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ACC team-by-team previews: Notre Dame, Duke battle for the top

By Arielle Chambers

TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TALLAHASSEE, FL - JANUARY 12: Asia Durr (25) guard Louisville Cardinals stumbles with the basketball against Brittany Brown (12) guard Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles in an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) match-up on Thursday, January 12, 2017, at Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida. FSU wins 65-72. (Photo by David Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Florida State

Projected finish: 4th   

Last year’s record: 28-7, 13-3 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats)

F- Shakayla Thomas, 5’11, (Sylacauga, AL), SR- 14.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 25.0 MPG; preseason All-ACC Team, 2017 Watch List for Wooden Award, Naismith and Wade Trophies.

G- Imani Wright, 5’9, (Hooks, TX), R-SR- 10.7 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 27.6 MPG.

Biggest losses (last season’s stats)

G- Leticia Romero, 5’8, (Las Palmas, Spain) – 12.5 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 28.0 MPG; ACC all-time leader in 3-point field goal percentage (47.7 percent), three-time All-American.

C- Kai James, 6’5 (West Palm Beach, FL)- 3.4 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 6.9 MPG, 55.6 percent from the floor.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – JANUARY 12: Shakayla Thomas (20)
TALLAHASSEE, FL – JANUARY 12: Shakayla Thomas (20) /

Newcomers

G- AJ Alix, 5’6, (Houston, TX), GRAD- TCU transfer; 13.1 PPG, 4.6 APG, 39 percent beyond the arc.

G- Savannah Wilkinson, 5’11, (London, ENG), FR- ranked 52nd overall espnW Hoopgurlz, played for Great Britain Senior Women’s National Team.

G- Sayawni Lassiter, 5’10, (Dorchester, MA), FR- McDonald’s All-American Game nominee.

Head Coach

Sue Semrau, 19th season

“You knock for a few years and it’s that experience you gain and culture that’s developed,” Semrau said at Media Day, referring to the NCAA runs Florida State has made lately.

“We lost a lot of great experience, but I have to say I like the makeup of our team a little bit better this year…We have five great upperclassmen…We have some younger players that are chomping at the bit to play.” Semrau seemed ready for her team to have yet another lengthy post-season.  

TALLAHASSEE, FL – FEBRUARY 23: Sue Semrau women’s basketball head coach Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles
TALLAHASSEE, FL – FEBRUARY 23: Sue Semrau women’s basketball head coach Florida State University (FSU) Seminoles /

Key non-conference games

Nov. 29– @Iowa

Dec. 17– @Texas

Outlook

“We’ve been knocking on doors. This year we’re going to break the door down,” Shakayla Thomas said.

This is a Florida State team that has seen three consecutive Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights in the past three years, finishing with a ranking in the top 15 each season.

FSU has a team comprised of players with national team experience as well as a preseason All-American in Thomas.  Upperclassmen leadership and coaching consistency is key to their Final Four hopes.  Coach Semrau said “the challenge will be finding depth” in her team, but she is  encouraged by the eagerness of the younger players.    

Best case scenario:

Florida State remains consistent and Thomas and Wright’s guard-to-post chemistry, in combination with Semrau’s steady hand, will finally lead the team to a Final Four.

Worst case scenario:

FSU suffers from the loss of players like Kai James,  6’5 presence in the paint, and Leticia Romero, the three-point shooting specialist and three-time All-American. 

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