As guard spurs FSU revival, his energy has dazzled everyone from his teammates to opposing coaches.
By BRIAN LANDMAN
Published February 28, 2004
Florida State star guard Tim Pickett has collected and carefully hung the NBA jerseys of former stars Michael Jordan and Spud Webb in his Tallahassee apartment.
Nothing unusual about that. Many of his peers share a similar taste for interior decorating. But why he chose those particular jerseys says something about Pickett.
Something unusual.
"Back in the day, they played hard," said Pickett, sounding more like 42 than 22. "I've always been struck by that, how hard they played and competed. In today's society of basketball, they don't really play too hard."
No one can hang that criticism on Pickett.
His jersey, though hardly retro, could be displayed nicely.
Whether it's during a practice or a game, the 6-foot-4, 207-pound senior goes at a frenetic pace, diving on the floor, hurdling sideline chairs, careening between bigger, stronger players for rebounding position and, of course, swishing seemingly impossible jumpers. All the while, he's smiling and looking for more, much like a child tearing into the stack of presents circling the Christmas tree.
"He gets us pumped up," said sophomore point guard Todd Galloway, Pickett's roommate. "He's all over the place out there. It definitely boils over to everybody. He's setting a precedent that you have to play at a high level; anything else wouldn't be accepted."
"I've never had anybody play harder than Tim," FSU coach Leonard Hamilton added. "I'm not even sure I've been around anybody who plays with the passion that he plays with."
He's not talking about in two years at FSU. He means in his dozen years as an assistant at Kentucky, when the Wildcats won a national title and reached the Final Four two other times with players such as Winston Bennett; his four seasons at Oklahoma State with players such as Byron Houston; his decade at Miami with someone such as Tim James; and even his brief tenure with the NBA's Washington Wizards, who featured Richard Hamilton.
Pickett leads the Seminoles in scoring (16.2 points) and steals (2.5), is second in rebounding (4.5) and is third in assists (1.9). He's among the ACC's top 10 in four categories.
"He's a kid who every coach would like to coach," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who brings his No.5 Blue Devils to Tallahassee for a crucial Sunday night game for the Seminoles. "I really like him. I've said that numerous times. He's been good for Florida State and he's been good for our league."
The Seminoles, who could solidify their NCAA Tournament credentials with a win, have beaten Duke the past two seasons in Tallahassee, including last season, when Pickett had 15 points and nine rebounds.
"I think he's a sensational basketball player," said North Carolina coach Roy Williams, who saw Pickett score 30 in FSU's dramatic overtime win against his team Jan. 20. "He's a guy I enjoy watching because he has that enthusiasm for the game. ... I think he is one of the better players in our league and maybe even in college basketball."
But Pickett didn't expect to be in the ACC.
After a year at Daytona Beach Community College and another at Indian River Community College, he planned to sign with South Carolina. But the SEC requires junior college transfers to be at the same school for three straight semesters, and Pickett's two would have left him ineligible. So Gamecocks coach Dave Odom urged Hamilton to grab him.
Pickett, who over the years has learned by spending his summers playing with NBA standouts George McCloud, Dee Brown and Vince Carter, proved to be a building block for Hamilton's rebuilding project.
Although Pickett averaged slightly more points, rebounds, steals and assists last season, he also played 33-plus minutes a game, about four more than this season. The rest has helped him.
It's no coincidence that his shooting percentage is up from 38.2 percent to 44.0 percent and up even more from beyond the arc (32.4 percent to 42.1 percent, third in the ACC).
"Tim is not really forced to have to play all those minutes, but I also think he's moving better without the ball; he's playing with a little more savvy," Hamilton said. "He has improved."
Defenders can be close enough to share a shoelace and Pickett will get off a shot.
And often hit it.
"He's just crazy," Galloway said. "It's unbelievable how he does that."
"You always say, "Let's make them take one bad shot and let's get the rebound,"' UNC's Williams said. "A lot of the time with him, what you think is one bad shot, he makes. His effectiveness on the offensive end puts a tremendous load on your defense."
Pickett helped FSU erase a 24-point first-half deficit in that win against the Tar Heels. What's more impressive is that Pickett has no consistent sidekick. He's the lone Seminole averaging in double figures.
"He's as good as anyone in this league," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "He's one of those guys who makes tough shots. ... He just plays hard and it looks like he's having fun out there."
Like guys from back in the day.
Or these days in Tallahassee.
"I just rejoice in all the good things that have happened in my life," Pickett said. "I love the game. I love to play. And any time I get on the court, I just try to show my love for it through my emotions and my play and try to do everything I can to help my team win."
