When fans think of Florida State football, they think of Peter Warrick. When fans think of FSU men's basketball, they think of Terrell Baker or Karim Shabazz. But when fans think of FSU women's basketball, they think of Latavia Coleman.
Coleman will likely be the focus of the Duke defense tonight as the 16th-ranked Blue Devils (4-3) open their ACC season at home against the Seminoles (2-2) at 7 p.m.
Coleman has once again led her team in the early part of the season, as she is tops on the Seminoles and third in the conference in points per game at 18.8. She pulls down 8.3 rebounds per game as well.
FSU, however, is more than just a one-woman team this year. Brooke Wyckoff has been solid in the Seminoles' first four games, averaging 13.5 points and 10.8 rebounds.
Duke does hold a decided advantage, though, over FSU in height. Wyckoff is the tallest starter on the team at 6-foot-1, five inches shorter than Michele VanGorp.
This could prove to be a very important factor in the game, especially since VanGorp is having an excellent season thus far, averaging 15.5 points and 4.4 rebounds.
It may be even more promising for the Blue Devils, though, that Nicole Erickson broke out of her early season slump last weekend and has averaged 14.3 points over the last three games. Her performance was also impressive enough to earn her ACC Player of the Week honors.
"Unfortunately my season started out with an injury, and I'm just really getting back from that now, getting in top shape. I feel I'm playing better but I wouldn't say I'm all the way back," Erickson said. "Teams are going to have to make a decision against us, either take away the inside or the outside."
This decision, however, will be much easier for Duke to make. The Seminoles have connected on a dismal 5 of 38 from behind the arc, last in the ACC. With the Blue Devils' height advantage on the inside, this lack of a deep threat could pose a big problem for FSU.
After starting the season losing three of its first four, Duke has rebounded to win three straight, including an impressive 8 point win on the road versus No. 18 Vanderbilt and a 31-point triumph over Marquette on Sunday.
"We're getting closer to what I want to see," coach Gail Goestenkors said. "Vanderbilt was, without a doubt, the best game we've played this year, but I think we are turning the corner."
The Seminoles, meanwhile, are an improved team from their 9-18 campaign of a year ago. Thus far, they have wins over Tulsa and Long Beach State. Perhaps more impressively, they played national power No. 2 Louisiana Tech competitively before losing 88-72.
Both teams enter the game tonight hoping to open conference play with a win. FSU's hopes hinge on huge efforts from Coleman and Wyckoff, while the Blue Devils hope to extend their winning streak to four on the backs of VanGorp and Erickson.
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