Florida State coach is just in it for the memories

LOS ANGELES — The൲ prize is right in front of both teams: A 𒁃berth in the Final Four.

The winner of Saturday night’s West Region final between Michigan and 🔜Florida State at Staples Center will advance to the Final Four in San Antonio.

A Michigan win would be the school’s eighth Final Four appearance, but first since 2013. It♈ would be Wolverines coach John Beilein’s second as a head coach.

What would it mean for Florida State, whicꦅh made its only Final Four appearance in 1972?

Florida State coach Leonard Hamil💛ton, 69, had never taken a team deeper than the Sweet ♒16 before Thursday night’s upset win over Gonzaga.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career to have been, as an assistant, to three Final Fours [and] I don’t know how many conference championships,’’ Hamilton, who made those trips as a Kentucky assistant in the 1970s and 1980s, said Friday. “I’m more thinking about how important it would be for our student-athletes to enjoy that experience. I’m not selfish en𝔍ough to feel that that’s a cure-all for me that’s going to maꦡke my life any more important or successful.

“But I realize that these are memories that our young people will have that they will cherish for the remainder of their lives. I want so much for them to enjoy that experience, because I know how much it’s going to mean to them. I’m more excited about when they graduate and get their degrees, when I get a🐈 chance to go through their weddings and be th🐎e godfather to their kids.

“Me personally, I hope that my reward would be to see the smiles on their face and hear their tone of voice and the excitement in it if we can win this game🍸. So my job is to try to get themꦍ to be mentally and emotionally poised, connected, and energized and not pressured because they’re trying to satisfy something for the coach.’’

Hamilton spok🌸e of Beilien in glowing terms on the ev꧑e of their teams’ game against each other.

“I think Coach Beilein is a Hall of Fame-type of coach,’’ Hamilt💃on said. “He has one of the best offensive systems in ౠthe country. He’s won at every stop that he’s been. He’s been extremely successful. He has the ability to identify talent that fits within his system, and they’ve been extremely effective over the years.’’

Nineteen of the past 20 national champions have been no lower than a No. 3 seed. The only exception was seventh-seeded Connecticut in 2014, which beat Kentucky, an eighth seed. … The last time Florida State made it༒ this far, in ❀1993, it lost to No. 1 seed Kentucky. The Seminoles were seeded No. 3 that year.

The boldest comment to come from either team on Friday came from Florida State senior Braian Angola, who’s from Vi🌱llanueva, Columbia. When asked if he thinks the Seminoles have “the best fortnight squad in NCAA basketball,’’ he said, “I’d probably say we have the best squad in the nation right now. Our fortnight skills are doing pretty well.’’