The Florida State Seminoles clearly subscribe to the strength-in-numbers approach, as Leonard Hamilton seemingly substitutes as often as an NHL coach. His rotation goes 10 deep and features eight different players averaging at least 6.3 points. The Seminoles enter the NCAA tournament as a hot team with an impressive résumé, which includes some quality ACC wins, plus nonconference triumphs over Big Ten regular-season co-champ Purdue and SEC regular-season champ LSU. Will Hamilton's go-go style and deep rotation lead the Seminoles on a March magic carpet ride?
ESPN+ has your answers, as Joe Lunardi has enlisted a team of bracketologists to compile advanced metrics, key scouting intel and best- and worst-case tournament scenarios for all 68 teams to help you make smart picks in your bracket.
TOURNEY PROFILE
Best wins: vs. Florida, LSU, vs. Purdue, at Syracuse, vs. Louisville, Clemson (twice), vs. Virginia Tech
Worst losses: at Pitt, at Boston College
Regular-season conference finish: 4th, ACC
Polls and metrics: A top-15 team in the coaches' poll, Florida State is perched at No. 19 in the NET rankings.
All-time tourney record: 16-15, one Final Four
Coach (tourney record): Leonard Hamilton (7-8)
PERSONNEL
(Note: Player statistics are through games of March 12.)
Starting lineup
C Christ Koumadje (6.7 PPG, 5.6 RPG)
F Phil Cofer (7.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG)
G/F Terance Mann (11.5 PPG, 6.4 RPG)
G M.J. Walker (8.0 PPG, 1.7 APG)
G Trent Forrest (9.1 PPG, 3.8 APG)
Key bench players
F/C Mfiondu Kabengele (13.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG)
G David Nichols (6.5 PPG, 1.7 APG)
G PJ Savoy (6.3 PPG, 1.4 RPG)
Biggest strength: Hamilton's club is deeper than Jason Isbell's lyrics, playing 10 guys and averaging 75.8 points per game. The starting five features one double-figure scorer in Mann, and the Seminoles' first big man off the bench (Kabengele) actually leads the team in scoring. Their rotation drips with athleticism, so Hamilton wisely pushes the tempo to create more possessions in hopes that his depth will eventually wear down opponents.
Biggest weakness: Despite a roster with players from Chad, Switzerland and Canada, the Seminoles didn't always travel well this winter. Hamilton's squad lost to Pitt and Boston College, two teams that combined to lose 28 regular-season games in ACC conference play this season.
Best players: Mann is Florida State's big man on campus. The stat sheet stuffer is only the third player in program history to amass 1,200 points, 600 rebounds, 200 assists and 100 steals. The others are FSU legends Bob Sura and Doug Edwards.
X factor: The Noles' bench is first rate, but keep an eye on 6-foot-10 Kabengele, the nephew of former NBA great Dikembe Mutombo. An honorable mention All-ACC selection and the league's Sixth Man of the Year, Kabengele averages a team-high 13.1 points in just 20.9 minutes. He has improved by leaps and bounds and has an NBA future.
SCOUTING REPORT
How they beat you: The Seminoles beat teams with their quality depth, which gives Hamilton the freedom to substitute frequently and always keep fresh legs in the game. They push the tempo, hoping to wear opponents down late in each half.
How you beat them: To beat the Noles, teams have to match their intensity, particularly on the backboards where their length and depth can create problems. Hamilton's team loves to dribble penetrate, so getting in your stance and keeping your man in front of you without fouling is on your to-do list, too.
WHAT THE NUMBERS SAY
(Note: All statistics in this section are courtesy of kenpom.com and are accurate through games of March 12.)
NATIONAL RANKS
Offensive efficiency, 35th (112.8)
Defensive efficiency, 12th (91.6)
3-point percentage, 237th (33.0)
3-point percentage D, 133rd (33.7)
Free throw rate, 60th (37.3)
Free throw rate D, 272nd (36.9)
TO percentage, 220th (19.0)
TO percentage D, 55th (20.8)
HOW FAR WILL THEY GO?
Best-case scenario: Sweet 16
The Seminoles have lots of intriguing puzzle pieces, led by Mann and Kabengele. But this is not a great perimeter shooting team other than Walker and Savoy, so it's hard to imagine the Noles being able to string together the four Big Dance wins needed to get to the Final Four.
Worst-case scenario: Round of 32 loss
Florida State's strength and length aren't easy to deal with, so opponents need to box out or risk getting punked in the paint by Kabengele & Co. The Seminoles have been playing their best ball in February and March, so it's hard to envision them not notching at least one NCAA tourney win.