2000-01 record: 9-21; 4-12 in ACC (8th) Final Ranking: NR Postseason: None RETURNING LEADERS Points: Arrington 11.5 ppg | Rebounds: Joiner 6.0 rpg | Assists: Arrington 4.8 apg | FG %: Dixon 48.4% | 3pt %: Dixon 35.9% | FT %: Wilson 80.8% 00-01 Stats: Florida State | ACC

		Wed., Oct. 31 The single biggest key for Florida State is blending youth and talent quickly in a league that punishes those in their formative years. The Seminoles have very good personnel who need to learn to play as one on both ends. Once Florida State jells, Steve Robinson will have a good team. Watch out for J.D. Bracy and Anthony Richardson ... things are looking up in Tallahassee.

Outlook
You're hearing it here, the Seminoles ought to be markedly better than last season. OK, that's not saying much.

Still, the stars have aligned, finally, for FSU coach Steve Robinson, who received the tremendous news in the summer that McDonald's All-American wing Anthony Richardson was academically eligible. The addition of Richardson and J.D. Bracy, who sat out last season for academic reasons, means last year's star -- Michael Joiner -- might only be the third-best player on the team. And that's not a bad No. 3 player.

The 6-foot-7 sophomore small forward averaged 9.3 points and six rebounds as an ACC All-Freshman selection. Elsewhere on the front line, junior center Mike Mathews (7.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) is a shotblocker deluxe with speed in transition. Nigel Dixon (6-10, 341) is huge. At 6-8, 230 pounds, freshman Adam Waleskowski should help immediately.

Meanwhile, the Seminoles have some serious athletic ability at guard. Bracy is ready to roll, and Adrian McPherson, the football team's backup quarterback, was Mr. Basketball in Florida as a high school senior who regularly scored in the 50s. Plus, Delvon Arrington (11.5 ppg, 4.8 apg) is a three-year starter who, after failing to qualify as a freshman, became the first ACC basketball player to earn back his senior season with strong work in the classroom.

What we like: At times, the Seminoles will be able to match the athletic ability of almost any team in the ACC. Those times are when Richardson, Joiner, Bracy, Arrington-or-Antwuan Dixon and Mathews are on the court.

What we don't like: The team won't be able to score inside. Write that down. And that is a fatal flaw.

The bottom line: The talent is rising, but the Seminoles will be hard-pressed to finish better than eighth in the league this season. However, if they can get some wins in the non-conference schedule, a spot in the NIT isn't out of the question.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Michael Joiner	So.	F	6-7/215	PTS: 9.3 | REB: 6.0 | AST: 1.4
Antwaun Dixon	Sr.	F	6-5/200	PTS: 8.7 | REB: 5.8 | AST: 1.4
Monte Cummings	Sr.	G	6-4/180	PTS: 10.7 | REB: 3.3 | AST: 1.7
Mike Mathews	Jr.	F	6-10/230	PTS: 7.3 | REB: 3.1 | AST: 0.1

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Adrian Crawford	G	6-5/205	PTS: 10.4 | REB: 2.4 | AST: 1.5

Florida State Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Anthony Richardson	F	6-7	Raleigh/Leesville (N.C.)
Adam Waleskowski	F	6-9	Kettering/Alter (Ohio)
Trevor Harvey	C	6-11	Marshalltown (Iowa) CC/Inagua, Bahamas
Adrian McPherson	G	6-4	Bradenton Southeast/Bradenton (Fla.)