TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — As Leonard Hamilton begins his twentieth season at Florida State, he has elevated this system from one of many worst within the Atlantic Coast Convention to one of many league’s prime males’s basketball groups.
Florida State is certainly one of simply three groups, becoming a member of Gonzaga and Michigan, that has superior to the Candy 16 in every of the final three NCAA Tournaments. The No. 20 Seminoles will characteristic a mixture of veterans, transfers and freshmen to assist them attain match for a fifth straight time.
“We’ve been fortunate for the last couple of years, when we’ve had guys move on, I think we’ve in some ways gotten better each year,” Hamilton stated. “The culture of our team, the ability of our guys to stay focused and accept the roles and the system and the style of ball that we play.
“We have some guys ready to step up and replace the guys that played so well for us last year that have moved on.”
Florida State has stability in leaders like guard Anthony Well mannered and ahead Malik Osborne to assist carry alongside transfers Caleb Mills (Houston) and Cam’Ron Fletcher (Kentucky). The Seminoles landed five-star guard Jalen Warley in addition to four-star guard/ahead Matthew Cleveland.
The Seminoles will want time to construct chemistry however the top, size and athleticism is simple. Florida State has 4 7-footers on their.
“That has been probably the strength of our program — we’ve been able to always seem to develop guys and allow them to continue to keep improving and step into roles and keep our program at a significant position in basketball,” Hamilton stated.
Florida State has produced six NBA first-round draft picks since 2016. Amongst these are five-star recruits like Scottie Barnes and Patrick Williams, who each performed one 12 months in Tallahassee, in addition to diamonds within the tough like Devin Vassell and Mfiondu Kabengele.
Florida State, which as soon as struggled to win a handful of ACC video games, has averaged 24.8 wins over the past 5 seasons. They seem poised to make a run at one other league title.
Another issues to know concerning the Seminoles, who open the season Nov. 10 at dwelling in opposition to Penn:
AREA TO ADDRESS
Florida State is looking for choices at level guard with Barnes now within the NBA. The choice is probably going a mix of seniors RayQuan Evans and Well mannered, though it will likely be robust to disclaim Warley taking part in time if his protection is as much as what Hamilton expects.
Warley, a McDonald’s All-American, averaged 15.6 factors and seven.0 assists in his senior season at Norristown Westtown College in Pennsylvania.
NEW ARRIVALS
Hamilton stated who begins doesn’t matter as he usually performs a deep rotation, and the Seminoles will lean on a big group of newcomers.
Mills may see vital minutes after averaging 12.8 factors at Houston. Fletcher didn’t play a lot at Kentucky however shall be regarded to supply protection and rebounding. Cleveland averaged 22.8 factors at Tempo Academy in Alpharetta, Georgia.
HOME RUN
Florida State has received 25 straight ACC dwelling video games, which is the second longest streak in league historical past. Duke (26) set the league file within the 1997-2000 seasons.
The Seminoles open the ACC schedule in opposition to Syracuse on Dec. 4, and so they may break the mark on Jan. 8 in opposition to Louisville.
11-OVERTIME
Florida State has tied a nationwide file with 11 straight extra time wins, a streak that dates to Jan. 13, 2018.
THE SCHEDULE
Florida State will face some early street checks, taking part in Florida on Nov. 14 and No. 7 Purdue on Nov. 30. The Seminoles may also play host to No. 9 Duke on Jan. 17, at No. 19 North Carolina on Feb. 12 and at No. 25 Virginia on Feb. 26.
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