ACC Basketball: Updated preseason rankings for 2018-19

Florida State’s Elite Eight run came as perhaps the biggest surprise of the NCAA Tournament but raises expectations in a major way as seven of their top 10 players return from that team.

The Seminoles won’t have the same amount of absurd depth that they had a year ago with no impact newcomers replacing the likes of Braian Angola and C.J. Walker, but they’ll still be an elite defensive team thanks to their incredible length and size. That defense is what spurred their Elite Eight run as they gave up just 60.5 points per game.

That said, Florida State needs to find more consistent offense if they’re going to become the team they’re capable of. Identifying a go-to guy would be key and Terance Mann (12.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg) has the tools to be that guy if he can become a more consistent offensive threat. Rising sophomore M.J. Walker, a former top-30 recruit, can also become that guy.

FSU faces in-state rival Florida in the season opener, Purdue in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, Saint Louis in the Orange Bowl Classic, and will particiate in the 2018 Advocare Invitational, which features teams like Villanova and LSU. The Noles will make their potential known one way or another before New Year’s.