- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Florida State's Luke Loucks Builds Culture in First Season
Despite a rocky start, the Seminoles rallied to nearly upset Duke in the ACC Tournament
Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:48pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
In his first season as head coach, Luke Loucks transformed the Florida State basketball program, leading the Seminoles to a dramatic turnaround after a 0-5 start in ACC play. Though they fell just short of upsetting Duke in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, the team embodied the culture Loucks has built, showcasing resilience, defensive intensity, and a team-first mentality.
Why it matters
Loucks' ability to instill a winning culture at FSU, even with a roster of transfers and a limited budget, demonstrates his coaching acumen and the program's potential for future success. The Seminoles' late-season surge also highlights the importance of maintaining faith, adjusting strategies, and empowering players during challenging times.
The details
After starting ACC play 0-5, the Seminoles turned things around by tightening their defense, taking care of the ball, and shifting to an inside-out offensive approach. Key players like Robert McCray V and Lajae Jones stepped up, and Loucks credited his staff for their contributions. The rookie head coach also showed a willingness to adapt and put his team before his own ego.
- On January 10, NC State defeated FSU 113-69, the program's worst home loss.
- In early February, FSU's adjusted defensive efficiency improved from 111.1 to 96.7 over a five-game stretch.
- In the ACC Tournament quarterfinals, FSU nearly upset No. 1 Duke, falling by one point in the final seconds.
The players
Luke Loucks
The first-year head coach of the Florida State Seminoles basketball team, who has quickly built a winning culture and nearly led his team to an upset of Duke in the ACC Tournament.
Robert McCray V
The Third-Team All-ACC guard for Florida State, who finished the season averaging 16.3 points and a team-leading 6.1 assists per game.
Lajae Jones
A Florida State player who stepped up in the face of adversity, scoring 28 points in the near-upset of Duke.
What they’re saying
“I'm not a big believer in moral victories, but I am a big believer about doing the right thing. To me, our team did the right thing. I'm not talking about tonight's game. I'm talking about this season.”
— Luke Loucks, Head Coach, Florida State Seminoles (Yahoo Sports)
“I'm so proud of these guys, the way they battled throughout this match — but most importantly, the way they battled through the second half of this season, in a season where these guys could have easily folded. They came to work every day and tried to find solutions.”
— Luke Loucks, Head Coach, Florida State Seminoles (Yahoo Sports)
What’s next
An NIT invitation is still possible for Florida State, which would give the team one final chance to make a postseason run and build on the momentum of their late-season turnaround.
The takeaway
Luke Loucks' ability to transform Florida State's basketball program in his first season, instilling a winning culture and nearly pulling off a major upset of Duke, demonstrates his coaching prowess and the bright future of the Seminoles. The team's resilience and commitment to Loucks' vision provide a blueprint for how to build a successful program, even with roster and budget challenges.
