Florida State University Athletics

HOUSTON, Texas – 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 larger food portions, larger vehicles, and sometimes even larger personalities.

When Florida State plays Rice in Mattress Firm Battleground 2K24 at the Toyota Center in Houston on Saturday at 7 p.m., the Seminoles will bring a new description of the word “big” to the Lonestar State. The Seminoles will face the Owls for the first time since the 1997-98 season in a game that can be seen on ESPN+.

The Seminoles are one of the greatest and longest lasting teams in all of college basketball each year. According to analysis by the legendary Ken Pom, Florida State was the greatest team in the country during the 2023-24 season and is among the greatest teams in the country as the 2024-25 college basketball season begins its first weekend of play across the country.

The Seminoles’ roster consists of 12 players 6-5 or taller, 10 6-7 or taller, five players taller than 6-10 and one 7-foot player.

And yes, it’s all intentional, says 23^approx-year head coach Leonard Hamilton – the seventh-longest-serving head coach in college basketball.

“Since I have always liked aggressive man-to-man teams, size and length fit into our defensive philosophy,” Hamilton said. “When you rotate on defense with your hands up, people don’t have the opportunity to see the floor and distribute the ball nearly as much.”

Hamilton’s philosophy was on full display in the Seminoles’ season-opening 74-62 victory over Northern Kentucky at 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 in the first week of play.

“Obviously we were extremely aggressive tonight,” Hamilton said after the Seminoles’ win over Northern Kentucky. “That’s a part of our system that we’re trying to improve. We had 50 distractions; We usually shoot 35 every game. That means we are very aggressive and in the passing lanes. We have improved our understanding of how to take our fight to our opponent.”

Florida State has been one of the ACC’s best defensive teams every year and last season led the nation’s top college basketball conference with 305 steals and an average of 9.2 steals per game. The Seminoles enter their game against Rice with 962 steals over the past five seasons – an average of nearly eight steals per game since the start of the 2020-21 season.

Since Hamilton arrived in Tallahassee in 2002, defense has been Florida State’s calling card.

The Seminoles led the NCAA in field goal percentage in both 2010 and 2011, becoming one of only six teams in NCAA history to lead the nation in field goal percentage in consecutive seasons. The Seminoles’ .363 field goal percentage in 2011 was the best in the ACC since 1960 (a span of 52 years). Florida State led the ACC in field goal percentage in each of the four consecutive years (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012) that it appeared in the NCAA Tournament under Hamilton. It was the first time in ACC history that a team led the league in field goal percentage defense for four consecutive seasons.

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 recruited and coached the only two players in school history to win ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors (Toney Douglas in 2009 and Chris Singleton in 2010 and 2011), as well as 13 players who were voted to the ACC All-Defensive Team.

The list of outstanding defenders who have helped the Seminoles win ACC championships and appear in numerous NCAA tournaments under Hamilton is long and distinguished. It features players known for their tenacity, athleticism and commitment to a proven defensive system.

From Douglas to Singleton, Tim Pickett, Okaro White, Xavier Rathan-Mayes, Solomon Alabi, Trent Forrest, Michael Snaer to Bernard James, the list of Florida State’s premier defenders under Hamilton goes on and on.

The opportunity to learn the game of defense from a Hall of Fame coach and his staff is a cornerstone of the proud Florida State program.

At 6-10 years old and as a sophomore with a 7-2 wingspan, Taylor Bol Bowen is among the current Seminoles learning the way defense is sure to win championships.

Bol Bowen totaled 18 steals in 31 games as a freshman, averaging 0.6 steals per game. He recorded multiple steals in just four of his 31 games in his first season. He had an incredible seven steals in Florida State’s win over West Florida in an exhibition game four days before In the Seminoles’ season opener and a total of four steals in the regular season opener against Northern Kentucky.

“I can utilize my size, length and athleticism because I understand the system better,” Bol Bowen said. “I was taught by our coaching staff to use my God-given abilities on defense. My body type is ideal for playing defense anywhere. I’m 1.90 meters tall, fit, fast and tall.”

Hamilton and assistant 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 skills he is blessed with as a basketball player.

“Taylor has matured to the point where, at his size, most guys want to dominate the ball,” Hamilton said. “He’s a slasher, he’s fast enough, he’s athletic enough, he has long arms and he has strong motor skills. Taylor allows himself to be the best version of who he is while working on who he wants to become.”

Hamilton also expects the newcomer to mature Jerry Deng According to the three-time ACC Coach of the Year, he will have to learn the Seminoles’ defensive system quickly as he experiences on-the-job training as one of the 10 new faces on Florida State’s roster.

At 6-10 and a sophomore with a 7-1 wingspan, Deng is learning the Seminoles’ philosophy on the run after transferring from Hampton University to Florida State last spring.

“Playing in our system at Florida State allows me to showcase my ability to guard every position on the court with my length,” Deng said. “Coach Ham and Coach Jones are such great teachers. They taught me so many things, including how to control the ball handler at 6-foot-3 and a 7-foot wingspan by taking advantage of my length.”

Choosing between many of the top basketball schools in the country when he entered the transfer portal at the end of his first season at Hampton, learning Florida State-style defense was a big reason in his decision 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 like I need to develop the most defensively so I can be a player ready to play at the next level. Knowing 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.