Nole Notes
Senior Guard
Toney Douglas
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Florida State returns three starters from last season, which saw the Seminoles win five of their final eight games to finish 19-15. FSU participated in the NIT, giving the program three straight postseason appearances for only the second time in school history. Florida State has led the ACC in free throw shooting in each of the last two seasons and shot a school record .773 from the line last season. Leonard Hamilton enters this season with 306 wins as a college head coach, 106 of which have come in six years with the Seminoles, ranking him 25th on the league’s career list. Chief losses heading into this season will be three-year starters Jason Rich and Isaiah Swann, as well as guard Ralph Mims. all three averaged double-figures in scoring last season, with Rich's 14.5 points per game ranking second on the team.
Toney Douglas earned third-team All-ACC honors in 2007-08 after averaging 15.4 ppg and leading the ACC in steals per game (2.7). Douglas scored in double figures in all but two games and averaged 18.1 ppg in conference play. He was a first-team All-ACC Defensive team selection and led Seminoles in minutes played with 35.4 per game.
Senior Forward
Uche Echefu
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Uche Echefu ranked seventh among ACC rebounders last season with 7.3 per game. Echefu averaged 10.0 ppg and blocked 33 shots. He had season highs of 24 points and 12 rebounds in Jan. 12 game at Clemson and closed last season with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance in FSU's overtime loss to Akron in the first round of the NIT.
Ryan Reid proved a valuable frontcourt performer last season and could be ready for a larger role this season. Reid averaged 5.6 points and 5.0 rebounds as a sophomore while shooting .531 from the field. His only 3-point shot attempt of the season came vs. North Carolina on Feb. 3 and was good, forcing the game into overtime. He scored in double figures five times.
Solomon Alabi was granted a redshirt year after a leg injury limited his 2007-08 season to 10 games. He enters this season still a freshman in terms of eligibility. Alabi averaged 3.5 points and 2.0 rebounds before being injured. He blocked 11 shots in 93 minutes of action and started one game.
