Maturing FSU squad will rebound from Sura loss

Old Gold and Black Reporter

Courtesy of Florida State Sports Information

The Seminoles hope that Kirk Luchman will be a force at center this year.

The Florida State Seminoles have the ACC's leading returning scorer to headline one of the most talented squads in the conference.

The question is whether Head Coach Pat Kennedy can improve on last year's 12-15 record and find a go-to guy to replace NBA first-round draft pick Bob Sura.

James Collins will be the thoroughbred in Florida State's up-tempo attack. Collins earned third-team All-Conference honors last season after averaging 18 points a game. The 6-4 shooting guard was the only player in the ACC to score in double figures in every game last season, and should be the focus of an explosive Seminole attack.

Collins will be joined in the backcourt by one of three point guards. Senior Scott Shepherd is a solid player who lends experience to a generally young Seminole team.

LaMarr Greer started 24 games at point last year as a freshman, and should again be the starter. The former McDonald's High School All-American averaged 5.6 points and 3.0 assists in last year's campaign.

Avery Curry also will battle for time at the point guard spot after playing 15 minutes per contest last season.

Also in the backcourt for Kennedy are Geoff Brower, a redshirt freshman, and Kelvin McClendon, a junior-college transfer who averaged 25 points per game last year for Palm Beach Community College.

The Seminoles' frontcourt revolves around sophomore center Corey Louis, who finished in the top-10 in the conference in six statistical categories last season. Louis averaged 10.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.7 blocks to earn a place on the ACC All-Freshman team.

Kirk Luchman also returns for the Seminoles. The sturdy, 6-10 forward averaged 3.5 points and 3.2 rebounds last season. His presence allows the Seminoles to supplement the wiry Louis inside.

Tim Wooden, a senior, will compete for time with freshman Randell Jackson, a McDonald's All-American last season, and sophomore Gentry Sparks, who played last season at Barton Community College.

The Seminoles have a wealth of talent that may be comparable to their team that entered the ACC in 1993 with four future NBA first-round draft picks in Doug Edwards, Sam Cassell, Charlie Ward and Sura.

But the ability of Kennedy to use his talent effectively has not been present the past two seasons, and that is the main question this season.

With a non-conference schedule that includes Tulane, DePaul, Connecticut and Florida in consecutive December games, the Seminoles will have to jel early to have a chance at a post-season berth.