Florida State Seminoles
2020-2021 Overall Rank: #14
Conference Rank: #3 ACC
Florida State was one of the best teams in all of college basketball last season. The Seminoles lost their season opener to Pitt and only lost four more games after that. Coach Leonard Hamilton has done some great things during his 18 years leading the Seminoles, but last year was their first ever ACC title. Three of their top four scorers are gone though and replicating that success will be extremely difficult. However, do not expect FSU to drop too far down the ACC pecking order in 2020-2021.
2019-20 Record: 26-5, 16-4
Coach: Leonard Hamilton
Coach Record: 382-221 at Florida State, 582-431 overall
Key Departed Players:
Devin Vassell, Guard, 12.7 ppg
Trent Forrest, Guard, 11.6 ppg
Patrick Williams, Forward, 9.2 ppg
Dominik Olejniczak, Center, 4.2 ppg
Key Returning Players:
M.J. Walker, Senior, Guard, 10.6 ppg
Malik Osborne, Junior, Forward, 6.0 ppg
Raiquan Gray, Junior, Forward, 6.0 ppg
Anthony Polite, Junior, Guard, 5.8 ppg
Balsa Koprivica, Sophomore, Center, 4.7 ppg
Wyatt Wilkes, Junior, Guard, 3.5 ppg
Nathanael Jack, Senior, Guard, 3.3 ppg
Rayquan Evans, Senior, Guard, 3.2 ppg
Key New Players:
Quincy Ballard, Freshman, Center
Scottie Barnes, Freshman, Guard
Sardaar Calhoun, Junior, Guard, JC Transfer
Tanor Ngom, Senior, Center, Transfer from Ryerson
Isaac Spainhour, Freshman, Guard
Max Thorpe, Freshman, Guard
Projection:
M.J. Walker is the only returning player who averaged more than six points per game last season. The senior guard averaged 10.6 points per game and knocked down 44 three-pointers. He will have to emerge as the team’s go-to-scorer during his senior season. Anthony Polite will get an opportunity to see a big boost in the scoring column as well. He only averaged 5.8 points in nearly 20 minutes per game, but he was efficient when he did look to score. Junior college transfer Sardaar Calhoun is an all-around scoring threat who could be pushing a double digit scoring average this season. The frontcourt returns a trio of proven players in Malik Osborne, Raiquan Gray and Balsa Koprivica. However, the frontcourt will hope to get a huge boost from incoming freshman Scottie Barnes. The 6-9 forward is a tough, bruising big man who is a great fit for FSU. However, it is in the backcourt where the Seminoles could be in trouble. Walker, Polite and Calhoun will have to fill in most of the minutes, but players like Wyatt Wilkes, Nathanael Jack and Rayquan Evans will have to be productive when Coach Hamilton rotates. Florida State needs that depth to play their usual tough defense. If they find it, the Seminoles will be in great shape to remain competitive for the top spot in the ACC.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.4 (65th in nation, 2nd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.7 (70, 4)
Field-Goal Percentage: 45.7 (73, 2)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.6 (56, 5)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (159, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.1 (83, 4)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.0 (49, 2)
Rebound Margin: 2.6 (109, 6)
Assists Per Game: 13.2 (168, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.3 (190, 12)
Madness 2021 NBA Draft Rankings:
#8 Scottie Barnes
Madness 2020 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#5 Scottie Barnes
