FSU's Leonard Hamilton on Fouling Question: 'I Wish I Could Have Done Better'

Florida State Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton apologized for his curt postgame interview with CBS Sports' Dana Jacobson following his team's 58-54 defeat to the Michigan Wolverines in the 2018 NCAA basketball tournament.

"I did not initially respond to her questions as I would have liked, and she was doing her job in asking them," Hamilton said in a statement. "The combination of the drama and the raw emotion of athletics and the critical analysis of it make for compelling telelvision but not always for level-headed interviews with the participants who must immediately manage both."

Hamilton added, "I wish I could have done better."

Florida State shared his full statement:

Jacobson asked Hamilton why Florida State didn't foul a Michigan player after PJ Savoy's missed three-pointer with 13 seconds left in the game. Hamilton responded that he thought the game was essentially over at that point.

Coach Leonard Hamilton on Why Florida State Didn't Foul in Last 11 Seconds

Hamilton's frustration immediately after Florida State's year ended one game away from the Final Four is understandable, and the Seminoles' chances of erasing a four-point deficit in 13 seconds were slim.

At the same time, Jacobson's question was one a number of fans were asking themselves. Wilder things have happened in the NCAA tournament.

The Texas A&M Aggies were down by 12 points with 44 seconds remaining in regulation against the Northern Iowa Panthers. Not only did Texas A&M force overtime, but the Aggies also went on to win, 92-88, in double overtime.

One would've expected Hamilton to instruct his players to do everything in their power to keep their season alive, regardless of the long odds.

Despite the defeat, the Seminoles can view the 2017-18 campaign as a major success. They reached the Elite Eight for the first time since 1993, and with only three seniors graduating, FSU has good reason to believe it can make another deep tournament run in 2019.