Florida State Seminoles
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #13
Conference Rank: #4 ACC
Riding high after their Elite Eight appearance in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, Florida State hopes for even more success in 2019. As a #9 seed last year, the Seminoles beat Missouri, top seeded Xavier and Gonzaga before falling to Michigan. With seven players returning who averaged at least 6.5 points per game last season, Coach Leonard Hamilton again has a very deep and talented team that will be a contender in the ACC.
2017-18 Record: 23-12, 9-9
2017-18 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Leonard Hamilton
Coach Record: 327-208 at Florida State, 527-418 overall
Key Departed Players:
Braian Angola-Rodas, Guard, 12.5 ppg
C.J. Walker, Guard, 8.0 ppg
Ike Obiagu, Center, 2.3 ppg
Brandon Allen, Forward, 1.0 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Phil Cofer, Senior, Forward, 12.8 ppg
Terance Mann, Senior, Guard, 12.6 ppg
Christ Koumadje, Senior, Center, 6.5 ppg
Trent Forrest, Junior, Guard, 7.9 ppg
Mfiondu Kabengele, Sophomore, Forward, 7.2 ppg
M.J. Walker, Sophomore, Guard, 7.0 ppg
PJ Savoy, Senior, Guard, 6.7 ppg
Key New Players:
Raiquan Gray, RS Freshman, Forward
Ty Hands, Freshman, Guard
David Nichols, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Albany
Devin Vassell, Freshman, Guard/Forward
Malik Osborne, Sophomore, Forward, Transfer from Rice, not eligible
Projection:
Phil Cofer and Terance Mann were the top two scorers and rebounders on the team last season. Cofer, a 6-8 forward, is also an effective outside shooter and a versatile scoring threat. With those two seniors leading the way, Florida State has a couple experienced players who will take most of the big shots for the Seminoles. The other returning starter is fellow senior Christ Koumadje. The 7-4 center has emerged as a decent scoring threat, but still makes his biggest impact on the glass and on the defensive end. Sophomore Mfiondu Kabengele is another big frontcourt player who can do plenty of scoring and help out on the defensive end. Trent Forrest, M.J. Walker and PJ Savoy are all big guards who provide a variety of options for Coach Hamilton. Forrest will step into the starting point guard position this year after dishing out 4.1 assists per game with just 1.7 turnovers. Walker and Savoy are both decent shooters and it will be up to them to join Cofer as Florida State’s top outside shooting threats. For a team that struggled shooting the ball last season, it will be important to at least boost the overall three-point shooting up a few percentage points. The addition of Albany graduate transfer David Nichols will add another shooting threat to the team. But even if this group still struggles to consistently knock down the long ball, Florida State will play good enough defense to compete in the always difficult ACC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 80.1 (44th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 72.9 (184, 11)
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.8 (63, 4)
Field-Goal Defense: 41.7 (53, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.8 (157, 9)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.0 (177, 12)
Free-Throw Percentage: 69.1 (261, 14)
Rebound Margin: 2.7 (84, 4)
Assists Per Game: 14.9 (85, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.0 (182, 13)
