ACC Basketball: Updated way-too-early power rankings for 2023-24 season

10. Florida State Seminoles

2022-23 season record: 9-23 (7-13)

Months later, it’s still hard to explain how awful the Seminoles were in the non-conference, even with all the frontcourt injuries. They were an even worse defensive unit than Louisville who were essentially playing everyone out of position. The perimeter chemistry was bad overall but that’s changed, as both Matthew Cleveland and Caleb Mills are gone.

They still have Darin Green, who was second on the team with 13.4 ppg, and leading passer, Jalen Warley in the backcourt. Joining them is Josh Nickelberry, a double-digit scorer from La Salle and the A-10 6th Man of the Year. They also landed Primo Spears, who averaged 16.0 ppg and 5.3 apg at Georgetown last season. However, he needs a waiver to play as a two-time transfer so we can’t pencil him in as a starter just yet.

Although they don’t have Naheem McLeod around, there’s still plenty of frontcourt depth, assuming they all remain healthy. Brown transfer Jaylan Gainey is back after missing all of last season, while Cam Fletcher is looking to build upon his solid start to last season before his own season-ending injury. Plus, former top-50 prospect Baba Miller will be a breakout candidate to watch after missing the first 16 games as well.

VCU transfer Jamir Watkins rounds out the frontcourt and there are definitely a lot of bodies. But Spears being a team’s best player hasn’t worked out at his last two stops and without him, there are some real scoring questions. Coach Leonard Hamilton doesn’t have two bad years in a row but this roster doesn’t have the kind of NBA talent usually needed to succeed.