Florida State Seminoles
Overall Rank: #11
Conference Rank: #3 ACC
Florida State has continually shown that they are a very tough, athletic team that can play with anyone in the nation on a given day. The Seminoles last year won 25 games and returned to the Sweet 16, falling to Baylor 78-58 in the Dallas Regional. With the equivalent of four starters returning this season, Florida State will be in a great position to once again contend in the ACC, but the question remains can they overtake Notre Dame and Louisville? The talent is there, it’s just a matter of finally getting over the hump as the Fighting Irish have dominated the ACC since entering the league and the Cardinals are always going to be elite under Coach Jeff Walz. However, there is no reason for the Seminoles to fear them any longer and it boils down to execution when they play both of those teams.
2015-16 Record: 25-8, 13-3
2015-16 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Sue Semrau
Coach Record: 339-216 at Florida State, 373-226 overall
Key Departed Players (starters in bold)
Adut Bulgak, Center, 12.7 ppg
Emiah Bingley, Guard, 6.1 ppg
Key Returning Players (starters in bold)
Shakayla Thomas, Junior, Forward, 16.4 ppg
Leticia Romero, Senior, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Ivey Slaughter, Senior, Forward, 8.4 ppg
Brittany Brown, Senior, Guard, 8.9 ppg
Maria Conde, Sophomore, Forward, 3.9 ppg
Kai James, Senior, Center, 5.8 ppg
Ama Degebon, Junior, Center, 1.6 ppg
Key New Players
A’Tayanna Gaulden, Freshman, Guard
Nicole Ekhomu, Freshman, Guard
Nausia Woolfolk, Freshman, Guard
Iho Lopez, Freshman, Forward
Jasmine Walker, Freshman, Forward
Chatrice White, Junior, Center, Transfer from Illinois
Imani Wright, Junior, Guard, Transfer from Baylor
Projection
A reloading Connecticut team visits Tallahassee on November 14th in what will be a great opportunity for Florida State to close the gap on the Huskies. Gonzaga awaits on a neutral court over the Thanksgiving weekend in the Virgin Islands and that will be another very good test for the Seminoles. Another great scheduling move by Florida State is to play Texas in mid-February on Big Monday to try and get an extra big time out of conference win for the NCAA Tournament resume. The ACC schedule is very favorable as well as the toughest conference road game is at the end of the regular season against Notre Dame. It’s going to be up to the core of Leticia Romero and Shakayla Thomas to lead the way all season long. Also, if the Seminoles get great production from Ivey Slaughter and transfers Chatrice White and Imani Wright, there should be enough fire power offensively to get Florida State to the Elite Eight.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.5 (34th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 57.5 (42, 2)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.6 (15, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.9 (141, 7)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.9 (215, 13)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.2 (47, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 68.2 (209, 8)
Rebound Margin: 12.0 (5, 1)
Assists Per Game: 16.0 (29, 4)
Turnovers Per Game: 17.7 (273, 12)
Madness 2017 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#14 Leticia Romero
Madness 2016 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#23 Nicole Ekhomu
#28 Jasmine Walker
#37 A'Tyanna Gaulden
