trying to weigh performance against the realities of their athletic department, and the picture gets murkier because there is not a permanent athletic director in place to steer such a major call.
The financial side makes the timing even trickier. A coaching change would come with a hefty buyout, and Florida State is already dealing with athletic department debt, which only raises the stakes of acting too quickly. For now, the safest path may be patience, letting a new athletic director take the reins before making a decision that could cost the program far more than just money. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Got Bad News For Its Miami Upset Hopes
Miami heads into its Week 7 matchup with Florida State looking a lot healthier than it did just a few days earlier. Starting edge rusher Marquise Lightfoot and starting right tackle Matthew McCoy were not listed on the initial injury report, even after both picked up injuries in the previous game against Clemson. For a Seminoles team trying to find any edge in a rivalry game, that is not exactly the kind of early news it wanted to see.
Several other players on both sides did show up on the report, with some listed as out or questionable, but the bigger picture is hard to miss. Miami appears likely to be close to full strength, which raises the difficulty for Florida State on both sides of the ball. The Seminoles were already facing a tricky path into this game, and now the challenge looks even steeper. [Read more 🡒]