Florida State Seminoles Basketball Preview

From 1994 through 2005 Florida State was consistently one of the worst teams in the ACC. Each year in that 12 season period, the Seminoles finished with double digit ACC losses and seventh or lower in the league. Sure the Noles were always good for one or two huge upset victories at home, but they were also good for bad losses both at home and on the road and for some awful basketball in February and March.

Last season something changed in Tallahassee. Unlike past Noles teams, the 2005-2006 edition of the Noles fought through adversity and closed the season strong with wins at home versus then #1 Duke and on the road versus arch rival Miami to finish 9-7 in the ACC. The Noles then missed the NCAA Torunament based on a loss to Wake Forest in the ACC Tournament, but did win a game in the NIT.

This season the Noles will have two of the best players in the ACC in Al Thornton, a can't miss NBA prospect who decided to stay for his senior season and Toney Douglas a sharpshooting guard who transferred from Auburn after leading the Tigers in scoring as a Freshman.

The Noles are deep in the backcourt with Ralph Mims, Isaiah Swann, Jason Rich and Jerrel Allen all providing lots of potential firepower. The problem is none of the afformentioned players has proven they can consistently score night in and night out yet. Keep an eye on Josue Soto a flashy freshman point guard who could contribute right away.

Alexander Johnson the Noles top big man last year and Diego Romero the Noles second best big man have departed, Johnson for the NBA, Romero for overseas ball. That leaves Casaan Breeden who had moments as Freshman even though they were all too infrequent as well as Freshman Ryan Reid to pick up the slack. Uche Echefu returns as well and he should be able help up front as well.

Florida State has little choice but to make the NCAA Tournament this season. Twelve seasons of ACC futility ended last year and making the NCAAs is the logical next step. Anything short would be considered a failure and would put Coach Leonard Hamilton's job is serious jeopardy. While I love FSU's backcourt and Al Thornton, the inside game is just too weak for a team to try and be dominant in the a league as tough as the ACC. Florida State will once again finish about 9-7 in the ACC but with a tougher non league slate this year they will get an invite to NCAA's albeit as a lower seed.

PROJECTED STARTERS

G Isaiah Swann/Jr Germantown, MD
G Toney Douglass/So Jonesboro, GA
G Jason Rich/ Jr Pensacola
F Al Thornton/ Sr Perry, GA
F Casaan Breeden/So Bennettsville, SC

KEY RESERVES

G Josue Soto/Fr Jacksonville
F Ryan Reid/Fr Fort Lauderdale
G Ralph Mims/Jr Pensacola
G Jerrel Allen/Sr Detroit, MI
F Uche Echefu/So Lagos, Nigeria