Florida State University Athletics

Saturday, December 9
Sunrise, Fla.
1:30 p.m.

Florida State

vs

South Florida

Chandler Feature for USF

Jackson Playing With Confidence Heading Into AutoNation Orange Bowl Classic

12/8/2023 12:11:00 AM | Men's Basketball

SUNRISE, Fla. – Florida State's Chandler Jackson is by trade a slasher and a facilitator. He gets to the basket because of his physicality and ability to make plays at the rim. At the same time, he has a great ability to put his teammates in position for open shots and in clear driving lanes because of his offensive vision.

As the Seminoles prepare to face USF in the AutoNation Orange Bowl Classic on Saturday at the Amerant Bank Arena at 1:30 on the ACC Network, many of Jackson's talents have been on display during the first month of his second season.

All of Jackson's personal statistical numbers have increased this season, including his minutes, points, and assists per game averages. He's third on the team is assists and shooting the ball better than he ever has. As important as those individual statistics are, he's getting himself to the free throw line and knocking down his shots at a very high rate. Jackson has made 10 of his first 12 free throws in Florida State's first seven games and leads the team in free throw shooting percentage with a career-high mark of .833.

For the sophomore majoring in social science, it's all about the confidence he's gained in both practice and in games.

"I have much more confidence this season as compared to last season," said Jackson. "I feel way better on the court this season than I did during my freshman season. I'm healthy and that's a big reason for my confidence."

Jackson missed the first three games of his freshman season and didn't feel comfortable with Florida State's complicated system until the end of January. He essentially played catch-up for the first three months before acclimating himself and becoming an important part of the Seminoles' rotation. He averaged just under nine minutes played per game and never scored more than six points in his first 17 games of the 2022-23 season. Jackson averaged nearly 14 minutes played per game in his final 12 games, scored in double figures twice, and totaled a career-high nine assists as a starter in 26 minutes against Syracuse at the Donald L. Tucker Center.

"It was really good for me to get the experiences I did last season as a freshman," said Jackson. "I was able to get used to our system and how everything works within our program. Last season taught me to keep going, to keep working, and to keep pushing through the walls that form with every player during a given season."

Entering the Seminoles' game against the Bulls, Jackson is one of the first Seminoles off of the bench and is averaging a career-high 15.9 minutes played per game. He has played at least 15 minutes in each of Florida State's first seven games of the season.

Associate Head Coach Stan Jones, who pushes Jackson to reach his potential every day, also sees Jackson's improvement.

"Chandler is growing every day in his knowledge, confidence and game management," said Jones.  "He has so many levels still that he can get to if he coordinates his work ethic and his maturation to grow together. We are in his ear every day as our staff believes so much in his potential. His motor is running; if he will step hard on the gas, he will be hard to handle for guards in the ACC."

Jackson is destined to improved his overall game during his career under Head Coach Leonard Hamilton, Jones, and the entire Seminole coaching staff.

"I am working hard to improve my defense and to become a better shooter," said Jackson. "The system we have at Florida State allows for a great deal of freedom for every player. We all know that we are going to learn how to play defense, that's just part of what we do. Coach Jones is a great teacher who knows so much. He works with me every day to improve my shot."

Within the Florida State system, a player's defensive achievements are not always measured by the number of blocked shots or steals each player accumulates. The achievements are measured by team statistics and success.

Jackson and his teammates currently lead the ACC in steals and 3-point field goal percentage defense, while ranking among the top-10 teams in the league in blocked shots and field goal percentage defense. The Seminoles have allowed the fewest number of 3-point shots (35) of any ACC team, and are holding their opponents to a .252 shooting mark from the 3-point arc – the lowest defensive 3-point mark under Hamilton and lowest in school history for a single season. The Seminoles' .252 mark is currently tied for the fifth best in the nation.

Offensively, Jackson and his teammates are ranked in the top half of the ACC with a 78.9 points per game scoring average – a near 10 point scoring improvement per game as compared to last season. The Seminoles' overall field goal shooting percentage as well as their 3-point shooting percentage are both significantly higher this season in relation to the 2022-23 season.

Jackson points to the bond between all of the players on the court to the Seminoles' success this season – a success that includes the championship of the Sunshine Slam tournament in November. The Seminoles won the championship with a 77-71 overtime win over No. 18 Colorado – their first win over a nationally ranked team this season. The Seminoles have been included in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls in each of the last two weeks. 

"I feel like we are more together this season than we were last season," said Jackson. "We are more connected, playing for each other and fighting for each other this season."

Jackson's teammates have also noticed his ever-increasing maturity.

"Chandler has really become a great teammate," said Cam Corhen, who is Jackson's roommate. "He has an incredible ability to pull our team together when we need to come together on the court and in our apartments. Chandler is a second-year guy, but he's one of our leaders."
 
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