Now that the dust has settled following FSU's 83-78 victory against then-No. 21 Florida, it's time for our first men's basketball edition of the 3-2-1: Where we offer 3 things we've learned, 2 questions we're asking and 1 prediction. Here is the post-UF hoops edition:
Three things we've learned
No. 1 -- Michael Ojo might have been the first-half MVP on Sunday
If the Florida game was the first time you’ve watched Florida State basketball this season, you might have been stunned by the play of senior center Michael Ojo. Despite not averaging more than 2.5 points or 12 minutes in any of his first three seasons, Ojo has been a completely different player in 2016.
After sitting out last year with a knee injury, the 7-foot-1, 304-pounder has returned with improved offensive skills, and all of those tools were on display during FSU’s 83-78 victory against then-No. 21 Florida. His hands are softer, his footwork is improved, and he has a much better feel around the basket.
All of those improvements were needed in the first half Sunday as several of FSU’s younger players seemed jittery against the toughest team they’ve encountered thus far. It wasn’t just the fact that Ojo scored six points in the first period, it was how he did it. His combination of brute force and solid technique allowed him to gain great position and then draw fouls while attempting to score. He then calmly hit his free throws, often reassuring his teammates before each one, like, "I got this."
Ojo only scored two points in the second half, but he also grabbed five rebounds to bring his game total to seven. And his one basket came on a beautiful alley-oop from guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes in transition.
If you haven't watched Ojo play much this season and somehow missed the Florida game, read this quote from UF coach Mike White to get a sense of how impressive the big man has become.
"How do you block out Ojo?" White asked rhetorically. "Strong, tough, physical, long, big hands. And he throws his body around. He's something else."
