Florida State Seminoles
ACC (27-7, 13-5)
Florida State got off to a good start to the 2018-2019 campaign, beating the likes of Florida, LSU and Purdue in non-conference play. Their only loss came against Villanova in a close 66-60 contest. Once ACC play began, the Seminoles were not able to stay up at the top of the standings along with Duke, Virginia and North Carolina, but a 13-5 record certainly puts FSU in a good spot to make a nice tournament run.
Big Wins: 11/23 vs LSU (79-76), 11/28 Purdue (73-72), 3/5 Virginia Tech (73-64)
Bad Losses: 11/25 vs Villanova (60-66), 1/14 at Pitt (62-75), 1/20 at Boston College (82-87)
Coach: Leonard Hamilton
Why They Can Surprise:
Coach Leonard Hamilton has once again put together a balanced team that will play tough defense. The frontcourt boasts the usual big men who can score, rebound and block shots. Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6-10 sophomore, is the team’s top scorer at 12.9 points per game and also adds 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Christ Koumadje is a massive presence in the paint. The 7-4 senior is not going to be on the floor for more than 20 minutes per game very often, but he is certainly productive when on the floor. Terance Mann is a big 6-7 guard, who is actually the team’s top rebounder with 6.4 per game. Mann is also the most consistent scoring threat on the perimeter and can have some very good scoring games, especially when his outside shot is falling.
Why They Can Disappoint:
This is not a very good three-point shooting team though. Mann does not shoot from long range too often and much of the outside shooting will fall to M.J. Walker and PJ Savoy. Walker, a 6-5 sophomore, averages 7.8 points per game, while Savoy adds 6.0. Neither is particularly efficient when it comes to shooting the basketball and it will be very important for the Seminoles to get some instant offense from beyond the arc. The other potential issue is in the turnover battle. The Seminoles will force quite a few turnovers and point guard Trent Forrest deserves much of the credit for that. Forrest does a lot for this team in all aspects of the game, but if he can help keep the turnovers down, the Seminoles can beat anybody.
Probable Starters:
Terance Mann, Senior, Guard, 11.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 6.4 rpg
Trent Forrest, Junior, Guard, 9.1 ppg, 3.8 apg, 4.6 rpg
M.J. Walker, Sophomore, Guard, 7.8 ppg, 1.6 apg
Phil Cofer, Senior, Forward, 7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Christ Koumadje, Senior, Center, 6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg
Key Role Players:
Mfiondu Kabengele, Sophomore, Forward, 12.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.5 bpg
David Nichols, Senior, Guard, 6.4 ppg, 1.7 apg
PJ Savoy, Senior, Guard, 6.0 ppg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.8 (98th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.3 (64, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.6 (166, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.5 (29, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (212, 10)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.0 (244, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.5 (84, 8)
Rebound Margin: 4.4 (49, 5)
Assists Per Game: 13.1 (201, 8)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.5 (227. 13)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Missouri |
| 2018 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Xavier |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal win over Gonzaga |
| 2018 | NCAA | Regional Final loss to Michigan |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Florida Gulf Coast |
| 2017 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Xavier |
| 2016 | NIT | First Round win over Davidson |
| 2016 | NIT | Second Round loss to Valparaiso |
| 2014 | NIT | First Round win over Florida Gulf Coast |
| 2014 | NIT | Second Round win over Georgetown |
| 2014 | NIT | Regional Semifinal win over Louisiana Tech |
| 2014 | NIT | National Semifinal loss to Minnesota |
| 2013 | NIT | First Round loss to Louisiana Tech |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over St. Bonaventure |
| 2012 | NCAA | Round of 32 loss to Cincinnati |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 64 win over Texas A&M |
| 2011 | NCAA | Round of 32 win over Notre Dame |
| 2011 | NCAA | Regional Semifinal loss to VCU |
| 2010 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Gonzaga |
| 2009 | NCAA | Round of 64 loss to Wisconsin |
| 2008 | NIT | First Round loss to Akron |
| 2007 | NIT | First Round win over Toledo |
| 2007 | NIT | Second Round win over Michigan |
| 2007 | NIT | Quarterfinal loss to Mississippi State |
*all team stats through 3/10
