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Published Dec 23, 2011
Inside the box score: Florida-Florida State
Paul Thomas
Warchant.com Staff Writer
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Photo Gallery: FSU vs. FloridaClick Box Score: Florida 82, FSU 64 | Here to view this Link.
"We didn't fight tonight. We weren't competitive, we weren't the Seminoles-- how we play. We've got to get back to playing how we were at the end of last year. If we get back to that point we'll be fine."
Florida State sophomore guard Ian Miller after the Seminoles' loss to Florida
Top performers
  • Luke Loucks: Loucks played one of his better games of the year scoring a team-high 15 points to go along with four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. He had three turnovers as well.
  • Terry Whisnant: Whisnant scored 11 points in just 10 minutes of playing time. He shot 4 of 5 from the floor and 3 of 4 from behind the arc. He also had three rebounds, a steal, and no turnovers.
  • Xavier Gibson: Gibson scored 10 points in 25 minutes. He had six rebounds as well, but again was limited due to foul trouble.
    • Going guard heavy
    After playing mostly just the No. 4 forward last season, sophomore Okaro White has started every game this season for Florida State at the No.3 spot on the perimeter.
    Through the first 12 games of season the 6-foot-9 Clearwater, Fla. native is averaging 8.1 points per game and five rebounds, but has never looked truly comfortable on the perimeter.
    With the return of Ian Miller and freshman forward Antwan Space, Leonard Hamilton said after the Florida game they may move White back to the No. 4 position to split time with Xavier Gibson.
    "Moving Xavier to the four and Okaro to the three has not been nearly effective as I had hoped it would be,"Hamilton said in Gainesville. "I think we've got to make some adjustments there. I think those guys will still get minutes, but I think we're going to have to put another perimeter guy on the floor because it seems as though we're not benefiting from having that size on the floor."
    While the added size has been helping FSU on the defensive end Hamilton admitted that it has had a negative effect on the offensive end in terms of turnovers and execution.
    Hamilton thinks that the return of Miller and Space can help improve things on the offensive end and allow White to move back the No. 4 position where he seemed more comfortable last season.
    "Obviously getting Ian back, and getting Space back it's kind of like going to be like starting over in some ways trying to figure out another rotation," Hamilton said. "I think both of those guys are talented enough to where they can bring some positive plays ... I think it will help us negate some of those droughts we have when we go periods of time without scoring the ball."
    Miller returns
    After sitting out the first 11 games of the season, sophomore guard Ian Miller made his long-awaited debut Thursday night.
    The 6-foot-3 guard from Charlotte, N.C. scored seven points in 22 minutes. He went 3 of 8 from the floor, but 0 of 4 from three-point range.
    "I was just ready to play and get back with teammates and help them," Miller said. "It felt excellent. Loved every second of it."
    Miller was inactive the first 11 games of the year due to poor academic performance. Not being able to suit up on gameday was tough for the young guard, but he says the whole experience has made him grow up a little bit.
    "It was tough but I take the blame for everything that happened," He said. "It was a learning process for me and my teammates, but it made me mature. I had to mature and now that I'm back helping my teammates I'm happy."
    Next up
    After taking a few days off for the Holidays, Florida State will return to action on December 30 as they take on Princeton in Tallahassee. The game will not be televised but will be available via online stream on ESPN3.com.
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