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College basketball

FSU's home energy leads the way

A new coach and a 3-0 start have the Seminoles very confident, and that could pose problems tonight for the No. 8 Gators.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published December 6, 2002

Florida and Florida State renew their annual intrastate rivalry on the basketball court tonight, but things might be a little different than the past few years.

It should be a battle on both sides.

The Gators (4-2) have won four straight over FSU by a combined score of 331-244.

But under first-year coach Leonard Hamilton, the Seminoles (3-0) are coming off a big win over Iowa in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge at home Monday night.

With the Seminoles in the fourth game of an eight-game homestand, Florida coach Billy Donovan expects the Gators to see a much different team than the one they defeated 68-47 last season.

"They're a basketball team that's playing with a lot of energy, a lot of emotion right now, they've had all their games at home," Donovan said. "They seem like they're feeding off playing at home. Obviously (Michael) Joiner's a guy that's been around for a while and they've added some players ... that seem relatively deep and athletic and they create a lot of offense off their defense with their pressure. It will be a game we're going into with a hostile environment and it will be important that we're able keep our composure and get good shots . . . and make good plays and good positions."

Keeping its composure will be paramount for the Gators, who are playing their fourth straight road game. Florida has lost two of its past three by a combined six points -- having held late leads in both. With a starting lineup that has included two freshmen, the No. 8 Gators are experiencing growing pains.

It's understandable, the players said, but not acceptable.

"Historically yes (it can be expected), but we strive for protection here so I'm going to say for us no," senior forward Matt Bonner said. "I don't expect as a team captain for those guys, for our team in general, to come out like that and that's something we have to fix."

In its last outing, FSU shot 50 percent from the field and had four players in double figures. The Seminoles' hot start has been led by Joiner, a junior forward averaging 15 points. A double-figure outing tonight would give Joiner a personal record of four in a row.

But with wins over three unranked teams, including Savannah State and Mercer, the Seminoles realize tonight is their first test.

"It's always a test every time we go out on the court," Joiner said. "We don't overlook any team. It's definitely going to be a lot of emotions with two in-state teams. This is the game, I think, everybody's waiting to see us play. Our team is real focused and hungry to play the Gators."

One element tonight's game won't have is that of being combined with the Florida-Florida State football rivalry. This year and next, because of scheduling conflicts, the games aren't being played on back-to-back nights. Expect no less intensity from either team.

"I think the football game the same weekend adds a little more to it but I still think it's an exciting game for the state of Florida," Gators senior Justin Hamilton said.

-- Times correspondent Jason Schneider contributed to this report.

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