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Florida State Seeks Balanced Scoring Against Red-Hot Winthrop
Florida State (8-3) looks to build on its recent momentum when it hosts a surging Winthrop (9-3) team on Tuesday night in Tallahassee. While the Seminoles have relied heavily on two key players, head coach Leonard Hamilton is calling for more contributors to step up and provide a balanced attack.
Florida State’s Need for More Scoring Options
The Seminoles have shown flashes of brilliance through their first 11 games, but one glaring issue remains: too much reliance on Jamir Watkins and Malique Ewin. Watkins, Florida State’s leading scorer, averages 18.7 points per game, while Ewin contributes 12.2 points and has reached double figures in eight straight contests.
Beyond those two, however, the scoring has been inconsistent. Hamilton emphasized the need for a more team-oriented approach.
“We have two guys, Malique and Jamir, that are really scoring, but we need eight points over here, 11 points over here, six over there,” Hamilton said. “We’ve never been able to win games by just two people… we need more people to be involved in producing and being productive.”
Florida State is averaging 76.0 points per game while allowing 69.8, but their shooting from beyond the arc remains a weak spot at just 28.4 percent. The Seminoles will need to find more offensive consistency, especially as the schedule toughens.
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In their most recent outing, FSU topped Tulane 77-64, showcasing their defensive grit and the continued leadership of Watkins and Ewin. Now, Hamilton hopes the team builds on that win with more players contributing offensively.
“We need more consistency, and that comes with confidence and being able to react as opposed to thinking,” Hamilton added.
Winthrop Rolling into Tallahassee on Fire
Winthrop enters Tuesday’s matchup riding a five-game winning streak and playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Eagles dismantled Bob Jones 103-55 last Thursday, improving to 9-3—their best start through 12 games in program history.
Winthrop’s offense has been electric during their recent run, averaging 94.2 points per game over the last five contests. Kelton Talford has been at the center of that success, averaging a team-leading 15.3 points per game. In their win over Bob Jones, Talford delivered a dominant performance with 19 points and 14 rebounds.
The Eagles are far from a one-man show, though. K.J. Doucet (14.9 points) and Kasen Harrison (13.9 points) are also scoring in double figures, giving Winthrop a balanced and versatile attack.
Facing ACC Competition
Winthrop’s trip to Florida State marks its third matchup against ACC opponents this season. While they fell to Virginia Tech 58-52 and Louisville 76-61 earlier in the year, head coach Mark Prosser believes his team has not yet reached its peak.
“We haven’t been the best version of ourselves yet,” Prosser said following the loss to Louisville.
Tuesday presents another opportunity for the Eagles to prove they can compete with high-level programs and close the gap against a power conference opponent.
Key Matchup: Watkins and Ewin vs. Winthrop’s Talford and Doucet
Florida State’s scoring duo of Jamir Watkins and Malique Ewin will look to lead the Seminoles against Winthrop’s balanced offensive trio of Kelton Talford, K.J. Doucet, and Kasen Harrison. If Winthrop continues its recent scoring surge, Florida State’s defense and ability to generate points outside of Watkins and Ewin will be tested.
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The Seminoles must also tighten up on the perimeter to limit Winthrop’s rhythm. A more balanced scoring effort from players like Cam Corhen, Baba Miller, or Tom House could be the difference for Florida State.
What’s at Stake
For Florida State, this game is a chance to solidify its offense and prove it can win games as a collective unit. With ACC play looming, Hamilton’s squad needs to build confidence and consistency, especially on offense.
For Winthrop, this matchup represents an opportunity to show progress against ACC competition and continue their momentum. A competitive showing, or even an upset, would give the Eagles a major confidence boost.
The Bottom Line
Will Florida State find the balanced scoring attack Hamilton has been calling for, or can Winthrop extend its winning streak and test the Seminoles with its high-powered offense? The answers will come down to Florida State’s ability to defend and get contributions from players beyond Watkins and Ewin.
