Every year, there is an All-ACC first team, All-ACC second team, and an ACC All-Freshman team. Some of the individual awards include the ACC Coach of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year. You could find a Seminole in each spot.
The winners from this year’s FSU team are Adut Bulgak (first team), Leticia Romero (second team), and Shakayla Thomas (All-Freshman team and Sixth Player). Sue Semrau was named the Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career, adding to her already accomplished legacy. For what might be the most talented FSU team ever, the honors kept coming in as voters are recognizing just how good this squad is.
Particularly interesting is Romero’s selection. If fans remember, she did not play with the Seminoles until late December, after almost half the season was over. Ever since the Jacksonville game (her first action) she has averaged 10.1 points and 5.2 rebounds, while progressively getting better at dishing out assists and anchoring a talented guard unit. If she had played the entire season, there is little doubt that she would be in the running for a spot on the conference’s first team.
The selection of Shakayla Thomas for both an award and the All-Freshman team bodes well for the future of FSU women’s basketball. Thomas is seemingly able to do it all as a freshman, rebounding ferociously and putting in serious contributions for the offense. When she becomes a starter, she will almost certainly match Bulgak’s role and become a centerpiece for the team. Being coached by such a great developer like Semrau should make Thomas as a star for years to come.
The list of accomplishments for this team is astonishing:
- Best record in FSU history
- Most ACC wins in FSU history
- Highest poll ranking ever
- Tied for highest ACC tournament seeding ever
- Three All-ACC selections
- ACC Coach of the Year
Fans have been especially privileged to watch such a talented and exciting team dominate throughout the season. Even in losses — of which there were three — the Seminoles have proven themselves as legitimate contenders.
For FSU, the first game of the ACC Tournament is Friday at 6:00 P.M. eastern time. It will be against either Pittsburgh or Virginia Tech. The time is now for this team to translate its regular season success into postseason victories, and that begins on Friday.
