With the addition of a McDonald's high school All-American, Florida State hopes to rebound from its first 20-loss season in school history and battle for respect in the ACC.
The Seminoles, who finished 9-21 overall and 4-12 in the ACC in 2000-01 return four starters from last year's eighth-place ACC team. Despite a third consecutive losing season, fifth-year head coach Steve Robinson is excited about his team's chances this year.
"We played better down the stretch" at the end of last season, Robinson said. "It's certainly evident that we were playing better basketball in our last four or five games of the season. My hope is that we'll take that and try to build on it coming into the start of this season."
 |
| COURTESY FLORIDA STATE MEDIA RELATIONS |
Robinson has laid the foundation for the Seminoles' resurgence with his second straight top-20 recruiting class, featuring forward Anthony Richardson. Richardson was rated the top prospect in North Carolina and is Florida State's first McDonald's All-American since 1995.
"I expect him to be a typical freshman," Robinson said. "He'll make some good plays, he'll make some bad plays, but he's a young man that has some talent and is very athletic. He works hard, and we're certainly going to give him some opportunity on the floor."
With so much returning depth, Robinson has a multitude of options with this maturing Seminole squad.
Leading the Seminoles will be fifth-year senior Delvon Arrington, the top scorer and assist man, and sophomore forward Michael Joiner, the team's leading rebounder and a member of the ACC's all-rookie team.
Junior center Nigel Dixon is down to 335 pounds and should become a more consistent contributor this year.
Dixon has "done a great job cutting weight," junior forward Antwuan Dixon said. "He moves a lot faster now, [and] he's more mobile than he was a year ago. He played limited minutes and gave us positive play. I can only imagine what he would do with more minutes."
The Seminoles also return senior guard Monte Cummings, their second-leading scorer, and will benefit from having sophomore guard J.D. Bracy eligible this season.
"I think J.D. Bracy is going to help us tremendously," Antwuan Dixon said. "He's a workaholic. He has a work ethic you wouldn't believe. He's a great shooter."
All in all, the Seminoles return 10 guys who saw serious playing time last year. They have added a solid recruiting class to a team whose only loss was third-leading scorer Adrian Crawford.
Despite a tough non-conference schedule that includes Florida and Northwestern, Florida State could surprise an ACC team or two that is looking past them.
"We're predicted to be down at the bottom," Arrington said. "I think that we're going to show a lot of people what we can do. We're going to run the floor a lot more and make teams keep up"
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | 1 hours agoThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 2 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 3 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
