The Daily Nole

On My Mind Monday: What Are FSU Hoops’ Longest Winning Streaks Under Hamilton?

Mike Olivella/FSU athletics

After a pair of comeback victories, Florida State is rolling. The Seminoles now sit at 16-2 on the season and are ranked in the AP top 10 for a third time in four seasons.

FSU was forced to rally late in wins over Virginia and at Miami this past week, but the current winning streak for head coach Leonard Hamilton’s team is nine. The current hot streak led us to wonder what the longest winning streaks for FSU were under its current coach:

2016-17

Streak: 12 wins
Key Players: Dwayne Bacon, G; Jonathan Isaac, F; Xavier Rathan-Mayes, G
Finish: 26-9, second round of NCAA Tournament
Overview: After a heartbreaking loss to Temple in the NIT Season Tip-Off in Brooklyn on Thanksgiving Day, the Seminoles reeled off 12 straight wins during the 2016-17 campaign. During that stretch, FSU knocked off No. 21 Florida, No. 12 Virginia, No. 21 Virginia Tech and No. 7 Duke. FSU also notched nice wins over Big Ten teams in Illinois and Minnesota. The Seminoles would finish undefeated at home that season and fall one win shy of tying a then program record for total wins. FSU was upset by Xavier in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, 91-66.

2003-04

Streak: 10 wins
Key Players: Tim Pickett, G; Alexander Johnson, F; Anthony Richardson, F
Finish: 19-14, second round of NIT
Overview: In Leonard Hamilton’s second season on campus, Florida State got off to its best start ever, beginning the year a perfect 10-0. Notable wins over that stretch came against Northwestern, Ole Miss and Miami. FSU would enjoy its firs winning season in six years and notched impressive ACC wins over North Carolina, Wake Forest, Maryland and Georgia Tech. Unfortunately for FSU, it probably needed one more win to get an NCAA Tournament bid. FSU topped Wichita State in overtime to kick off the NIT before falling at home to Iowa State.

2019-20

Streak: 9 wins (current)
Key Players: Devin Vassell, G/F; Trent Forrest, G; M.J. Walker, G
Finish: TBD
Overview: Since falling at Indiana during the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, FSU has reeled off nine straight wins. During that stretch, the Seminoles have defeated six ACC teams, including then No. 7 Louisville on the road. The Seminoles trailed in the second half in five of those wins. FSU goes for 10 straight on Saturday night when it hosts Notre Dame.

2006-07

Streak: 8 wins
Key Players: Al Thornton, F; Toney Douglas, G; Isaiah Swann, G
Finish: 22-13, NIT quarterfinals
Overview: After falling to Wisconsin in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Florida State upset No. 4 Florida to begin a stretch of eight straight wins. Aside from the defending national champions, the most notable win during that stretch was a 92-62 thumping of Providence in St. Petersburg. After an 0-3 start in ACC play, FSU would win five of six, but with guard Toney Douglas out with an injury, the Seminoles lost five straight ACC games. Florida State settled for an NIT bid where it fell at Mississippi State with a trip to New York on the line.

2017-18

Streak: 8 wins
Key Players: Phil Cofer, F; Braian Angola, G; Terance Mann, F/G
Finish: 23-12, Elite Eight
Overview: Florida State opened the 2017-18 season with eight straight wins before falling to Oklahoma State in the Orange Bowl Classic. It would be an up-and-down season for FSU from there, but the Seminoles turned it on when the NCAA Tournament got underway. After being awarded a No. 9 seed, the Seminoles knocked off Missouri, Xavier and Gonzaga before falling to Michigan one game shy of the Final Four. The win over Xavier was FSU’s first-ever in the NCAA Tournament over a No. 1 seed.

2018-19

Streak: 8 wins
Key Players: Mfiondu Kabengele, F; Terance Mann, F/G; Trent Forrest, G
Finish: 29-8, Sweet 16
Overview: After a 1-4 start to ACC play, FSU set a new program record by reeling off eight straight ACC wins. The Seminoles closed the regular season by winning 12 of 13 ACC games. FSU defeated Virginia Tech and eventual national champion Virginia in the ACC Tournament to reach the ACC Championship for just the third time ever. In the NCAA Tournament, the Seminoles topped Vermont and Murray State to reach the Sweet 16 for a season straight year. FSU was ultimately defeated by Gonzaga. Despite the loss, FSU set new program records for victories with 29 and ACC wins with 13.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson. Like The Daily Nole on Facebook. To pitch an idea, author a post or to learn more about The Daily Nole, email Mike Ferguson at Mike@TheDailyNole.com.

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