FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES 6 - 12 (1-5 ACC,16th)
NCAA NET 105 (UNC 24); Massey Rating 79 (UNC 26); RPI 133 (Nolan) (UNC 45); Torvik 96 (UNC 22)
Last season 24-9 (13-5), 1-1 ACCT, 1-1 NCAA as 6th seed (lost to LSU 71-101 in round 2)
On Sunday afternoon UNC will play Florida State at The Tucker Center in Tallahassee. The Seminoles are not ranked in either the AP or Coaches poll. Carolina is #28 in AP and #23 in the coaches’ poll. UNC still leads the series 35-19. In truth, FSU has been a huge problem for Carolina in recent years. In the last seven meetings, Carolina is just 2 and 5 with FSU. Last year, UNC split with FSU, losing at home 84-86 on a buzzer-beating layup, but winning 60-56 in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Regardless of past results, the prognosticators have Carolina favored: 12 points by Nolan, Massey by 7 points and Torvik by 16. FSU has a SOS of 9; UNC 60 according to the NCAA.
The Seminoles as usual played two exhibition games this year, against Tampa and Alabama. The latter seemed an interesting choice for an exhibition. FSU beat Tampa easily but lost to Bama by 20. FSU won just five of their 12 non-conference games, all against mid-majors. The losses were at UConn (67-99), to Indiana (72-76), at Florida (67-89), to Illinois (63-86), against Oklahoma 91-109 in something called the “Coconut Hoops” played in Fort Myers, to Georgia (60-80), and finally to Charleston (!) 70-75. Having the #9 schedule did come with a price.
If the plan of having a very tough non-conference schedule was to prepare for ACC play, that has not been the case as the Seminoles are just 1-5 in conference. FSU had two December ACC games, losing by 35 points (58-93) to Notre Dame and by 25 to Virginia Tech 54-79. Following those games was the final non-conference games with South Carolina State, an 89-41 win.
Conference play continued in January with Syracuse in the JMA Dome, a 72-82 loss although the game was reasonably competitive. Virginia was next at Tucker Center, and although a loss 87-91 the ‘Noles pushed UVA to double overtime. Miami dropped by and collected an in-state rivalry win, 73-89. Finally FSU pounced upon fellow-cellar-dwelling Pitt, and collected their first conference win 69-65. UNC is up next.
Florida State, like BC and Miami, had huge personnel losses. From last season’s team only three players returned. Among the dearly departed was Ta’Niya Latson, the ACC leading scorer (25.2), off to “greener” pastures at South Carolina. Makayla Timpson, a senior F (17.5/10.2/103 blocks), graduated to the WNBA and O’Mariah Gordon (15.9 ppg), the starting PG, to Eurobasket. Further down the bench, valuable reserves like Carla Viegas, Malea Williams, and Brianna Turnage also left.
This basically left Sydney Bowles, a 6-0 senior G as the only returnee with starting experience. This season she averages 9.6 ppg. She is a steady if not spectacular 3-point shooter with 22 of 72 (30.6%). The other two returnees are Amaya Bonner (5.9 ppg) and Avery Treadwell (3.5/4.0). Bonner, a 6-0 senior G, has started eight games including the last five ACC games. Treadwell sees time off the bench.
The transfer portal has provided the other starters. They are Jasmine Shavers, a 5-8 senior G (12.4/5.3) and the leader in steals; Pania Davis, a 6-6 junior C (8.8/6.3), an Australian with Juco experience, Solé Williams, a 5-9 junior G (team best 15.6 ppg, #9 ACC), and Allie Kubek, a 6-2 GS F (8.5/4.6). Starts have also come the way of Emma Risch (8.5), a 6-1 G from Notre Dame, and Tatum Greene, a 6-3 sophomore F from BC (5.3/5.3).
Statistically, FSU has decent numbers on offense, but on defense the numbers go a long way toward explaining a 6-12 record. FSU is #18 in scoring defense at 78.0 ppg (UNC #5 at 58.7 ppg). That 78.0 ppg is 348th NCAA out of 359 D-1 schools .FSU’s FG% defense is .449, 16th ACC. The Seminoles are a 3-point threat, and have the most attempts of any ACC team – 477 (UNC 443). The overall percentage is just .281 (14th ACC) but Emma Risch is a 38.8% shooter and Solé Williams is 34.7%.
The Miami game was a big win for Carolina, but the numbers point out some issues. While Reniya Kelly had a great game, a career high 24 points and 4 of 5 threes), the rest of the team’s 3-point shooting was dismal: 3 of 22 for 13.7%. In particular, two usually reliable outside shooters, Grant and Brooks, were a combined 1 for 10. Brooks has now gone four games without making a three. Also and despite the absence of Miami’s starting center, 6-6 Ra Shaya Kyle, Ciera Toomey had just 4 rebounds and scored just 6 points. Blanca Thomas barely left the bench. On a positive note, the Heels were perfect from the line: 10 for 10.
Brooke Wyckoff, a long time FSU associate head coach, was promoted to head coach to replace the retiring Sue Semrau. Wyckoff’s record is 86-51, 62.7%). Wyckoff is a 2001 FSU graduate who spent 8 years in the WNBA. Neither she nor the FSU fans can be happy with a 6-12 (1-5) record so far. They may see a home game with UNC as a way of turning their season around. Their recent record against the Tar Heels would certainly support that idea.
Game time is 2:00 PM EST and will air on The CW. There will be live audio from Tar Heels Sports Network, link on GoHeels On Demand.
NCAA NET 105 (UNC 24); Massey Rating 79 (UNC 26); RPI 133 (Nolan) (UNC 45); Torvik 96 (UNC 22)
Last season 24-9 (13-5), 1-1 ACCT, 1-1 NCAA as 6th seed (lost to LSU 71-101 in round 2)
On Sunday afternoon UNC will play Florida State at The Tucker Center in Tallahassee. The Seminoles are not ranked in either the AP or Coaches poll. Carolina is #28 in AP and #23 in the coaches’ poll. UNC still leads the series 35-19. In truth, FSU has been a huge problem for Carolina in recent years. In the last seven meetings, Carolina is just 2 and 5 with FSU. Last year, UNC split with FSU, losing at home 84-86 on a buzzer-beating layup, but winning 60-56 in the second round of the ACC Tournament.
Regardless of past results, the prognosticators have Carolina favored: 12 points by Nolan, Massey by 7 points and Torvik by 16. FSU has a SOS of 9; UNC 60 according to the NCAA.
The Seminoles as usual played two exhibition games this year, against Tampa and Alabama. The latter seemed an interesting choice for an exhibition. FSU beat Tampa easily but lost to Bama by 20. FSU won just five of their 12 non-conference games, all against mid-majors. The losses were at UConn (67-99), to Indiana (72-76), at Florida (67-89), to Illinois (63-86), against Oklahoma 91-109 in something called the “Coconut Hoops” played in Fort Myers, to Georgia (60-80), and finally to Charleston (!) 70-75. Having the #9 schedule did come with a price.
If the plan of having a very tough non-conference schedule was to prepare for ACC play, that has not been the case as the Seminoles are just 1-5 in conference. FSU had two December ACC games, losing by 35 points (58-93) to Notre Dame and by 25 to Virginia Tech 54-79. Following those games was the final non-conference games with South Carolina State, an 89-41 win.
Conference play continued in January with Syracuse in the JMA Dome, a 72-82 loss although the game was reasonably competitive. Virginia was next at Tucker Center, and although a loss 87-91 the ‘Noles pushed UVA to double overtime. Miami dropped by and collected an in-state rivalry win, 73-89. Finally FSU pounced upon fellow-cellar-dwelling Pitt, and collected their first conference win 69-65. UNC is up next.
Florida State, like BC and Miami, had huge personnel losses. From last season’s team only three players returned. Among the dearly departed was Ta’Niya Latson, the ACC leading scorer (25.2), off to “greener” pastures at South Carolina. Makayla Timpson, a senior F (17.5/10.2/103 blocks), graduated to the WNBA and O’Mariah Gordon (15.9 ppg), the starting PG, to Eurobasket. Further down the bench, valuable reserves like Carla Viegas, Malea Williams, and Brianna Turnage also left.
This basically left Sydney Bowles, a 6-0 senior G as the only returnee with starting experience. This season she averages 9.6 ppg. She is a steady if not spectacular 3-point shooter with 22 of 72 (30.6%). The other two returnees are Amaya Bonner (5.9 ppg) and Avery Treadwell (3.5/4.0). Bonner, a 6-0 senior G, has started eight games including the last five ACC games. Treadwell sees time off the bench.
The transfer portal has provided the other starters. They are Jasmine Shavers, a 5-8 senior G (12.4/5.3) and the leader in steals; Pania Davis, a 6-6 junior C (8.8/6.3), an Australian with Juco experience, Solé Williams, a 5-9 junior G (team best 15.6 ppg, #9 ACC), and Allie Kubek, a 6-2 GS F (8.5/4.6). Starts have also come the way of Emma Risch (8.5), a 6-1 G from Notre Dame, and Tatum Greene, a 6-3 sophomore F from BC (5.3/5.3).
Statistically, FSU has decent numbers on offense, but on defense the numbers go a long way toward explaining a 6-12 record. FSU is #18 in scoring defense at 78.0 ppg (UNC #5 at 58.7 ppg). That 78.0 ppg is 348th NCAA out of 359 D-1 schools .FSU’s FG% defense is .449, 16th ACC. The Seminoles are a 3-point threat, and have the most attempts of any ACC team – 477 (UNC 443). The overall percentage is just .281 (14th ACC) but Emma Risch is a 38.8% shooter and Solé Williams is 34.7%.
The Miami game was a big win for Carolina, but the numbers point out some issues. While Reniya Kelly had a great game, a career high 24 points and 4 of 5 threes), the rest of the team’s 3-point shooting was dismal: 3 of 22 for 13.7%. In particular, two usually reliable outside shooters, Grant and Brooks, were a combined 1 for 10. Brooks has now gone four games without making a three. Also and despite the absence of Miami’s starting center, 6-6 Ra Shaya Kyle, Ciera Toomey had just 4 rebounds and scored just 6 points. Blanca Thomas barely left the bench. On a positive note, the Heels were perfect from the line: 10 for 10.
Brooke Wyckoff, a long time FSU associate head coach, was promoted to head coach to replace the retiring Sue Semrau. Wyckoff’s record is 86-51, 62.7%). Wyckoff is a 2001 FSU graduate who spent 8 years in the WNBA. Neither she nor the FSU fans can be happy with a 6-12 (1-5) record so far. They may see a home game with UNC as a way of turning their season around. Their recent record against the Tar Heels would certainly support that idea.
Game time is 2:00 PM EST and will air on The CW. There will be live audio from Tar Heels Sports Network, link on GoHeels On Demand.
