Florida State basketball: 2020-21 season preview for the Seminoles
What are the expectations and outlook for Florida State Basketball this upcoming season?
Florida State basketball was the best team in the ACC last year and earned its second conference championship in school history. The Seminoles finished the 2019-20 season with a 26-5 (16-4 ACC) record and ranked fourth in the final AP Poll.
This was another solid year for the Seminoles in the Leonard Hamilton era. On the court, the team was led by Devin Vassell, Trent Forest, M.J. Walker, and Patrick Williams. Vassell, Forest, and Walker averaged double-figures in points last season while Williams scored nine points and secured four rebounds per game.
The Seminoles earned key wins last season against the No. 6 Florida Gators, No. 17 Tennessee Volunteers, Purdue Boilermakers in overtime, No. 7 Louisville Cardinals, Virginia Cavaliers at home and North Carolina to name a few. They went 10-2 in the last two months of the season. Their guard play was the strength of their team, but their big men produced at a high level as well.
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Florida State basketball secured a top-50 2020 recruiting class nationally with the additions of Montverde Academy five-star forward Scottie Barnes, Missouri State University-West Plains standout Sardaar Calhoun and three-star forward Quincy Ballard. Look for each of these guys to make an impact right away for the Seminoles.
Without Vassell and Forest on the floor, look for M.J. Walker to be a guy they turn to in big moments this season. He along with Raiquan Gray and Malik Osborne will be key veterans to keep an eye on.
The Seminoles have always been one of the best teams in the country that use big men very well. They have two seven-footers in Tanor Ngom and Balsa Koprivica. Ballard is a bright young talent who could be a bright spot for them defensively and on the boards.