Florida State leans on defense vs. Stanford as 3-point woes linger

Seminoles have won four straight games decided by three points or less

Jan. 31, 2026 at 1:31am

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Florida State's first season under new head coach Luke Loucks has been a struggle, with the team ranking 17th out of 18 Atlantic Coast Conference teams in 3-point percentage. This has forced the Seminoles to adopt a new defensive identity, which they will bring into Saturday's game against Stanford. Florida State's defense has stepped up recently, holding opponents under 70 points in three of its last four games, including a 63-61 win over Cal on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Stanford has lost three straight games by nine or more points since its upset of North Carolina earlier this month.

Why it matters

Florida State's shift to a defensive-focused approach highlights the team's need to adapt its strategy due to its struggles from the 3-point line this season. The Seminoles' ability to win close games despite their offensive woes could be a sign of their resilience and determination. For Stanford, the recent losing streak raises questions about the team's ability to maintain its early-season success against tougher conference opponents.

The details

In the win over Cal, Florida State shot just 1-for-8 from 3-point range in the second half and missed 10 free throws, but the defense stepped up, holding Cal to 34.5% shooting and forcing the Bears to miss their final six shots. Chauncey Wiggins scored a team-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including the game-winning basket with 2:59 left. For Stanford, freshman star Ebuka Okorie scored a team-high 19 points after struggling in the previous two games, but the Cardinal couldn't hold on to a nine-point lead in the second half of their loss to Miami.

  • Florida State has won four straight games decided by three points or less.
  • Stanford has lost three straight games by nine or more points since its upset of North Carolina on January 14.

The players

Luke Loucks

Florida State's first-year head coach who has had to adapt his team's strategy due to their struggles from the 3-point line this season.

Chauncey Wiggins

Florida State player who scored a team-high 18 points, including the game-winning basket, in the Seminoles' 63-61 win over Cal.

Ebuka Okorie

Stanford freshman star who scored a team-high 19 points in the Cardinal's recent loss to Miami after struggling in the previous two games.

Kyle Smith

Stanford's head coach who acknowledged his team's inability to come up with key rebounds in their loss to Miami.

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What they’re saying

“If you would have told me after the preseason that we would win a game 63-61, that we would shoot 1-for-8 in the second half from 3 and miss 10 free throws, and win the game, I would have called you a liar. But here we are. Honestly, it's a good message and good reminder for our guys that there are two sides of basketball.”

— Luke Loucks, Florida State Head Coach

“We couldn't quite come up with enough key rebounds. (Miami) made some big plays. ... Their strength kind of wore us down.”

— Kyle Smith, Stanford Head Coach

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.