Pitt's 'controlled freedom' catches Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton's eye

Jaland Lowe called it “controlled freedom.”

Leonard Hamilton, whose Florida State team was crushed by Pitt’s wave of 3-point shots, was impressed with “the uniqueness” coach Jeff Capel put on display Tuesday night and for the past two months.

How impressed?

“This team is capable of beating anybody in our league,” Hamilton said early Wednesday morning after Pitt’s 88-73 victory, “because of how well they play together and in sync in terms of creating a system where they’re taking the highest-percentage shot.”

Then, he chuckled.

“Sometimes, it’s amazing, the highest-percentage shot can be a 25-footer.”

Perhaps Pitt’s most eye-catching statistic this season is its 817 3-point attempts, first in the ACC (85 more than Georgia Tech, the second-place team in that category). The Panthers make only 35.6% of their 3s (eighth in the league), but Capel is reluctant to shut off the spigot because it can erupt at any time.

Lowe said his recent success (29 points and 19 assists) is the result of “a (coaching) staff that trusts me to do the right thing, make the right play, just having teammates who have that belief.

“It’s controlled freedom. We have to show we can handle it.”

Hamilton, who’s been a head coach or assistant in college or the NBA every year since 1971, appeared jealous he doesn’t have the type of team Capel has produced.

“I don’t know if I have the kind of team I can let shoot that frequently from the 3-point line,” he said. “But that’s who they are. The thing that I like about their team, everybody who played scored (eight players).

“(Blake) Hinson is their main guy, but I always said at Florida State we won games by committee. That was a perfect example of winning by committee.”

Hinson scored 27 points and was supported by Lowe’s 17, Bub Carrington’s 12 and Zack Austin’s eight. Six players attempted 3s, with the exception of William Jeffress, who played only 4 1/2 minutes, and center Federiko Federiko, who hasn’t tried one all season.

“It is very challenging,” Hamilton said, “when you have to guard so many people who are capable (of scoring). It’s very difficult to guard that many 3-point shooters with the discipline they showed in terms of moving the ball, making the extra pass, getting into the lane with the intention of trying to find the best offensive opportunity. That’s a tribute to the kids buying in, the coaches putting the system in that matches who they are.”

Pitt is averaging 85.7 points in its past four victories, but three of those were against Louisville, Boston College and Florida State, who are combined 18-38 in the league. The Seminoles are 14th in the 15-team ACC in points allowed (75.8 per game).

“We have not been a good defensive team all year. We’ve been consistently inconsistent,” Hamilton said.

Nonetheless, Pitt has given the appearance of an NCAA Tournament team in recent weeks, largely because guards Lowe and Carrington have proven the moment is not too big for them. Whether the selection committee is as impressed as much as Hamilton may be another storyline for another day.

“They’re poised, and they have a tremendous buy-in,” Hamilton said. “A lot of times when you get young guys, they’re a little antsy. The moment sometimes can be a little challenging. That’s normal for most freshmen. These guys, it’s obvious they have a good relationship with their staff and with each other.”

Hamilton had praise for Capel, who resurrected the program in his fifth and sixth seasons with a total of 44 victories.

“I’m so happy for Jeff that people have been patient,” he said, referring to the Pitt administration. “This is not an easy thing to do. Programs don’t get to be that way, where they need a little fixing up, overnight.”

Hamilton, 75, didn’t enjoy his quick trip this week into Pittsburgh, a city he has visited many times in his career. Yet, even while Petersen Events Center is never friendly to foes, he appreciates the venue compared to where his teams played against Pitt in the old days.

“Pitt has always had a great home-court atmosphere,” he said, “even when we played in the illustrious Fitzgerald arena that I don’t miss at all.”