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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 12-17;
4-12 in ACC (Tied/7th)
Postseason: None. Last NCAA appearance was in 1999.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Joiner 7.8
Rebs: Joiner 4.7
Assists: Joiner 1.4
FG: Harvey 54.8%
3pt: Joiner 40.3%
FT: Joiner 68.6%
01-02 Stats:
Florida State | ACC
KEY LOSSES
Del. Arrington | 11.3 ppg
Mo. Cummings | 15.5 ppg
Antwaun Dixon | 9.0 ppg
Digel Dixon | 9.0 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Nate Johnson | Junior
G | Tim Pickett | Junior
F | A. Richardson | Soph
F | Michael Joiner | Junior
C | Mike Mathews | Senior
Player to Watch
Michael Joiner
Junior Forward
Came up big in upset of Duke last season after Blue Devils passed on him out of Fayetteville.
DATE TO REMEMBER
North Carolina visits Tallahassee, where the Seminoles beat the Tar Heels last season. This will be the first ACC game for both teams -- a chance to see just how far Hamilton and the Seminoles have to go this season and beyond.
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FLORIDA STATE
SEMINOLES
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The Seminoles needed a new coach after firing Steve Robinson, and they tapped former NBA lead man Leonard Hamilton, who went out and upgraded his new roster the NBA way -- with some free agents. Hamilton raided the junior college ranks. His starting backcourt probably will be a couple of junior college transfers, Nate Johnson and Tim Pickett, and their duty will be to play maturely and get the ball into the hands of the team's amazing array of athletes -- including former McDonald's All-American Anthony Richardson (7.1 ppg), 6-7 jumping jack Michael Joiner (7.8 ppg) and maybe even the quarterback on the football team, former Mr. Florida basketball winner Adrian McPherson. The Seminoles also are athletic on the front line, with 6-10 Mike Mathews (34 blocked shots) possessing awesome quickness and leaping ability if limited offensive skills. Other frontcourt players who will contribute are Trevor Harvey and Adam Waleskowski, giving Hamilton a number of players who can play -- but can they play well enough to get out of the ACC's bottom third?
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Although he struggled in something of a no-win situation with the Washington Wizards, Hamilton is a proven winner, a program-builder, in the college ranks. He did it at Oklahoma State, and he did it at Miami, where he dramatically and quickly upgraded both teams' talent base. He already seems to be doing the same for Florida State, judging not only from this season's class of newcomers but his results on the current recruiting trail. FSU might not be terribly good this season, but watch out.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The most frustrating thing about the Seminoles in recent years has been watching Robinson fail to get the most out of gifted athletes such as Richardson and Joiner. Both are among the better athletes in the ACC, especially considering their size (both are in the 6-7 range), but neither Joiner or Richardson was much of a weapon last season. Maybe Hamilton can get more out of them, turn them loose and let their athletic ability take over.
BOTTOM LINE..............................
The Seminoles won't become winners overnight, especially not one season after losing its top four scorers to graduation (Monte Cummings, Delvon Arrington, Antwuan Dixon) or transfer (Nigel Dixon). But Hamilton brought in enough experience from the junior college ranks, and he has enough returning talent, to keep the team respectable while he builds from the ground up.
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