FSUWBB Predicted Second in the ACC

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Seminoles.com) – The Florida State Women’s Basketball team has been chosen to finish second in the ACC by both the league’s head coaches and the Blue Ribbon Panel, announced on Wednesday morning by the conference. The Seminoles were one of three teams in the ACC to receive first-place votes, generating eight total. Adding to the preseason hype are the selections of senior center Adut Bulgak and junior guard Leticia Romero on the Preseason All-ACC Teams from both the coaches and the Blue Ribbon Panel. “We understand the expectations that are set for us this season. The key thing for our team to remember is that last year’s season is totally separate from this year,” FSU head coach Sue Semrau said. “We’ve become an established program through the hard work of our coaches and student-athletes. It will take that same dedication to reach our goals in 2015-16.” Defending ACC champion Notre Dame received 41 first-place votes and was selected as the preseason favorite in the annual predicted order of finish. Following FSU’s second-place pick is Louisville (two first-place votes), Duke, Syracuse, Miami, North Carolina and Virginia in the eighth spot. Selected ninth is NC State, followed by Pitt, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Clemson. Notre Dame sophomore forward Brianna Turner has been named the Preseason ACC Player of the Year by both groups. The Seminoles have plenty of reasons for optimism this season. Despite losing valuable guard Maegan Conwright and forward Lauren Coleman to graduation, FSU returns four starters and three All-ACC honorees including Bulgak, Romero and sophomore forward Shakayla Thomas. FSU returns its top four players in field goal percentage, its top three in 3-point field goal percentage and its five in free throws made. FSU’s selection as the No. 2 pick in the nation’s best conference is a reflection of the strong elevation of its program. Over the last seven seasons, the Seminoles have gone 169-66 (.719) and 73-35 (.676) in the ACC. The Seminoles have received the attention of several NCAA Women’s Basketball publications. FSU has been ranked sixth by The Sporting News, 10th in ESPNW’s “Way Too Early” Poll, 11th by Lindy’s and 15th by Athlon Sports. The preseason praise is not surprising considering what it accomplished last year with many players returning. FSU finished seventh in the final USA Today Poll, averaged five players in double figures, won 27 of its 32 games by double digits and was the only men’s or women’s college basketball team to out-rebound all its opponents in the regular season. The challenge to take it a step further this season begins in a loaded conference. The preseason team for both groups includes several top-notch returnees including Rebecca Greenwell and Azura Stevens (Duke), Mariya Moore (Louisville), Adrienne Motley (Miami), Lindsay Allen and Turner (Notre Dame), Alexis Peterson (Syracuse) and Faith Randolph (Virginia). Among the highlighted individuals, the ACC returns five Associated Press All-Americans from a season ago and 10 All-ACC performers. The league also welcomes nine McDonalds All-Americans, including preseason watch list members Kyra Lambert (Duke), Asia Durr (Louisville), Destinee Walker (UNC), Stephanie Watts (UNC), Marina Mabrey (Notre Dame) and Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame). 

 Fans can purchase season tickets for the 2015-16 season by logging onto Seminoles.com or by calling 888-FSU-NOLE. Throughout the year follow the Florida State Women’s Basketball team on Facebook (/FSUWomensBasketball), Twitter (/FSU_WBasketball) and Instagram (fsu_wbasketball).

 Predicted Order of Finish (as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel)
 1. Notre Dame – 753 points (41 first place votes)
 2. Florida State – 695 (8 first place votes)
3. Louisville – 649 (2 first place votes)
4. Duke - 638
5. Syracuse - 544
6. Miami – 477
 7. North Carolina – 435
8. Virginia – 364
9. NC State – 336
10. Pitt – 329
 11. Georgia Tech – 328
12. Boston College – 204
13. Virginia Tech – 148
 14. Wake Forest – 139
 15. Clemson – 81

 Preseason Player of the Year (as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel): 
 Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame 

Preseason All-ACC Team (as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel): 
Rebecca Greenwell, R-So., G, Duke Azura Stevens, So., F/G, Duke Adut Bulgak, Sr., C, Florida State Leticia Romero, Jr., G, Florida State Mariya Moore, So., G, Louisville Adrienne Motley, Jr., G, Miami Lindsay Allen, Jr., G, Notre Dame Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame Alexis Peterson, Jr., G, Syracuse Faith Randolph, Sr., G, Virginia Newcomer Watch List (as selected by the Blue Ribbon Panel): Angela Salvadores, Fr, G, Duke Asia Durr, Fr, G, Louisville Destinee Walker, Fr., G, North Carolina Marina Mabrey, Fr., G, Notre Dame Arike Ogunbowale, Fr., G, Notre Dame

 Predicted Order of Finish (as selected by the Head Coaches): 
 1. Notre Dame – 221 points (11 first place votes)
2. Florida State – 212 (4 first place votes)
 3. Louisville - 190
 4. Duke - 185
 5. Syracuse - 162
6. Miami – 146
7. North Carolina – 118
8. Virginia – 113
9. NC State – 105
10. Pitt – 93
11. Georgia Tech – 85
12. Boston College – 57
13. Virginia Tech – 52
14. Wake Forest – 43
15. Clemson – 18

Preseason Player of the Year (as selected by the Head Coaches): 
Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame

Preseason All-ACC Team (as selected by the Head Coaches): 
Rebecca Greenwell, R-So., G, Duke Azura Stevens, So., F/G, Duke Adut Bulgak, Sr., C, Florida State Leticia Romero, Jr., G, Florida State Mariya Moore, So., G, Louisville Adrienne Motley, Jr., G, Miami Lindsay Allen, Jr., G, Notre Dame Brianna Turner, So., F, Notre Dame Alexis Peterson, Jr., G, Syracuse Faith Randolph, Sr., G, Virginia

Newcomer Watch List (as selected by the Head Coaches): 
Kyra Lambert, Fr, G, Duke Angela Salvadores, Fr., G, Duke Asia Durr, Fr., G, Louisville Destinee Walker, Fr., G, North Carolina Stephanie Watts, Fr., G, North Carolina Arike Ogunbowale, Fr., G, Notre Dame *due to a tie in voting, an extra member was added to the Newcomer Watch List More From Florida State Women's Basketball