ACC Countdown Preview

#6. Florida State

Games against 2009 ACC Tournament teams: 10

Best non-conference game: Nov. 24 at Florida

Projected Starting Five:

C - Solomon Alabi (Sophomore)

F - Chris Singleton (Sophomore)

G - Derwin Kitchen (Junior)

G - Michael Snear (Freshman)

G - Luke Loucks (Sophomore)

For years the most predictable team in the ACC was Leonard Hamilton's Florida State squad. They would go somewhere within a game of 8-8, winning at home against either UNC or Duke, and make the NIT. Last year was a bright spot, however. Toney Douglas, a tremendous player, led the Seminoles to an overachieving season with an NCAA Tournament bid. A lot of people had them going a long way in the NCAAs, but they came crashing down with a first round overtime loss to Wisconsin.

So the question for this year is, can FSU build on the momentum and make another good run? They certainly have some good pieces. Alabi and Singleton will be as good as any front line in the ACC. They are tall and long and will be matchup problems for just about any team. For me the two big questions will be guard play and leadership. Who will step up and fill the void left by Douglas? And where will the backcourt points come from? Kitchen was a decent player last year, but seemed to disappear in some games. Loucks hasn't made a name for himself, and Snear is a freshman.

I think Florida State will perform well early in the season, overpowering their fairly weak non-conference schedule. When it comes to the ACC slate, though, I think another year around the 8-8 mark is probably the outcome. They are a pretty young team and will struggle on the road. And in the end, they will be one of those teams that is right on the bubble to make the NCAA.