Florida State seeks to continue hot start vs. C. Michigan

Oct 25, 2023; Charlotte, NC, USA;  Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton speaks to the media during the ACC Tipoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Florida State will be looking to open a season at 2-0 for the first time since the 2020-21 team won its first four games when it hosts Central Michigan Monday night in Tallahassee, Fla.

The Seminoles (1-0) opened the season with a 94-67 romp past Kennesaw State Friday night to open a campaign seeking to erase the memories of last season’s 0-4 start that became 1-9.

The Chippewas (0-2) are coming off a 74-64 home loss to Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday after losing their opener 89-59 at Oklahoma earlier in the week.

Junior Anthony Pritchard, a transfer from Tulsa, leads Central Michigan in scoring with 26 points in the two games. His average of 13.0 ppg is the only one in double figures for the Chippewas.

Chippewas coach Tony Barbee lamented his team’s lack of consistency in the loss to Monroe.

“We did our jobs in spots,” he said. “We can’t win a game doing things in spots. Offense can come and go, but on the offensive end of the floor, you cannot have 19 turnovers against a team that didn’t press us one time.

“On the defensive end of the floor, we aren’t getting consistent play.”

The Seminoles had no such issues against Kennesaw State, leading from start to finish.

Darin Green Jr., last season’s leading scorer, led the onslaught with 18 points as 12 of the 16 players who saw action for the ‘Noles scored.

Green, a senior who transferred from UCF before last season, added three rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot in just over 25 minutes on the court.

“Darin normally leads by example and is in his teammates’ ears away from the court,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said. “I thought he played the game the right way tonight.”

–Field Level Media

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