Florida State (17–16, 10–10 ACC)

Florida State hasn’t reached 20 wins in the last four seasons since winning the ACC regular season title in 2020. The Seminoles now have the exact opposite of a Leonard Hamilton-coached team with few veterans familiar with his scheme. They return just four players from the 2023-24 roster, led by senior forward Jameer Watkins. Hamilton has coached at Florida State since March 2002 but is now in the final year of his contract. He says he has good depth and should give the Seminoles “an opportunity to get back to playing the way we used to play when we had better teams.”

Players to watch

Watkins (Sr., 6-7 forward, 15.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg). Watkins tried out the NBA and entered the transfer portal, but decided to return to Florida State in June. A second-team All-ACC selection, Watkins gives the Seminoles optimism that they can compete in the league.

Malik Evin (junior, F, 6–11). Considered one of the top junior high players in the country, Ewin averaged 14.9 points and 9.0 rebounds and shot 62.6 percent from the field at South Plains (Texas) College. Yuin has the necessary rebounding and defensive skills.

Taylor Bowen (sophomore forward, 6-10, 3.1 ppg). An athletic yet slender 190-pound big man, Bowen runs the floor well and can block shots. He must take on an expanded role.

Departures and arrivals

Florida State returns Watkins but loses six key rotation players for the 2023-24 season, including Darin Green Jr., to graduation. But Primo Spears (Utah San Antonio), Cameron Corchen (Pittsburgh), Baba Miller (Florida Atlantic), Jalen Worley (Virginia) and Cam Fletcher (Xavier) have found new homes.

Best games

Florida State opens Nov. 4 against Northern Kentucky. The Seminoles will also host Florida on Nov. 15 and play LSU on Dec. 3. Florida State opens ACC play against North Carolina State, which made it to the Final Four last season.

Facts and figures

Hamilton enters his 23rd season at Florida State. He has 443 wins, more than any coach in school history, and Hamilton ranks fifth among coaches with the most wins in school history. … The Seminoles brought in nine newcomers, including 6-7 transfers Bostin Holt (South Dakota) and Justin Thomas (UTSA). … Hamilton doesn’t often play freshman point guard, but FSU acquired four-star recruit Daquan Davis in the spring.