Florida State was a middle of the pack team last season, finishing 22-14 (9-9) and 7th in the ACC. Led by forward Aaron Thomas and a bevy of upperclassmen, the Seminoles showed promise, racing out to a 12-4 record with tough losses to Michigan, Florida, and Virginia; however, the ACC season grind killed the team’s momentum. Rarely could they build up a run of consecutive wins, and they never seemed to be able to figure out their opponents, failing to win multiple games against a single team.
Although several seniors are leaving the team, the Seminoles will not lack for talent next season. Coach Hamilton will return seven players who played at least 33 games last season while also welcoming several transfers and recruits who are ready to contribute. Consistency and team chemistry go a long way in basketball; next year, look for Aaron Thomas to take the next step as a player and put a balanced Florida State team firmly into tournament consideration.
Key Losses
Ian Miller, G (13.7 PPG, 2.8 APG, 40 3FG%)
Miller was an effective distributor for the Seminoles, but his three point shooting was his strongest asset. Despite his high skill level, Miller was brought off the bench for much of his career; but the amount of heart that he played with helped earn him ACC 6th Man of the Year honors his senior season. He will be sorely missed by Coach Hamilton and the Seminoles program.
Okaro White, PF (13.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.1 BPG)
Another four year player who graduated this past spring, White played a significant role with the team each year he was in Tallahassee. The Seminoles will have to replace his rebounding production, but the bigger concern is finding players to pick up the scoring slack; Florida State’s offense, despite their shooting efficiency (47% as a team), ended up ranked 200th in the nation at 70.4 PPG.
Key Additions
Phil Cofer, PF
Cofer is an athletic anomaly; he’s an explosive leaper and aggressively runs the fastbreak, making him a nightmare to contend with in the paint, whether he’s dunking on players or sending their shots into the stands. He’s a force on defense, but still needs to develop some back-to-the-basket post moves to keep defenses on their toes; if he can, Cofer will be much more valuable to the Seminoles than White ever was.
