GU must solve FSU’s defense

It doesn’t take long to realize Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton truly likes his basketball team.

And he loves how they defend.

Since entering the profession in 1973, Hamilton has borrowed, copied and exchanged ideas with coaches he worked under, assistants he worked with and coaches he’s game-planned against. The result is a defensive philosophy that has become the foundation of his teams.

Hamilton’s ninth-seeded Seminoles, who will face No. 8 Gonzaga on Friday in Buffalo in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, have held their last seven opponents to 67 points or less. FSU leads the country in field-goal percentage defense (37.2). The Seminoles were ninth last season. Under Hamilton’s tutelage, the University of Miami’s 1998 team was No. 1 in field-goal percentage defense (37.9) and was ranked nationally four straight years.

“There’s not a lot of trick to it,” Hamilton said in a phone interview. “We’ve stolen a lot of great ideas from great coaches along the way. We try to be consistent with teaching and our approach and we hold them accountable. They’ve bought in and accepted it.

“We have not been as consistent on the offensive end, but this is what we have to do in order to put ourselves in position to win.”

FSU generally plays man-to-man defense. The starting five consists of 6-foot-4 Derwin Kitchen and 6-5 Michael Snaer at the guards, 6-8 Ryan Reid and 6-9 Chris Singleton at forwards and 7-1 center Solomon Alabi. Reid is the only senior and Kitchen the lone junior in the rotation.

The team’s length and strength poses problems for opponents.

“We had good defensive teams when we didn’t have a lot of length, so I think it’s the system,” Hamilton said. “But it is enhanced when you have a 7-footer in the back.”

Alabi has 74 blocked shots and Singleton has 71 steals. Both made the All-ACC defensive team with Singleton winning conference defensive player of the year honors.

“It wasn’t for me, it was for the team,” said Singleton, who sometimes plays at the point of the zone. “It was something we all worked hard for.”

With a rebounding edge of plus-5.5 per game, the Seminoles finish at the defensive end. Singleton and Alabi combine for 13.3 boards per game.

Hamilton acknowledges his team sputters at times offensively. Snaer was inserted into the starting lineup Feb. 6 in place of Deividas Dulkys, FSU’s best perimeter shooter. Both are still playing roughly the same minutes as they were before the switch.

FSU struggles at the free-throw line (64.6 percent), but the biggest culprit has been turnovers (16.8 per game).

“We’ll play against people who pressure and we’ll turn it over three times,” Hamilton said. “And we’ll turn it over 17 times in the half-court. We’ll step out of bounds, throw it to somebody who’s not looking. We’ve invented ways to turn the ball over.

“Sometimes we play like a veteran team and sometimes we play like a team that has one junior and one senior.”

Sometimes they play well at both ends of the court.

“As long as our offense shows up, I think when we get rolling we can match up with anybody,” Singleton said.

Giacoletti on Hawaii’s list

Gonzaga assistant coach Ray Giacoletti is among the candidates for the head coaching opening at Hawaii.

Giacoletti is in his third season as a GU assistant after head coaching stints at North Dakota State, Eastern Washington and Utah. He has a career record of 171-123.

Saint Mary’s assistant coach Kyle Smith reportedly interviewed for the job earlier this week. Hawaii is replacing Bob Nash, who was fired after three seasons.

No pressure or anything

In the Sporting News’ Selection Sunday preview, ex-Gonzaga coach Dan Monson had an interesting prediction for the 2010 NCAA champion: Gonzaga. He had the Zags joining Kansas, Kentucky and Syracuse in the Final Four. (His picks were made before the pairings were announced. Syracuse and Gonzaga could meet in the second round.)

Said Monson: “People called it a rebuilding year, but Gonzaga plays their best when people underestimate them.”

Monson guided GU to the Elite Eight in 1999.