Instead of inquiring the minds of his trusted assistants, Leonard Hamilton turned to his dependable point guard to direct Florida State’s offense after a time out.
Maybe Hamilton was relying on his most experienced player. Maybe he was simply riding the hot hand.
As Xavier Rathan-Mayes became the fourth player in school history to record 10 assists with zero turnovers in the Seminoles’ latest victory, it was not his offensive savvy that earned the most praise. It was his pride in the grueling task of defending opposing point guards the length of the court that garnered the most attention.
“It takes an exceptional type of mental toughness that it takes to be able to do that,” Hamilton said of Rathan-Mayes, a player he believes is deserving of All-ACC recognition this season.
No. 19 Florida State (22-6, 10-5 ACC) hopes Rathan-Mayes can be the catalyst to a much-needed road win at Clemson (14-13, 4-11) on Saturday at noon.
“It just shows the maturity and the journey that we’ve had together to know that I’m his guy,” Rathan-Mayes said of his coach. “He looks to me and he counts on me in all situations.”
FSU is in a four-way tie for second place at 10-5 in the ACC standings with Louisville, Duke and Notre Dame. The top 4 teams in the standings will qualify for a double-bye straight to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament in two weeks.
If the Seminoles are able to score a road victory at Clemson, they’ll hope to sustain the success three days later at Duke on Tuesday night. The final game of the regular season is against Miami on March 4 before the ACC tournament.
“There’s no question we want the double bye,” Hamilton said. “The only way to get it is not wish for it. Go and take it.”
Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after a win over Boston College on Monday.
Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after the Seminoles’ win over NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2016.
Florida State freshman forward Jonathan Isaac speaks after the Seminoles’ win over NC State on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2016.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton talks about NC State standout guard Dennis Smith Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, a day before both teams play at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton talks about NC State standout guard Dennis Smith Jr. on Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, a day before both teams play at the Donald L. Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
Winning on the road has been easier said than done for the Seminoles.
FSU owns one of the best home records in the country at 17-0, and is one of three teams (No. 2 Villanova and No. 22 Butler) to have six wins over top 25 opponents — with five coming at home.
But the Seminoles have lost five games to unranked teams away from the Donald L. Tucker Center. The most startling trend is FSU’s knack for trailing by at least 15 points in the second half of each defeat.
“It’s going to test where we are mentally, physically, and I think it’s really going to help us,” Rathan-Mayes said. “I think we’re in a really good place. I think we’re really meshing as a team at the right time in the season.”
Despite the road woes, Rathan-Mayes has played his best basketball of the season during conference play.
No player has a better assist to turnover ratio than Rathan-Mayes’ 3.6 to 1 clip. He has had zero or one turnover in 9 of 15 conference games, and has notched 32 assists with only five turnovers in his last five outings.
Boston College coach Jim Christian, after a 32-point loss to FSU on Monday, said Rathan-Mayes is “the straw that stirs the drink” for the Seminoles.
But again, Hamilton lobbied for Rathan-Mayes to earn All-ACC defensive team honors like former guards Toney Douglas and Michael Snaer did during their FSU careers.
“He has to be the best pressure defensive guard (in the ACC),” Hamilton said.
As FSU’s regular season winds to an end, the Seminoles have deeper aspirations they hope to achieve in their first NCAA tournament berth since winning the conference in 2012.
Rathan-Mayes hopes this run will be the lasting mark with the Seminoles.
“We’ve come a long way,” Rathan-Mayes said. “I’m just happy to be in the position that I am in now, be able to have the team that I have, and to be able to have successful like we are.”
Email Safid Deen at sdeen@orlandosentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Safid_Deen and @osfsu. Also, like our Florida State Facebook page for the latest updates on the Seminoles.
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