Leonard Hamilton
Leonard Hamilton
Leonard Hamiltonis an American basketball coach and the current men's basketball head coach at Florida State University. He is a former head coach at Oklahoma State University, the University of Miami, and for the National Basketball Association's Washington Wizards. In his 23 years as a collegiate head coach, his teams have qualified for seven NCAA tournaments and eight NITs, highlighted by appearances in the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet Sixteen" in 2000and 2011. While with the NBA's Wizards his team posted a...
gave mentally ready themselves
They were ready mentally and emotionally. They had themselves ready to play, and it really gave us a big lift. And I also think that it energized our starters.
building credit journey mental mostly process team
This is part of the journey. This is part of the process you go through, building programs. You have to give your team credit for making this kind of progress, but you also have to find a way to get over the hump, and that's mostly mental at this point.
afford ball best enthusiasm front game maybe meet mentally needed reality step style team time type
We did not meet their style of ball with the type of enthusiasm that we should have. Maybe this is the type of game we needed to keep reality in front of us. We are not a team that can afford not to be at our very best mentally every time we step out.
compete couple focus last lose mentality talking understanding whatever
Like most teams, they lose their focus for whatever reason. It's all we've been talking about the last couple days, understanding the mentality you have to play with to compete at this level.
came experience games guess guys journey mentally overcoming physically prepared types
Part of the journey is overcoming obstacles, and this was one I thought mentally and physically we were prepared for. I guess I'd say that Duke's experience in being in these types of games with experienced guys came through.
draw hang hat learning preparing strength team work
It's something you have to work on each and every day, preparing your team for what they have to face. There are going to be ups. There are going to be downs. Things aren't always going to go the way you want it. You just have to find a way to draw strength from the learning process. You have to find something to hang your hat on.
attention focusing gets prove trying
That gets my attention. And I think that's what we should be focusing our attention on more so than trying to prove anything.
aggression backed certain game giving good nature offensive period team
There was a period where he kind of backed off his offensive aggressiveness to be a good team member. Now that we're kind of a little more in sync, the nature of the game is giving him certain opportunities.
appears conscious credit effort felt formula playing political quality seems teams time top
There used to be a time when you felt there was a conscious effort to get the top teams. Now, it seems to be much more political than it used to be. It appears we we're not getting much credit for the quality of teams we're playing in ACC. There's a formula out there that seems to be flawed.
absolutely bad comment encourage good life particular plans players plus point takes
I'm going to encourage my players at this particular point to have absolutely no comment to make plus or minus, good or bad about what their plans are because I think that takes on a life of itself.
definitely growing hope needed sign
I hope this was a sign of us growing up. We definitely needed this victory.
guess
I guess all things have to come to an end.
basketball fact fine game good graduation happy helped home last model move percent program proud rate
I'm very happy and proud for them because they've been model citizens. They keep our 100 percent graduation rate intact. But more than anything they're fine people. They're good basketball players, but I'm most proud of the fact that they have helped us move our program forward. Their last home game will be something to remember.
ball extra games gave lies nice patient shooting
It was one of those games where we gave them too many unnecessary opportunities. But when they are already shooting the ball as well as they do and they are as patient as they are on offense, and then you give them extra opportunities, therein lies a nice little butt-kicking.