Florida State Men’s Basketball 2019 NCAA Tournament Capsule

March 10, 2019 · CSM Staff
 

Florida State Seminoles

ACC (27-7, 13-5)

 
Florida State got off to a good start to the 2018-2019 campaign, beating the likes of Florida, LSU and Purdue in non-conference play. Their only loss came against Villanova in a close 66-60 contest. Once ACC play began, the Seminoles were not able to stay up at the top of the standings along with Duke, Virginia and North Carolina, but a 13-5 record certainly puts FSU in a good spot to make a nice tournament run.
 
Big Wins: 11/23 vs LSU (79-76), 11/28 Purdue (73-72), 3/5 Virginia Tech (73-64)
Bad Losses: 11/25 vs Villanova (60-66), 1/14 at Pitt (62-75), 1/20 at Boston College (82-87)
Coach: Leonard Hamilton
 
Why They Can Surprise:
Coach Leonard Hamilton has once again put together a balanced team that will play tough defense. The frontcourt boasts the usual big men who can score, rebound and block shots. Mfiondu Kabengele, a 6-10 sophomore, is the team’s top scorer at 12.9 points per game and also adds 5.7 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. Christ Koumadje is a massive presence in the paint. The 7-4 senior is not going to be on the floor for more than 20 minutes per game very often, but he is certainly productive when on the floor. Terance Mann is a big 6-7 guard, who is actually the team’s top rebounder with 6.4 per game. Mann is also the most consistent scoring threat on the perimeter and can have some very good scoring games, especially when his outside shot is falling.
 
Why They Can Disappoint:
This is not a very good three-point shooting team though. Mann does not shoot from long range too often and much of the outside shooting will fall to M.J. Walker and PJ Savoy. Walker, a 6-5 sophomore, averages 7.8 points per game, while Savoy adds 6.0. Neither is particularly efficient when it comes to shooting the basketball and it will be very important for the Seminoles to get some instant offense from beyond the arc. The other potential issue is in the turnover battle. The Seminoles will force quite a few turnovers and point guard Trent Forrest deserves much of the credit for that. Forrest does a lot for this team in all aspects of the game, but if he can help keep the turnovers down, the Seminoles can beat anybody.
 
Probable Starters:
Terance Mann, Senior, Guard, 11.2 ppg, 2.5 apg, 6.4 rpg
Trent Forrest, Junior, Guard, 9.1 ppg, 3.8 apg, 4.6 rpg
M.J. Walker, Sophomore, Guard, 7.8 ppg, 1.6 apg
Phil Cofer, Senior, Forward, 7.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Christ Koumadje, Senior, Center, 6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.5 bpg
 
Key Role Players:
Mfiondu Kabengele, Sophomore, Forward, 12.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.5 bpg
David Nichols, Senior, Guard, 6.4 ppg, 1.7 apg
PJ Savoy, Senior, Guard, 6.0 ppg
 
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 75.8 (98th in nation, 4th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 67.3 (64, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.6 (166, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.5 (29, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (212, 10)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.0 (244, 7)
Free-Throw Percentage: 73.5 (84, 8)
Rebound Margin: 4.4 (49, 5)
Assists Per Game: 13.1 (201, 8)
Turnovers Per Game: 13.5 (227. 13)
 
Recent Postseason Appearances:
 
2018 NCAA Round of 64 win over Missouri
2018 NCAA Round of 32 win over Xavier
2018 NCAA Regional Semifinal win over Gonzaga
2018 NCAA Regional Final loss to Michigan
2017 NCAA Round of 64 win over Florida Gulf Coast
2017 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Xavier
2016 NIT First Round win over Davidson
2016 NIT Second Round loss to Valparaiso
2014 NIT First Round win over Florida Gulf Coast
2014 NIT Second Round win over Georgetown
2014 NIT Regional Semifinal win over Louisiana Tech
2014 NIT National Semifinal loss to Minnesota
2013 NIT First Round loss to Louisiana Tech
2012 NCAA Round of 64 win over St. Bonaventure
2012 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Cincinnati
2011 NCAA Round of 64 win over Texas A&M
2011 NCAA Round of 32 win over Notre Dame
2011 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to VCU
2010 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Gonzaga
2009 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Wisconsin
2008 NIT First Round loss to Akron
2007 NIT First Round win over Toledo
2007 NIT Second Round win over Michigan
2007 NIT Quarterfinal loss to Mississippi State
 
*all team stats through 3/10