Growing pains were expected after a major roster turnover for the Florida State men’s basketball team, which returned just four players from the 2023-24 season.
The Seminoles have shown impressive athleticism and the capability to frustrate opponents on the defensive end, picking up five of seven wins by double digits. The downside has been the inconsistency shown in early December losses at LSU (85-75) and at NC State (84-74 in overtime). The games were competitive most of the way, but not in the final minutes as the Tigers pulled away and days later FSU’s lack of scoring depth (as well as Malique Ewin fouling out) limited the Seminoles in overtime.
“I’m concerned about our consistency and just about all phases of what we are doing,” FSU coach Leonard Hamilton said in an interview with the Osceola on Thursday. “I understand why we’re not where we would like to be. I’m having a better understanding of what it’s like to almost be like starting over and trying to get back to the efficiency where we’ve been when we’ve had our better teams. I’m reminded that we always had six or seven veterans returning for the new first- and second-year players to emulate.”
Hamilton was often critical in reflecting on FSU’s first 10 games, a 7-3 start before a break for exams and Saturday’s game against Tulane (5-6) at Sunrise, Fla., in the Orange Bowl Classic (4:30 p.m. on ACC Network). Perhaps that’s natural given FSU went into a big week with high expectations in road games only to fall short.
The criticism is Hamilton’s natural instinct, seeing the Seminoles’ growth but also their potential going into the final two non-conference games before the ACC slate takes over.
“We are almost doing everything correct,” Hamilton said. “It’s more thinking going on right now on offense and defense than reacting and playing instinctively. And that’s what our biggest challenge is.”
