The ACC schedule was taking its toll on Florida State's men's basketball team, especially senior guard Tim Pickett. The Seminoles found themselves in a 24-point hole against North Carolina last week and seemingly on their way to their fourth consecutive conference loss.
Pickett, generally known for his shooting ability and stealthy defense, had been struggling mightily in conference play. He was shooting just 25 percent from the field and was not getting to the free throw line often.
Prior to the Carolina game coach Leonard Hamilton spoke about Pickett's slump to the Tampa Tribune: "We've had two or three talks this week. I told him to maintain a positive attitude, keep taking shots and relax and go out and play."
Pickett then went on to score 30 points in the upset overtime victory against the Tar Heels, with 22 of them coming after halftime.
"Pickett played a heck of a game, and he had been struggling," North Carolina head coach Roy Williams said. "He was difficult for us to handle."
While Pickett was clearly the star, he credited his team for the victory and putting a stop to its ACC woes.
"Even though we [were] down, I looked in everybody's eyes and everybody was looking like they didn't want to give up," Pickett said. "We stuck together and we didn't give up as a team."
The same was the case this past weekend, as Pickett led his team to another impressive victory against Wake Forest. He scored all 18 of his points in the second half as the Seminoles beat their second straight top-10 team.
For his outstanding play in Florida State's two victories last week, Pickett was awarded both ACC Player of the Week and ESPN's "Big Man on Campus" honors.
On a team that has been touted as young but dangerous, Pickett appears to be living up to his second-team All-ACC status of a year ago. The senior is providing leadership for a recruiting class that is considered the best in the nation according to TheInsiders.com.
"He's a warrior with a capital W. I'm not sure I've ever been around a guy who gives more effort, or plays with more passion," Hamilton said of Pickett in the Tampa Tribune.
As a junior, Pickett led a mediocre Florida State squad to a 14-15 record, while ranking fifth in the nation with 2.83 steals per game and leading the Seminoles in both scoring (17.1) and rebounding (5.7).
With the addition of Hamilton's talented recruits, Pickett may not be putting up the statistical numbers he did a year ago, but his role has become even more important. Standout freshman Von Wafer, among others, has given him a supporting cast that helped FSU have its best start in over 30 years.
With a greater emphasis on the team game and more talent around him, Pickett has become a leader for his teammates on and off the court.
"Tim is a very confident, outgoing, warm and charismatic guy. He's got the smile," Hamilton told the Baltimore Sun. "When practice starts, he turns into a totally different animal. It's all about working the hardest he possibly can. He's not playing around anymore. His motor is always running."
Pickett has fit into his new role quite nicely and has begun to recognize the importance he has in developing FSU.
"I just try to keep us going by helping out in any way I can," Pickett said in the Baltimore Sun. "I have a lot of energy, and I want to make sure everybody follows my lead. I try to put in a good day's work and I try to have fun, wherever I'm at."
If Pickett continues to play like he has of late, and the younger players continue to do their part, Florida State could be a tough opponent for Duke. The Blue Devils will need to control Pickett in the second half, where he has been on fire, if they expect to win.
"We're just depending on each other when we get behind and we've really been doing that the last two games and not giving up," Pickett said. "That's the main thing that's bringing more togetherness to this team."
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