Florida State University Athletics
Tuesday, November 26
7:00
Florida State
vs
Western Carolina University
The Art Of The Assist: Seminoles Play Western Carolina At Home Tuesday at 7 PM
11/25/2024 4:19:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TALLAHASSEE – Most times when you look at the ACC statistics during Seminole head coach Leonard Hamilton's tenure at Florida State, you notice that Florida State is among the league leaders in assists.
During the 2019-20 season when Florida State won the ACC Championship with a 16-4 regular season conference record, the Seminoles averaged more than 13 assists per game.
When Hamilton led the Seminoles to the first ACC Championship in school history in 2012, Florida State finished third in the ACC standings with a 12-4 record and was ranked among the upper half of the league statistics in assists.
After earning an ACC season-high 25 assists on 33 baskets in its 92-59 victory over UMass on Sunday at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, Florida State enters Tuesday's game against Western Carolina averaging more than 14 assists per game.
Florida State plays host to the Catamounts at 7:00 at the Donald L. Tucker Center with the proceeds of the game donated to the MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, North Carolina which lost its facility due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Estimates have placed the damage caused by the hurricane and its after effects at nearly $100 billion making it the fifth costliest hurricane in U.S. history.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by visiting Seminoles.com. All seating is general admission, except for locations on the floor and for those in the first four rows of section 101. Parking will be available at no charge in the main lot at the Tucker Center. Parking and arena gates will open at 6pm. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure the best seating locations.
The MANNA FoodBank in Asheville lost its facility due to Hurricane Helene. Following the devastation, the community has come together in remarkable ways to support recovery efforts. For the past 41 years, MANNA has been providing food and supplies to families in need through their network of over 220 partner agencies, serving 16 counties in Western North Carolina. Now more than ever, they need your help with donations. More information can be found at mannafoodbank.org. Every $1 donated on donate.mannafoodbank.org allows MANNA to provide 4 meals.
It's an assist from Florida State University, FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford, and Hamilton to those is need at the toughest times in their lives for the residents of western North Carolina.
Assisting is one thing Hamilton and his team have become very good at during his 23 years at the helm of the Seminole program.
"We moved the ball against UMass," said Hamilton. "We made 280 passes and we had 25 assists on 33 baskets. That had a lot to do with us getting some offensive opportunities. That means we are moving the ball, we are playing together and we are playing unselfish. We are trying to create for each other and that gives me a good feeling that we are moving in the right direction both mentally and emotionally.
Hamilton pointed directly to junior Chandler Jackson who led the Seminoles with six assists in Florida State's victory over the Minutemen.
"There is no doubt that Chandler is our most experienced guy," said Hamilton. "He's playing unselfishly. Chandler realizes he needs to get some of the guys going. When we get everyone playing with confidence and experience, that in the long haul we will be a better basketball team."
Jackson, who has worked tirelessly to become a leader among his teammates, certainly agrees with Hamilton's assessment of his recent play. He enters Tuesday's game as a starter and averaging career-high statistics for points (7.4), rebounds (2.9), steals (1.7) and assists (1.9).
"Passing the ball, getting everybody involved is key," said Jackson. "When you move the ball around everybody gets a shot, no team can key on any one player. As you can see we are playing well with each other, we love each other, we enjoy each other. Passing the ball as well as we are is a sign that we are connected; that we like playing with each other. Ball movement is something we have been working on all year."
Sunday's assist total, according to Jackson, is a prime example of what happens when the Seminoles move the ball and play unselfishly.
Offensively against UMass, The Seminoles shot .569 percent from the (33 of 58), 500 percent from the 3-point line (nine of 18) and made 17 free throws in scoring 92 points – their season high.
The Seminoles totaled a season-high 25 assists as 10 Seminoles recorded at least one assist against UMass. Senior Bostyn Holt recorded his season-high of four assists as the Seminoles upped their record to 6-1.
One of the offensive aspects of the game that Hamilton's philosophy revolves around is that his Seminoles make at least 225 passes in each. That's been a tenant for success for Hamilton-coached teams.
"That number might sound crazy but it's really not," said Jackson. "Against UMass the coaches charted us with 280 passes. That happened because everybody was getting involved, everyone was touching the ball, we were playing together as a team. If we can play like that we have the chance to be a very good basketball team."
Holt, who is in his first season as a Seminole, knows one of the Seminoles' keys to success in every game is passing the basketball.
"Assists and moving the ball are important to how Coach Hamilton runs his program," said Holt. "The coaches preach that for us to be successful we need to hit the 225 passes number in each game. My goal is to get all of my teammates involved. I'm an unselfish player. Once we get all of the guys going, it takes the pressure off of me and that opens up my game for me.
Hamilton sees the Seminoles' result against UMass as his team beginning to figure out that ball movement and player movement leads to increased offensive opportunities.
"We have grown with each week once we have put most of our plays in both offensively and defensively," said Hamilton. "Our guys are becoming extremely competitive. The way we play – keeping guys fresh – I'm having guys ask to come out of the games which means they are playing hard. Guys are going in and doing the same thing. This is what happens when they are playing with an extreme level of focus."
During the 2019-20 season when Florida State won the ACC Championship with a 16-4 regular season conference record, the Seminoles averaged more than 13 assists per game.
When Hamilton led the Seminoles to the first ACC Championship in school history in 2012, Florida State finished third in the ACC standings with a 12-4 record and was ranked among the upper half of the league statistics in assists.
After earning an ACC season-high 25 assists on 33 baskets in its 92-59 victory over UMass on Sunday at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament, Florida State enters Tuesday's game against Western Carolina averaging more than 14 assists per game.
Florida State plays host to the Catamounts at 7:00 at the Donald L. Tucker Center with the proceeds of the game donated to the MANNA FoodBank in Asheville, North Carolina which lost its facility due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. Estimates have placed the damage caused by the hurricane and its after effects at nearly $100 billion making it the fifth costliest hurricane in U.S. history.
Tickets are $10 each and can be purchased by visiting Seminoles.com. All seating is general admission, except for locations on the floor and for those in the first four rows of section 101. Parking will be available at no charge in the main lot at the Tucker Center. Parking and arena gates will open at 6pm. Fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure the best seating locations.
The MANNA FoodBank in Asheville lost its facility due to Hurricane Helene. Following the devastation, the community has come together in remarkable ways to support recovery efforts. For the past 41 years, MANNA has been providing food and supplies to families in need through their network of over 220 partner agencies, serving 16 counties in Western North Carolina. Now more than ever, they need your help with donations. More information can be found at mannafoodbank.org. Every $1 donated on donate.mannafoodbank.org allows MANNA to provide 4 meals.
It's an assist from Florida State University, FSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Michael Alford, and Hamilton to those is need at the toughest times in their lives for the residents of western North Carolina.
Assisting is one thing Hamilton and his team have become very good at during his 23 years at the helm of the Seminole program.
"We moved the ball against UMass," said Hamilton. "We made 280 passes and we had 25 assists on 33 baskets. That had a lot to do with us getting some offensive opportunities. That means we are moving the ball, we are playing together and we are playing unselfish. We are trying to create for each other and that gives me a good feeling that we are moving in the right direction both mentally and emotionally.
Hamilton pointed directly to junior Chandler Jackson who led the Seminoles with six assists in Florida State's victory over the Minutemen.
"There is no doubt that Chandler is our most experienced guy," said Hamilton. "He's playing unselfishly. Chandler realizes he needs to get some of the guys going. When we get everyone playing with confidence and experience, that in the long haul we will be a better basketball team."
Jackson, who has worked tirelessly to become a leader among his teammates, certainly agrees with Hamilton's assessment of his recent play. He enters Tuesday's game as a starter and averaging career-high statistics for points (7.4), rebounds (2.9), steals (1.7) and assists (1.9).
"Passing the ball, getting everybody involved is key," said Jackson. "When you move the ball around everybody gets a shot, no team can key on any one player. As you can see we are playing well with each other, we love each other, we enjoy each other. Passing the ball as well as we are is a sign that we are connected; that we like playing with each other. Ball movement is something we have been working on all year."
Sunday's assist total, according to Jackson, is a prime example of what happens when the Seminoles move the ball and play unselfishly.
Offensively against UMass, The Seminoles shot .569 percent from the (33 of 58), 500 percent from the 3-point line (nine of 18) and made 17 free throws in scoring 92 points – their season high.
The Seminoles totaled a season-high 25 assists as 10 Seminoles recorded at least one assist against UMass. Senior Bostyn Holt recorded his season-high of four assists as the Seminoles upped their record to 6-1.
One of the offensive aspects of the game that Hamilton's philosophy revolves around is that his Seminoles make at least 225 passes in each. That's been a tenant for success for Hamilton-coached teams.
"That number might sound crazy but it's really not," said Jackson. "Against UMass the coaches charted us with 280 passes. That happened because everybody was getting involved, everyone was touching the ball, we were playing together as a team. If we can play like that we have the chance to be a very good basketball team."
Holt, who is in his first season as a Seminole, knows one of the Seminoles' keys to success in every game is passing the basketball.
"Assists and moving the ball are important to how Coach Hamilton runs his program," said Holt. "The coaches preach that for us to be successful we need to hit the 225 passes number in each game. My goal is to get all of my teammates involved. I'm an unselfish player. Once we get all of the guys going, it takes the pressure off of me and that opens up my game for me.
Hamilton sees the Seminoles' result against UMass as his team beginning to figure out that ball movement and player movement leads to increased offensive opportunities.
"We have grown with each week once we have put most of our plays in both offensively and defensively," said Hamilton. "Our guys are becoming extremely competitive. The way we play – keeping guys fresh – I'm having guys ask to come out of the games which means they are playing hard. Guys are going in and doing the same thing. This is what happens when they are playing with an extreme level of focus."
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballBehind the Mic | FSU Football with Jeff Culhane | Wake Forest
Sunday, November 02
FSU Football | Wake Forest Post Game Press Conference
Sunday, November 02
FSU Football | Game Day Live Pregame Show: Wake Forest
Saturday, November 01
FSU Dive Meet 10/31/2025
Saturday, November 01