Florida State men's basketball coach Leonard Hamilton: 'I miscalculated some things'

The 2022-23 men's basketball season has not gone the way Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton had expected.

The Seminoles have lost three straight and are sitting at 7-16 overall, and 5-7 in ACC play following a blowout loss to NC State on the road Wednesday.

FSU's worst record under Hamilton came during his inaugural season in 2001-02, a 12-17 record. Hamilton took over the program coming off a 9-21 mark under Steve Robinson during the 2000-01 season.

Florida State (7-16, 5-7 ACC) travels to Louisville (3-19, 1-10) to play the Cardinals at 2 p.m. Saturday at the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Ken.

Hamilton speaking to the media on Zoom on Friday was candid about the season.

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"Every morning I get up I feel miserable," Hamilton said. "I feel like 'what did I miss? What could I have done to prepare for the unexpected?'

"It is a new day in college sports. Most of my colleagues are playing strictly out of the portal. Just about everybody who we've played this year has had several players, sometimes even four starters that have come out of the portal.

"I miscalculated some things. I thought some guys would be returning that decided to further their careers doing something else."

While Hamilton did not specify any players who left early, one player he could be referring to is power forward John Butler, who decided to go pro and entered the NBA Draft after his freshman season saw him averaging 5.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game, shooting 39.3 percent from 3-point range.

Butler went undrafted in the NBA Draft and is currently signed to a two-way contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Along with the unexpected early departures, the Seminoles have dealt with season-ending injuries to key pieces Jaylan Gainey and Cam'Ron Fletcher. Center Naheem McLeod has also missed four games due to injury, while freshman forward Baba Miller has only played in six games following a 16-game suspension by the NCAA.

With the transfer portal being used more, Hamilton said there's been a shift in the game, adding that FSU will look to be more active on that front moving forward.

"The model we're using, we're probably a year late to believing the portal was needed," Hamilton said. "Obviously hindsight is always 20-20. "Our model had been working so successfully for us. We have had kids who realized their opportunities and took advantage of them, I can't complain about that. That's what we're here for, to help people move on to make a better life."

Taylor Bowen, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, NH is the lone 2023 commit at the moment for the Seminoles. Other changes to the roster could be afoot for FSU as well, as Hamilton and his staff seek to turn the program back around.

"We've missed a year of the adjustment," Hamilton said. "We are a lot younger than we have been. Hopefully, we can find the right balance where we can take advantage of the opportunities in the portal. We'll still be able to be selective with the high school kids we bring in."

Game information

Who: Florida State (7-16, 5-7 ACC) vs. Louisville (3-19, 1-10)

When/Where: Saturday, 2 p.m.; KFC Yum! Center, Louisville, Ken.

TV/Radio: ESPN2/101.5 FM

Reach Ehsan Kassim at ekassim@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @Ehsan_Kassim. You can also follow our coverage on Facebook (NoleSports) and Instagram (tlhnolesports).

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU men's hoops coach Leonard Hamilton: 'I miscalculated some things'