Florida State Basketball: Seminoles are legit national title contenders

SUNRISE, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Leonard Hamilton of the Florida State Seminoles looks on against the South Florida Bulls during the first half of the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic at BB&T Center on December 21, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 23: Vassell of the Seminoles celebrates. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Guard play leads the way.

It is widely known that guard play wins in March and this Florida State team boasts a plethora of effective guards. The starting backcourt of Trent Forrest and Devin Vassell is arguably the best all-around backcourt in the ACC. In fact, it isn’t arguable. They are the best backcourt in the conference.

Both average over 12 points per game and roughly four rebounds. Forrest also hands out four assists per game on the season. In conference play, both have stepped up even further, averaging 14 points per game and shooting a silly 58-for-109 (53.2%) from the floor and 15-for-20 (75%) from the free-throw line.

Vassell has also upped his rebounding numbers to over six per game. He is one of only three players in the ACC who have played north of 400 minutes and have an offensive rating of better than 125. He ranks seventh in the league at 1.08 points per possession (min. 100 possessions).

While the offense is great, these two really stand out on the defensive end of the floor. Overall, the dynamic duo averages nearly as many steals (3.2 per game) as turnovers (3.5 per game) and each has a defensive rating of better than 94.

Factor those numbers with the play of junior wing M.J. Walker (12.6 points, 41% from deep in his last 7 games), Anthony Polite (1.7 steals per game, 39% from three in ACC play), and even seldom-used RayQuan Evans (one turnover per 12.3 minutes played) and you have a team that is incredibly deep at the guard spot.

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