FSU Hoops Picked Seventh in ACC

Despite reaching the Elite Eight last season and returning a number of key contributors, Florida State was picked to finish just seventh in the ACC by the media.

The Seminoles find themselves narrowly behind Clemson but ahead of NC State by a wide margin in the preseason poll. Duke was the preseason favorite with 52 of 121 possible first-place votes followed by Virginia, which received 47 first-place votes.

Third-place North Carolina received 20 first-place votes and was followed by Syracuse and Virginia Tech in the preseason projections. Syracuse, who was picked fourth, and Clemson, picked sixth, each received one first-place vote.

FSU finished 23-12 last season and finished eighth in the ACC. The Seminoles’ season ultimately came to an end against Michigan in the West Regional final of the NCAA Tournament.

Despite returning its top two scorers in Phil Cofer and Terance Mann, not a single FSU player made the first team or second team preseason All-ACC squad. North Carolina’s Luke Maye was named Preseason ACC Player of the Year. Duke’s R.J. Barrett was Preseason ACC Rookie of the Year.

The Seminoles will begin the season against Florida on Nov. 6 in Tallahassee. FSU begins the year ranked No. 17 in the AP Poll and 15th in the Amway Coaches Poll.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson