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Wolfpack Front Court Could Hurt Seminoles

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By SCOTT CARTER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 26, 2008

TALLAHASSEE - As he watched tape of N.C. State in his office on Friday, Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton saw more of the Wolfpack than he wanted.

"They've got three or four power players, and they are a handful," Hamilton said.

Hamilton was referring to the Wolfpack's big frontcourt, anchored by 6-foot-9 center J.J. Hickson, the team's leading scorer and a top candidate for ACC Freshman of the Year, and 6-9 power forward Brandon Costner, a sophomore who made a splash in Tampa last March during the ACC Tournament by leading the surprising Wolfpack to the championship game. And if Hickson and Costner aren't causing FSU problems in this afternoon's game, 6-8 forward Gavin Grant and 6-10 reserve center Ben McCauley probably will be.

How will the guard-oriented Seminoles match up with the taller Wolfpack? That's a question that would have caused Hamilton a restless night two weeks ago, but with forwards Ryan Reid (6-8) and Julian Vaughn (6-10) back in the FSU's rotation, Hamilton at least feels FSU has a chance to compete inside.

Reid missed nine games earlier this season due to academic issues, and Vaughn was forced to take two weeks off because of an unknown medical condition that required him to take a trip to the Cleveland Clinic for extensive tests prior to being cleared to resume playing. In Wednesday's 69-67 victory over Virginia, Reid and Vaughn combined for four points, seven rebounds and two blocks.

But that's not why Hamilton was so pleased to have them on the court. It was the 39 minutes the two played, Reid logging a season-high 28 minutes and Vaughn, still trying to get back into shape, playing 11. Their presence allowed Hamilton to rotate the lineup more and keep FSU's other inside presence, 6-8 forward Uche Echefu, fresher.

"Being able to have Ryan and Julian play 40 minutes the other night, that was a tremendous help to us," Hamilton said. "The lack of a low-post presence has bothered us."

Twenty games into the season, FSU (13-7, 2-3 in ACC) is entering a critical portion of the schedule to have a chance at snapping a nine-season NCAA Tournament drought. After hosting N.C. State today, FSU has only 10 regular-season games remaining, meaning Reid and Vaughn must continue to improve each game.

"You know, just by having Ryan and Julian back, just knowing the presence that they bring in the paint, that's what we have been missing," senior guard Ralph Mims said.

Do the Noles have enough time to make a late run and overcome some disappointing early season non-conference losses? Hamilton isn't into providing forecasts, but he did offer an analysis of where the team is now.

"The worst thing I can do is start taking bows with a 2-3 ACC record," he said. "You have to earn the right to say where you are. Before we can identify who we are and what we are as a team, we are going to have to have some consistent back-to-back-to-back games, where we're playing the way the game is supposed to be played.

"We showed signs against Virginia of better understanding the system that we have to play in order to be successful, but in order for that to be meaningful, we have to show back up today with the same determination."

At least they will have Reid and Vaughn to help.

Reporter Scott Carter can be reached at (850) 294-3088 or scarter@tampatrib.com.

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