Jam with Coach Ham on Friday

Fresh off of their first NCAA Tournament appearance in a decade, the Florida State men's basketball team is ready to begin another run at March Madness. This Friday, the Seminoles will hold their first practice of the season, a special event open to all!

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Celebrate the beginning of the college basketball season as head coach Leonard Hamilton and the Seminole basketball team play host to the inaugural “Jam With Coach Ham – Takin it Back To Tully” season opening practice – open to the public – on Friday, October 16th at 6:30 p.m. in Tully Gymnasium on the Florida State campus.

The event marks the first day of official practice for a squad that returns eight lettermen and three starters from a memorable 2008-09 campaign.

The doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a Fan Fest area with games and activities for kids, students, and adults. Free t-shirts, a kid’s slam station, hip-hop dancing, circus acts, Florida State Cheerleaders, Golden Girls, Seminole Sound and much more will be available for fans in attendance.

At 7:00 p.m. the Florida State men’s basketball team will take the same court the team called home from 1956-81. The last game the Seminoles played at Tully Gymnasium was on February 21, 1981 when they defeated cross-town foe Florida A&M 92-79. The following season marked the first year that Florida State played in what is now known as the Donald L. Tucker Center. The Seminoles’ 1972 national runner-up team played all of their home games in Tully Gym.

Jam with Coach Ham, presented by ABC-27 HD, will provide fans their first opportunity to take a look at the 2009-10 team. The Seminoles will hold a team scrimmage, 3-point shootout and dunk contest.

Florida State has high expectations, coming off their first-ever ACC Championship game appearance and their first NCAA Tournament bid in ten years. The Seminoles finished the 2008-09 season with a 25-10 overall record and ranked No. 16 in the final AP poll.

The Seminoles will open the 2009-10 season with an exhibition against Delta State on November 3, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. in the Donald L. Tucker Center. Their first regular-season game will take place on November 16, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. when they host Jacksonville.