Takeaways, notes from FSU men's exhibition win over Flagler

Jamir Watkins’ first impression was a positive one. The Florida State men’s basketball team remains very much a work in progress — with some missing pieces — but the VCU transfer showed he can be a big part of the 2023-24 team.

Watkins scored 18 points on 6 of 6 shooting with six rebounds and three assists, showing his length, athleticism and shooting, in FSU’s 90-73 win over Flagler that for times Sunday night was uncomfortable as the Saints held a slim lead with under 14 minutes to go in the second half. FSU closed with a 19-3 run in the last 6:03.

"I came away from this game realizing the potential we have but also realizing we have to play with a lot more energy in order for us to be able to go out and realize our real, true potential," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said.

We’ll give the obvious caveat that Flagler is a Division II program and won that lacks height, although it had some physical frontcourt players. FSU nearly lost the rebounding battle but prevailed 37-33.

Here are some takeaways:

FSU did not play Chandler Jackson, Primo Spears or Jaylan Gainey. Spears still does not have clarity on his NCAA waiver, Gainey is also on the way back and is "getting close." Jackson has a stomach injury, taking a hit in practice and the coaches kept him out of the exhibition.

Without Jackson and Spears, the Seminoles had 15 turnovers.

Cam’Ron Fletcher looks, if not like his old self, a very good version of it. Fletcher had 13 points on 6 of 13 shooting but he was 0 for 4 from beyond the arc. He added eight rebounds. For him to be back on the court about 10 months after his season-ending knee injury is a very positive development.

"Fletcher gave us a tremendous amount of energy but he couldn't sustain it every long because he hasn't played in a long period of time," Hamilton said. "But I thought that the was very instrumental in getting deflections and steals."

Baba Miller had 16 points on 6 of 9 shooting, a team-high nine rebounds and three blocks in 23 minutes. His athleticism is way too much for a team like Flagler, and it showed. But it’s also good for the Seminoles to have Miller back for year 2.

Freshman forward Taylor Bowen can help FSU on the offensive end of the court. He had nine points and four rebounds. Not sure about his defense, at least not yet.

Josh Nickelberry looks like a good bench option, a jump shooter who can offer some leadership.

The perimeter defense is still very much a work in progress. Flagler drilled 8 of 15 3-pointers in the first half, although the Saints made just 1 of 10 in the second half.

While FSU shot 34 of 64 (53 percent) from the floor, the Seminoles made only 7 of 24 (29.2 percent) of their 3-pointers. Darin Green Jr. made 2 of 6 and Watkins made both of his 3-pointers.