Florida State has a chance to turn a solid opening-night win into something louder when Troy comes to the Tucker Center in Tallahassee.
The Seminoles got the season started with a victory over Florida A&M on November 2, and there was enough in that performance to suggest Luke Loucks’ group already has some rhythm. That said, one game never tells the whole story. Loucks knows the real work is in stacking good nights together, and this matchup looks like a prime opportunity for Florida State to do exactly that in front of its home crowd.
Troy, meanwhile, arrives after a rough start. The Trojans were expected to handle UMass but instead dropped their opener in a game that exposed plenty of issues. Missed free throws, blocked shots, and a quiet offense helped sink them, and now they have to regroup quickly with a first-year coaching staff still sorting through the pieces.
Florida State is heavily favored, sitting as nearly 25-point favorites, and that kind of spread tells you where the expectations are. For Loucks, though, the goal is bigger than just a win. A convincing one would help build momentum and give the Tucker Center crowd another reason to come back.
A big reason the Seminoles should be able to separate is Sebastian Rancik. After Florida State’s win over Florida A&M, the 6-foot-11 junior forward looked like a player who may be better than many thought. Rancik spent the past two seasons at Colorado as more of a role player, but he now looks ready for a bigger stage.
Troy may not have the kind of defender built to handle him. Rancik moves more like a guard than a traditional power forward, and his ability to cut and attack creates problems for bigger bodies. The Trojans also don’t have much size to throw at him, with their tallest player listed at 6-foot-9.
Caden Diggs is probably Troy’s best option, but he comes off the bench, which makes it tough to lean on him for an entire game. Freshman center Marcis Ponder is also worth watching for the same reason, since his frame will be the biggest on the floor by a wide margin.
The Trojans’ opener against UMass raised plenty of concerns beyond defense. Troy lost 71-60, and the offense never really found a steady pulse.
Senior guard Donovan Oday was the bright spot, scoring 21 points on 17 shot attempts while also grabbing 12 rebounds and adding six steals. He has scored at least 12 points per game over the past two seasons at Cal State Fullerton and Northern Kentucky, but this current role is a much bigger ask.
That’s the issue for Troy right now: the burden is falling almost entirely on Oday. He accounted for nearly half the team’s points and took close to a third of its field goal attempts. That kind of load can’t carry a team for long.
First-year coach Adam Howard tried several lineup combinations against UMass, and some of the starters barely made a dent. Robert Davis Jr., Mobi Ikegwuruka, and Kerrington Kiel all played fewer than 20 minutes and combined for just four points. Howard will likely keep adjusting, but the Trojans still shot only 34% from the field in the opener.
UMass wasn’t exactly sharp either, shooting 43% from the floor and 53% from the foul line. The difference was balance. Four Minutemen reached double figures, and Troy simply couldn’t cover enough ground defensively.
For the Trojans to have any chance of making this one competitive, someone has to become a real second option behind Oday. Freshman guard Caua Pacheco is one player to watch in that search. Without more help, Troy risks running into the same problem again - and Florida State looks ready to make sure that problem shows up fast.
In Other News...
Brian Kelly Just Added Intrigue To Florida States Coaching Search
Florida States coaching search has already carried plenty of weight because of where the program has been and how often the chair has turned over since 2017. Now Brian Kelly has put his name into the conversation, saying during a radio interview that he has interest in the job and pointing to the Seminoles history and tradition as part of the appeal.
Kelly arrives with a long rsum from Notre Dame and LSU, but also with the baggage that comes from his exit in Baton Rouge in October 2023. His track record makes him an obvious name to watch, yet the fit is not so simple, with questions already surfacing about whether his personality would mesh with what Florida State is looking for as it tries to steady the program. [Read more 🡒]
Florida States Coaching Search Faces One Question Fans Cant Ignore
Florida States coaching search is unfolding against a financial backdrop that has drawn plenty of attention, but university officials say the numbers are not nearly as alarming as some outside reports have suggested. Chief Financial Officer Kyle Clark said the school carries $306 million in debt, most of it tied to stadium renovations, and he pointed out that figure is lower than what has been circulating elsewhere. The athletic departments budget has also climbed sharply over the past decade, rising from $76 million in 2014 to a projected $265 million for fiscal year 2027.
For Seminoles fans, the bigger question is whether all of that translates into real flexibility as the school pursues its next football coach. Interim athletic director Bruce Warwick has said the finances should not stand in the way of landing a top-tier hire or giving that coach the resources needed to compete. In other words, the money conversation is not about whether Florida State can participate in the market, but how aggressively it can move when the right candidate emerges. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Heads To Boston College With A Roster Question They Can't Ignore
Florida State heads to Boston College this week with more than just a road game on its mind. The Seminoles are trying to snap the longest road losing streak in program history, and the trip comes with a different feel as well, since it will be their first game under an interim head coach. Both teams have already released injury reports, and there were no changes from the first report to the second, leaving the Seminoles to keep an eye on a few key names as they sort through the week.
Among the players Florida State is monitoring are running back Quintrevion Wisner and cornerback JaBril Rawls, two pieces whose availability could matter in a game that already carries plenty of pressure. With the injury picture holding steady for now, the focus shifts to how the Seminoles handle the setting, the new sideline leadership and the challenge of trying to break a streak that has hung over the program for too long. [Read more 🡒]