FSU Basketball: Was 2012 the Andy Enfield Effect?

Mar 24, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Florida Gulf Coast Eagles head coach Andy Enfield talks with guard Brett Comer (0) during the second half against the San Diego State Aztecs during the third round of the NCAA basketball tournament at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Everything Andy Enfield touches becomes gold.  If you watched any basketball this weekend, you’d know what I mean.  Enfield has little ol’ FGCU out of Fort Myers playing big boy basketball on the big boy stage.  It’s a spectacle and they have quickly become this year’s VCU (sorry, Shaka).

But before Enfield made his run at FGCU, he was in Tallahassee for several years as an assistant to Leonard Hamilton.  FSU enjoyed some amazing years while Enfield was here and it makes me wonder whether this year’s drop off has anything to do with losing what was then a top assistant.  Enfield was responsible for many of the good things that happened to FSU basketball:

"Andy Enfield left the NBA coaching ranks with the goal of helping elevate the Florida State basketball program to national prominence. He has certainly succeeded. In only four seasons as an assistant coach in Tallahassee, Enfield has led the Seminoles to two NCAA Tournament appearances and the first ACC championship game appearance in school history. In addition to those successes, Enfield has also immensely boosted Florida State’s recruiting efforts, having drawn three top 25 classes and two McDonald’s All-Americans to Tallahassee.TEAM SINCE JOININGSince joining the Florida State bench in 2006, Enfield has led the program to new heights, as the Seminoles made their first ever ACC championship game appearance under his watch in 2009. That same season, the Seminoles returned to the NCAA Tournament after an 11 year absence, and finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final AP poll – the highest ranking to end a season since 1989, when the team also finished 16th after an NCAA Tournament appearance. Enfield’s ability to recruit and develop players has paid off for Florida State, as in 2010 the team made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, marking the first time in 17 years a Seminole team had competed in NCAA Tournament in consecutive seasons. Additionally, the Seminoles have won at least 22 games in three of his four seasons on staff. In the always competitive ACC, Florida State has won at least 10 conference games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the teams’ first two years in the ACC (1992-93). The Seminoles have won the second highest amount of ACC games in the last two seasons.TEAM STATISTICAL IMPROVEMENTUnder Enfield’s guidance, in 2010, Florida State ranked among the top-25 nationally in four distinct categories (1st in field goal percentage defense, 10th in blocks per game, 19th in scoring defense and 25th in rebounding margin), while ranking in the top-50 nationally in two other categories (29th in steals per game and 49th in scoring margin). Florida State’s No. 1 ranking in field goal percentage defense marks the first time in school history that the team has ranked first nationally in any category.RECRUITINGEnfield’s recruiting successes led him to be named as the most visible assistant coach in the nation by Basketball Times for the 2009 recruiting period. His unique NBA experience and proven ability to help players improve at multiple levels makes Florida State an attractive destination for future Seminoles. He has helped recruit ten national Top 100 high school players including two McDonald’s All-Americans, and had a vital role in helping the Seminoles land a nationally ranked Top 10 recruiting class in 2008. In his most recent recruiting class, Enfield helped draw two more Top 40 players including point guard and No. 21 overall recruit Ian Miller and No. 36 ranked Okaro White. In Enfield’s time as an assistant coach at Florida State, he has overseen the recruiting of three Top-25 recruiting classes including No. 9 in 2008, No. 24 in 2009 and No. 16 in 2010."

Enfield probably gets too much credit for some of these accolades–giving him credit for recruiting and defense when those are two of Leonard Hamilton’s trademarks.  Without a doubt, Enfield is a tireless recruiter, and a very good one, but it’s kind of like when James Coley left–for all of his recruiting prowess, the ship didn’t sink because it was anchored by a strong head coach who built the program.  But you do have to take a step back and wonder.  There is no doubt in my mind that Enfield played a tremendous role in FSU’s success.  Imagine a practice run by Hamilton and Enfield.  You’re seeing first hand what Enfield can do with limited resources.  When I saw Enfield’s team dismantle Georgetown and San Diego State, I wondered whether that could have been Florida State.

However, even when Enfield left, FSU kept recruiting at a high rate.  FSU had its best season the year after Enfield left.  Granted, Enfield may have helped build the house, but it was Leonard Hamilton that set the foundation.