Florida State Basketball made a surprise tournament run to reach the Elite Eight. With most of their roster back, how will the Seminoles fare in 18-19?
Florida State started the 17-18 season with a bang as they earned a crucial road win against a red-hot Florida squad in early December. The Seminoles followed this with a win at home against then 12th ranked UNC. This put them at 12-2 with their only losses being at Duke and to Oklahoma State on a neutral court.
These marquee wins combined with the lack of bad losses, put Florida State in a great position to not only make the NCAA Tournament but also be nationally ranked in the top 25. Unfortunately, this would be their peak in the regular season as the Seminoles slipped to the middle of the pack in the ACC. A 9-9 record and a first-round ACC Tournament loss put Florida State in the dreaded 8 vs 9 NCAA Tournament game.
Even though Missouri got Michael Porter back in the lineup from a season-long absence, the Seminoles were able to handle their first-round opponent. The second round was even more memorable as Florida State came back from the dead to shock the top-seeded Xavier Musketeers. Their postseason push did not stop there as Gonzaga fell victim to the elite length and athleticism of the Seminoles. A tight loss to the eventual runner-up, Michigan, capped off an unexpected Elite Eight run.
For this upcoming season, Florida State was being ranked as a fringe top 25 team after losing CJ Walker, Braian Angola-Rodas, and Ikey Obiagu who were all key rotation players. However, the perception around the team changed once Phil Cofer was awarded an additional year of eligibility. Cofer was the team’s leading scorer (12.8 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (5.1 rpg) and his return has made the Seminoles a near consensus top 20 squad.
These personnel losses should not be overlooked. CJ Walker was the starting PG and often provided a scoring punch. He has transferred to Ohio State for his final two seasons. Angola-Rodas had an excellent senior season where he averaged 12.5 ppg and 3.0apg. His value as a defender and a floor spacer (38% from three on 64 makes) cannot be overstated. Lastly, Obiagu proved to be a gifted rim protector who blocked 2.1 shots in just over 10 minutes per game. He is limited offensively to lobs, drop-offs, and putbacks, but his defensive impact is enormous. Seton Hall will get his services for three years after he sits out this season.
This article will preview Florida State and analyze their starters, reserves, and non-conference schedule. It will conclude with some major questions and a prediction of where the Seminoles will land in the ACC and nationally.