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2018 ACC preview: Notre Dame, Louisville battle for top

By Arielle Chambers

COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH - APRIL 01: Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Muffet McGraw and her team pose for photos after winning the National Championship game between the Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on April 1, 2018 at Nationwide Arena. Notre Dame won 61-58. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Florida State Seminoles

Projected finish: 7th

Last year’s record: 26-7, 12-4 ACC

Key Returners (last season’s stats):

G- Nausia Woolfolk, 5’9, (Fort Valley, GA), JR- 8.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 24.8 MPG; 2017-18 Femina Perfecta Women’s Basketball winner.

G- Nicki Ekhomu, 5’9, (Boilingbrook, IL), JR- 10.1 PPG, 2.6 APG, 26.9 MPG; 44 percent shooter from the field.

(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Biggest losses:

F- Shakayla Thomas, 5’11, (Sylacauga, AL), SR- 14.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, shot 51.9 percent in career; second all-time in total points (1,971), second all-time field goals made (851); three-time All-American recognition; 2017-18 Blue Ribbon Panel and ACC Coaches All-ACC First Team; ACC All-Tournament Team.

G- Imani Wright, 5’9, (Hooks, TX), R-SR- 16.3 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 33.2 MPG (2018); 2017-18 Blue Ribbon Panel and ACC Coaches All-ACC First Team; ACC All-Tournament Team.

Newcomers:

F-Kiah Gillespie, 6’2, (Meriden, CT), R-JR-  Transferred from the University of Maryland; got experience with FSU while playing in the 2017 Foreign Tour in Spain and Italy; 2015 McDonald’s All American; Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year two times.

G- Izabela Nicoletti, 5’10, (San Paulo, Brazil), FR- 2018 McDonald’s All American; Jordan Brand Classic honoree; 2018 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year; 19.9 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.7 APG senior season.

G- Kourtney Weber, 5’10, (New Orleans, LA), FR- 2018 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year; 2018 Louisiana Farm Bureau/LSWA Miss Basketabll; averaged just over 23 PPG senior season.

G- Morgan Jones, 6’2, (Jonesboro, GA), FR- two-time All-USA Georgia Girls Basketball team member; three-time Atlanta Journal Constitution First Time All-State player; 29.5 PPG, 15.3 RPG, 4.4 BPG senior season.

G- Amaya Brown, 5’11, (Albuquerque, NM), FR- two-time New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year; 2017-18 American Family Insurance All-USA New Mexico Girls Basketball First Team; 20.6 PPG, 11.5 RPG, 3.8 SPG senior season.

F- Valencia Myers, 6’3, (Solon, OH), FR- 2018 McDonald’s All-American; 2018 Jordan Brand Classic honoree; 2017-18 Cleveland.com Girls Basketball Player of the Year; 14.6 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 2.1 APG senior season.

*Incoming FSU freshmen are the sixth-ranked recruiting class in the nation

Head Coach

Sue Semrau, 22nd season

  • Record of 405-240 overall
  • AP, WBCA, espnW National Coach of the Year (2015)
  • Five NCAA Sweet 16s, three Elite Eights
  • All-Time Winningest Coach in Florida State History
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Richard C. Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Key non-conference games

Nov 29– @Michigan

Dec. 3- @Connecticut

Dec 17– DePaul

Outlook:

2018-19 season will absolutely be a rebuilding one for the Seminoles. Because each member of Florida State’s starting five graduated, Coach Semrau is forced to fill the void of every single position. Though only four roster returners are set to take the court this year, Semrau does not just have to solely depend on the incoming freshman class because she has experience in Maryland transfer Kiah Gillespie.

The future of Florida State is deadly, though.  The Seminole freshman class is ranked sixth in the nation and is full of highly decorated players coming out of high school. If they learn to work as a unit, the 2018 freshman class will grow to be a potential national championship team before graduating. The five-member freshman class is composed of four guards.

Guard play will be the strength of this Florida State team; they are extremely deep in the back-court. Will they be able to fill the paint is the question and how will they remain disciplined with such young talent in such a competitive conference?

Florida State has won 25 or more games in the last four years, a record only additionally held by Notre Dame and Louisville. Coach Semrau’s legacy is strong, but this is the first time she has had to create a completely new starting five.

Best case scenario:

Florida State does Florida State things and easily adjusts to the changes within the team. Utilizing the new talent and the young legs, they continue their tradition and make it far in the NCAA Tournament.

Worst case scenario:

In a rebuilding year, with only four letterwinners returning, Florida State just does not have the ingredients to be highly competitive this particular year. Also, taking a highly talented freshman class and turning them into role players proves to be a difficult task. But, the future is bright for the young Seminoles.

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