12. Florida State Seminoles
Last Week: No. 18
Florida State dipped a bit in the rankings last week following a loss to Villanova. Yet, they are back on the rise this time around after a home victory over Purdue. The Seminoles already have a few very nice wins on their resume and they belong in the top-15 somewhere. A balanced team that can win with its offense or defense, FSU will be a dangerous team in the ACC this year.
Through seven games, senior Terance Mann (12.3 points, 7.1 rebounds) has been the leader of the team but bench play is paramount to success for FSU. Head coach Leonard Hamilton relies a lot on his depth and that much is evident in the fact that nine players are currently averaging 10 or more minutes per game.
Looking ahead, the Seminoles have a couple more tests on the schedule prior to conference play. Most notably, they will face off against UConn (Dec. 8) and Saint Louis (Dec. 22) on neutral courts. And while these might not be elite matchups, both the Huskies and the Billikens can prove to be challenges.