Seminole Sunday Sauce — March 16, 2025: FSU Men’s Hoops Falls to Syracuse in Opening Round of ACC Tournament
Barring a selection in the NIT, the Leonard Hamilton era appears over for Florida State men’s basketball.
The Seminoles’ comeback came up short to Syracuse in the opening round of the ACC Tournament on Tuesday night, 66-62. FSU trimmed a 16-point second-half down to one, but couldn’t get up a tying or go-ahead shot.
Jamir Watkins led the Seminoles with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Jerry Deng and Daquan Davis each finished with 10 points in the loss. J.J. Starling led Syracuse with 27 points.
The loss likely ends Hamilton’s 23-year tenure. One of just four coaches to win 200 ACC games, Hamilton won more than 450 games during his time in Tallahassee. A 3-time ACC Coach of the Year, Hamilton took the Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament eight times, including four Sweet 16 appearances and one Elite Eight.
Hamilton also guided FSU to its only two ACC championships in 2012 and 2020. When he arrived at FSU prior to the 2002-03 season, the Seminoles had endured four straight losing seasons. Over his 23 years, FSU had just three losing seasons and just one in his last 20.
FOOTBALL
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2026 Recruiting Class Rank: No. 12 nationally, first in ACC (7 total commitments)
Wrap-up: Offseason conditioning is underway.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 17-15 (8-12 ACC)
Ranking: No. 11 seed ACC Tournament
Past Week: (0-1), lost to Syracuse in ACC Tournament on Tuesday, 66-62
Upcoming: TBD
Recognitions: Jamir Watkins, G (All-ACC second team)
Commitments: None
Decommitments: None
2026 Recruiting Class Rank: N/A (0 total commitments)
Wrap-up: With a consolation tournament like the NIT seemingly unlikely, the Leonard Hamilton era appears over at FSU.
WomEN’S BASKETBALL
Record: 23-8
Ranking: No. 23 AP; No. 24 USA TODAY Coaches
Past Week: Idle
Upcoming: vs. TBA (NCAA Tournament)
Recognitions: Makayla Timpson, F (Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist); Ta’Niya Latson, G (Naismith Trophy semifinalist)
Wrap-up: FSU will learn its NCAA Tournament opponent and destination on Sunday night.
Track and Field
Ranking: Men No. 8 USTFCCCA South Region; women No. 6 USTFCCCA South Region
Past Week: Men finished 60th at NCAA Indoor Championship; women finished 50th at NCAA Indoor Championships
Upcoming: Terry Long FSU Relays (March 27-28)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: The indoor season is complete. FSU starts its outdoor season later this month.
Men’s Tennis
Record: 10-6 (2-3 ACC)
Ranking: No. 32 ITA
Past Week: (0-2), lost at Stanford on Sunday, 4-0; lost at NC State on Friday, 4-0
Upcoming: at Wake Forest (Sunday); vs. Clemson (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU was no match for a pair of top-10 teams this week.
Women’s Tennis
Record: 10-3 (1-2 ACC)
Ranking: N/A
Past Week: (0-1), lost to Louisville on Friday, 4-3
Upcoming: vs. Notre Dame (Sunday); vs. Miami (Wednesday); at SMU (Friday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU suffered a disappointing loss at home on Friday.
Swimming and Diving
Ranking: Men No. 18 CSCAA; women No. 25 CSCAA
Past Week: Participated in Zone B Diving
Upcoming: NCAA Championships (Wednesday-March 29)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU has completed Zone B diving with 23 total entries for the NCAA Championships. The season wraps up this month in Washington.
Women’s Golf
Ranking: No. 6 WGCA Coaches
Past Week: Won Briars Creek Invitational
Upcoming: Old Barnwell Match Play (Monday-Tuesday); Florida State Match Up (Friday-March 23)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU rolled to a fourth straight victory in Charleston this week. Mirabel Ting finished 11-under par to take the individual crown.
Softball
Record: 25-5 (3-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 10 ESPN/USA Softball; No. 11 Softball America; No. 12 D1Softball; No. 10 NFCA Coaches
Past Week: (5-1), lost to Oregon in Jane Sanders Classic on Sunday, 1-0; beat Portland State on Tuesday in six innings, 11-0; defeated Portland State on Tuesday, 18-5; beat Pittsburgh on Friday, 8-3; defeated Pittsburgh on Saturday in five innings, 13-0: beat Pittsburgh on Saturday, 3-1
Upcoming: at Alabama (Wednesday); at Duke (Friday); at Duke (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU opened ACC play with a home sweep.
Baseball
Record: 18-1 (3-0 ACC)
Ranking: No. 6 D1Baseball; No. 4 Baseball America; No. 5 Perfect Game; No. 5 NCBWA; No. 5 USA TODAY Coaches
Past Week: (3-1), lost to Florida on Tuesday, 7-2; beat Boston College on Friday, 8-2; defeated Boston College on Saturday in seven innings, 14-0; beat Boston College on Saturday, 6-2
Upcoming: vs. Mercer (Tuesday); at Miami (Thursday); at Miami (Friday); at Miami (Saturday)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU bounced back from a rivalry loss to sweep its first ACC series.
Men’s Golf
Ranking: No. 20 GCAA Coaches
Past Week: Won Seminole Intercollegiate
Upcoming: Valspar Collegiate Invitational (March 24-25)
Recognitions: Luke Clanton (Fred Haskins Award First Spring watch list)
Wrap-up: FSU picked up another victory for the spring. Luke Clanton claimed the individual title while FSU beat second-place Troy by 12 strokes.
Beach VOlleyball
Record: 14-3
Ranking: No. 8 AVCA
Past Week: (2-2), beat California in East-West Invitational on Friday, 3-2; beat Hawaii in East-West Invitational on Friday, 4-1; lost at UCLA in East-West Invitational on Saturday, 5-0; lost to Loyola Marymount in East-West Invitational on Saturday, 4-1
Upcoming: vs. Florida Atlantic (Friday, Stetson Beach Blast); at Stetson (Friday, Stetson Beach Blast); vs. Erskine College (Saturday, Stetson Beach Blast); vs. Palm Beach Atlantic (Saturday, Stetson Beach Blast)
Recognitions: None
Wrap-up: FSU scored a pair of top-20 wins but fell to the top two teams in the country.
*Recruiting rankings according to the 247Sports Composite rankings
- Mike Ferguson is the lead writer for Double Fries No Slaw. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. For all of his work, “Like” or “Follow” Mike on Facebook.
