BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

GREENSBORO — In a year in which each of their eight ACC rivals — even Clemson (Will Solomon) and Georgia Tech (Alvin Jones) — returns a household name, Florida State is Team Anonymity.

Shooting stars Ron Hale and “Famous” Damous Anderson graduated, taking 31 points per game — about half of the Seminoles’ average ouput in 1999-2000 — with them. So did working stiffs Oliver Simmons, the redhead who had his five minutes of fame in the ACC Tournament, and Justin Mott, although Mott’s 1.9 ppg will be missed about as much as stomach flu.

The loss of that foursome — even with the addition by subtraction of the motley Mott — explains why the Seminoles have been forecast to finish last — and a distant last at that — in the ACC this season.

“I can understand why people say things are bleak,” said coach Steve Robinson, who is entering his fourth year. “We are the most inexperienced team in a year in which the league is very experienced.”

Robinson, however, claims to like his team — a lot — but then, just try to find a hoops coach who doesn’t like his team in early November.

“My kids want to prove some people wrong,” Robinson said. “And I truly believe anything can happen. That’s why you play. And last year, we were just one game away from finishing in fifth place.”

Now that’s putting a world-class positive spin on a 6-10 ACC season. The Seminoles were also a miserable 12-17 overall and did nothing to discourage the widely held belief that the 1999-2000 version of the ACC was a league that had seen better days.

The ‘Noles were eighth in the ACC in scoring last season — edging out only plodding Clemson — and were seventh in shooting.

So how come Robinson is smiling nearly as broadly as he did last January when the Seminoles pulled off road wins at Wake Forest and UNC within an 18-day span?

“Because we’re fairly talented,” said Robinson. “Because of the new people we brought in. We have good legs. Good speed.”

Leading the newcomers is Fayetteville jumping jack Michael Joiner (6-foot-6), one of the top preps in North Carolina last season. Junior college recruit Monte Cummings, an athletic 6-foot-4 wing, could also enhance Seminole quickness. Then there are two Fork Union Military Academy products — point guard Ryan Lowery, out of Gastonia, and 6-10 Mike Matthews. They might help off the bench and in the future.

Still, if these mostly nondescript ‘Noles are going to remind anyone of the Sam Cassell-Charlie Ward-Bobby Sura glory days, they’re going to have to get a lot more than they’ve been getting out of their veterans.

The leading returnee is 5-11 assist machine Delvon Arrington, who is the same size and hails from the same high school as former Duke star Bobby Hurley, but has received maybe one percent of the pub that Hurley racked up. Arrington, in case you missed it, averaged six assists per game the last two seasons.

“You guys need to write about Delvon more,” demanded Robinson.

Maybe scribes will do so, especially if 6-10 big man Nigel Dixon develops into a reliable finisher, capable of taking advantage of Arrington’s vision and distribution skills. Dixon could be Robinson’s man in the middle and also Robinson’s man on the left and on the right. “Big Jelly,” as he’s affectionately known — trust us, the Cameron Crazies can’t wait for this guy’s arrival in Durham on Feb. 4 — tips the scales at 350 pounds. Despite his size, Dixon has soft hands and Dance Fever-feet and could be a real plus if he’d start spending a few hours a day with Jane Fonda and Richard Simmons.

While he can’t be sure of Dixon’s contributions (if any), Robinson figures he can count on 6-5 senior guard Adrian Crawford (5.3 ppg), who was ruined by ailing knees last season but was a good player two years ago, and 6-5 forward Antwuan Dixon (4.7 ppg), who not only provides the world with yet another way to spell “Antwuan,” but produced a couple of 16-point games as a soph.

Sophomore Rodney Tucker (6-7), who dunked three times in one game against N.C. State, should get time, and when Robinson wants to go really big he has former BYU 7-footer David Anderson. Anderson can block shots. Just don’t expect him to be rejecting any of Brendan Haywood’s or Carlos Boozer’s.

Bottom line: There’s nothing on this roster that will help Robinson close the gap on a Duke team which annihilated the ‘Noles 85-54 and 101-68 last season. In fact, the ‘Noles might be hard-pressed just to keep Georgia Tech and Clemson in sight.