Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, November 9
Houston, Tx.
7:00 p.m.
Florida State
vs
Rice University
Everything Is Bigger In Texas -- Including the Florida State Seminoles
11/8/2024 10:44:00 AM | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON, Tex. – The phrase "everything is bigger in Texas" is a popular saying that reflects the state's larger-than-life reputation. It suggests that Texas is known for its vast landscapes, large cities, and grandiose culture, including bigger portions of food, larger vehicles, and sometimes even larger personalities.
When Florida State plays Rice in Houston in the Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 at the Toyota Center on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., the Seminoles will bring a new description of the word 'big' to the Lonestar State. The Seminoles battle the Owls for the first time since the 1997-98 season in a game that can be seen on ESPN+.
The Seminoles are annually one of the tallest and lengthiest teams in all of college basketball. According to analytics supplied by the legendary Ken Pom, Florida State was the tallest team in the nation during the 2023-24 season and is among the tallest teams nationally as the 2024-25 college basketball season begins its first weekend of play across the country.
The Seminoles' roster contains 12 players listed at 6-5 or taller, 10 at 6-7 or taller, five taller than 6-10, and one seven-footer.
And yes, it's all by design, says 23rd-year head coach Leonard Hamilton – the seventh-longest tenured head coach in college basketball.
"Because I have always liked aggressive man-to-man, size and length fit into our defensive philosophy," said Hamilton. "Rotating with your hands up on defense doesn't allow people to see the floor and have the opportunity to spread the ball nearly as much."
Hamilton's philosophy was on full display in the Seminoles' season-opening 74-62 victory over Northern Kentucky at the Donald L. Tucker in Tallahassee. The Seminoles recorded 50 pass deflections and 14 steals – the most in a single game by any of the 18 ACC teams during the opening week of play.
"Obviously, we were extremely aggressive tonight," said Hamilton following the Seminoles win over Northern Kentucky. "That's a part of our system that we are trying to improve upon. We had 50 deflections; we normally shoot for 35 in every game. That says we are being very aggressive and out in the passing lanes. We have improved in our understanding of how to take our fight to our opponent."
Florida State has been among the top defensive teams in the ACC on an annual basis and led the nation's top college basketball conference in steals with 305 and a 9.2 steals per game average last season. The Seminoles enter their game against Rice with 962 steals in the last five seasons – an average of nearly eight steals per game since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Defense has been Florida State's calling card since Hamilton's arrival in Tallahassee in 2002.
The Seminoles led the NCAA in field goal percentage defense in both 2010 and 2011, becoming one of only six teams in NCAA history to lead the nation in field goal percentage defense in consecutive seasons. The Seminoles' .363 field goal percentage mark in 2011 was the best in the ACC since 1960 (a span of 52 years). Florida State led the ACC in field goal percentage defense during each of the four consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012) it played in the NCAA Tournament under Hamilton. It marked the first time in ACC history that any team led the league for four consecutive seasons in the field goal percentage defense category.
Florida State led the ACC in blocked shots and steals in 2012 and became only the fourth team in history to lead the ACC in both blocked shots and steals in the same season.
At Florida State, Hamilton has recruited and coached the only two players in school history to earn ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors (Toney Douglas in 2009 and Chris Singleton in 2010 and 2011), as well as 13 selections to the ACC All-Defensive Team.
The list of stellar defenders who have helped the Seminoles win ACC Championships and play in numerous NCAA Tournaments under Hamilton is long and distinguished, featuring players known for their tenacity, athleticism, and commitment to a proven defensive system.
From Douglas, to Singleton, to Tim Pickett, to Okaro White, to Xavier Rathan-Mayes, to Solomon Alabi, to Trent Forrest, to Michael Snaer, to Bernard James – the list of first-class defenders at Florida State under Hamilton goes on and on.
The opportunity to learn to play defense from a Hall of Fame coach and his staff is a cornerstone of the proud Florida State program.
At 6-10 and a sophomore with a 7-2 wingspan, Taylor Bol Bowen is among the current Seminoles who are learning the Seminole way that defense certainly wins championships.
Bol Bowen totaled 18 steals in 31 games for an average of 0.6 steals per game as a freshman. He totaled multiple steals in just four of his 31 games in his first season. He totaled an incredible seven steals in Florida State's victory over West Florida in an exhibition game four days before the In the Seminoles' season-opener, and totaled four steals against Northern Kentucky in their regular season opener.
"I'm able to use my height, length, and athleticism because I understand the system better," said Bol Bowen. "I've been taught by our coaching staff to use my God given gifts on the defensive end of the floor. My body type is great to play defense anywhere. I'm 6' 10", fit, quick, and long."
Hamilton and associate head coach Stan Jones have worked closely with Bol Bowen since his arrival on campus in the summer of 2023 to utilize the talents and ability that he has been blessed with as a basketball player.
"Taylor has matured to the point where, at his size, most guys want to handle the ball," said Hamilton. "He's a slasher, he's quick enough, he's athletic enough, he has long arms, and he has a high motor. Taylor is allowing himself to be the best version of who he is while he's working on who he wants to become."
Hamilton is also counting on the maturation of newcomer Jerry Deng to learn the Seminoles' defensive system quickly as one of the 10 new faces on Florida State's roster experience "on the job training," according to the three-time ACC Coach of the Year.
At 6-10 and a sophomore with a 7-1 wingspan, Deng is learning the Seminoles' philosophies on the run after transferring from Hampton University to Florida State this past spring.
"Playing in our system at Florida State allows me to show my ability to guard every position on the court with my length," said Deng. "Coach Ham and Coach Jones are such great teachers. They've taught me so many things, including how to contain the ball handler at 6'9 with a 7-foot wingspan by utilizing my length."
When choosing between many of the top basketball schools in the country when he entered the transfer portal at the end of his freshman season at Hampton, learning how to play defense the Florida State way was a big reason why he chose to become a Seminole.
"The defensive system here at Florida State was definitely one of the main reasons I came here," said Deng who totaled nine points and three rebounds in his Seminole debut. "I feel l need to grow the most on the defensive end so I can be a player who is prepared to play at the next level. Being self-aware of that was one of the main reasons I chose Florida State."
Everything is bigger in Texas.
Add the Florida State basketball team to that list on Saturday night.
When Florida State plays Rice in Houston in the Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 at the Toyota Center on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., the Seminoles will bring a new description of the word 'big' to the Lonestar State. The Seminoles battle the Owls for the first time since the 1997-98 season in a game that can be seen on ESPN+.
The Seminoles are annually one of the tallest and lengthiest teams in all of college basketball. According to analytics supplied by the legendary Ken Pom, Florida State was the tallest team in the nation during the 2023-24 season and is among the tallest teams nationally as the 2024-25 college basketball season begins its first weekend of play across the country.
The Seminoles' roster contains 12 players listed at 6-5 or taller, 10 at 6-7 or taller, five taller than 6-10, and one seven-footer.
And yes, it's all by design, says 23rd-year head coach Leonard Hamilton – the seventh-longest tenured head coach in college basketball.
"Because I have always liked aggressive man-to-man, size and length fit into our defensive philosophy," said Hamilton. "Rotating with your hands up on defense doesn't allow people to see the floor and have the opportunity to spread the ball nearly as much."
Hamilton's philosophy was on full display in the Seminoles' season-opening 74-62 victory over Northern Kentucky at the Donald L. Tucker in Tallahassee. The Seminoles recorded 50 pass deflections and 14 steals – the most in a single game by any of the 18 ACC teams during the opening week of play.
"Obviously, we were extremely aggressive tonight," said Hamilton following the Seminoles win over Northern Kentucky. "That's a part of our system that we are trying to improve upon. We had 50 deflections; we normally shoot for 35 in every game. That says we are being very aggressive and out in the passing lanes. We have improved in our understanding of how to take our fight to our opponent."
Florida State has been among the top defensive teams in the ACC on an annual basis and led the nation's top college basketball conference in steals with 305 and a 9.2 steals per game average last season. The Seminoles enter their game against Rice with 962 steals in the last five seasons – an average of nearly eight steals per game since the start of the 2020-21 season.
Defense has been Florida State's calling card since Hamilton's arrival in Tallahassee in 2002.
The Seminoles led the NCAA in field goal percentage defense in both 2010 and 2011, becoming one of only six teams in NCAA history to lead the nation in field goal percentage defense in consecutive seasons. The Seminoles' .363 field goal percentage mark in 2011 was the best in the ACC since 1960 (a span of 52 years). Florida State led the ACC in field goal percentage defense during each of the four consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012) it played in the NCAA Tournament under Hamilton. It marked the first time in ACC history that any team led the league for four consecutive seasons in the field goal percentage defense category.
Florida State led the ACC in blocked shots and steals in 2012 and became only the fourth team in history to lead the ACC in both blocked shots and steals in the same season.
At Florida State, Hamilton has recruited and coached the only two players in school history to earn ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors (Toney Douglas in 2009 and Chris Singleton in 2010 and 2011), as well as 13 selections to the ACC All-Defensive Team.
The list of stellar defenders who have helped the Seminoles win ACC Championships and play in numerous NCAA Tournaments under Hamilton is long and distinguished, featuring players known for their tenacity, athleticism, and commitment to a proven defensive system.
From Douglas, to Singleton, to Tim Pickett, to Okaro White, to Xavier Rathan-Mayes, to Solomon Alabi, to Trent Forrest, to Michael Snaer, to Bernard James – the list of first-class defenders at Florida State under Hamilton goes on and on.
The opportunity to learn to play defense from a Hall of Fame coach and his staff is a cornerstone of the proud Florida State program.
At 6-10 and a sophomore with a 7-2 wingspan, Taylor Bol Bowen is among the current Seminoles who are learning the Seminole way that defense certainly wins championships.
Bol Bowen totaled 18 steals in 31 games for an average of 0.6 steals per game as a freshman. He totaled multiple steals in just four of his 31 games in his first season. He totaled an incredible seven steals in Florida State's victory over West Florida in an exhibition game four days before the In the Seminoles' season-opener, and totaled four steals against Northern Kentucky in their regular season opener.
"I'm able to use my height, length, and athleticism because I understand the system better," said Bol Bowen. "I've been taught by our coaching staff to use my God given gifts on the defensive end of the floor. My body type is great to play defense anywhere. I'm 6' 10", fit, quick, and long."
Hamilton and associate head coach Stan Jones have worked closely with Bol Bowen since his arrival on campus in the summer of 2023 to utilize the talents and ability that he has been blessed with as a basketball player.
"Taylor has matured to the point where, at his size, most guys want to handle the ball," said Hamilton. "He's a slasher, he's quick enough, he's athletic enough, he has long arms, and he has a high motor. Taylor is allowing himself to be the best version of who he is while he's working on who he wants to become."
Hamilton is also counting on the maturation of newcomer Jerry Deng to learn the Seminoles' defensive system quickly as one of the 10 new faces on Florida State's roster experience "on the job training," according to the three-time ACC Coach of the Year.
At 6-10 and a sophomore with a 7-1 wingspan, Deng is learning the Seminoles' philosophies on the run after transferring from Hampton University to Florida State this past spring.
"Playing in our system at Florida State allows me to show my ability to guard every position on the court with my length," said Deng. "Coach Ham and Coach Jones are such great teachers. They've taught me so many things, including how to contain the ball handler at 6'9 with a 7-foot wingspan by utilizing my length."
When choosing between many of the top basketball schools in the country when he entered the transfer portal at the end of his freshman season at Hampton, learning how to play defense the Florida State way was a big reason why he chose to become a Seminole.
"The defensive system here at Florida State was definitely one of the main reasons I came here," said Deng who totaled nine points and three rebounds in his Seminole debut. "I feel l need to grow the most on the defensive end so I can be a player who is prepared to play at the next level. Being self-aware of that was one of the main reasons I chose Florida State."
Everything is bigger in Texas.
Add the Florida State basketball team to that list on Saturday night.
Players Mentioned
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