Why Leonard Hamilton should repeat at ACC Coach of the Year
By Kelvin Hunt
FSU basketball coach Leonard Hamilton has found the fountain of youth in more than one way.
The 72-year old doesn’t look at day over 52 and has labeled his program among the new blood of college basketball.
Leonard Hamilton has had FSU basketball on an upward trajectory for the past six years. They won 20 or more games during that span and made the NCAA Tournament the last four seasons (they would have made the tournament last year) while being ranked top 10 in four of those years.
Leonard Hamilton has guided the Noles to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Elite 8, Sweet 16, and many thought the Noles had a legitimate chance of winning it all in 2020.
The Noles have had seven players drafted since 2016, five of them first-rounders.
The rise of FSU basketball has coincided with the fall of FSU football, ironically, giving FSU fans something to cheer about in arguably football’s darkest period in our lifetimes.
FSU’s win over Boston College Wednesday night gave the Noles at least a share of the ACC Regular Season Title. A win Saturday against Notre Dame would clinch their second consecutive regular-season title outright.
FSU rolled Louisville, destroyed preseason favorite Virginia, and beat every team in the top half of the ACC at least once.
The Noles were the most consistent team in a conference that isn’t getting the respect they normally receive.
It’s been great watching this program evolve from how Leonard Hamilton teams used to look. Here are three reasons he should be named ACC Coach of the Year.