Florida State basketball hit some turbulence in early December and January, enduring two tough five-game losing streaks. Naturally, fans started to question head coach Luke Loucks' ability to adapt to his team's style.
The blowout loss to North Carolina State, 113-69 at the Tucker Center, seemed to light a fire under the Seminoles. With a 7-9 overall record and 0-3 in conference play, it was clear that a change was needed to steer the season back on track, especially with a talented recruiting class waiting in the wings.
As the saying goes, sometimes things get worse before they get better. Florida State dropped three of their next four games following the Wolfpack defeat, but the performances showed promise, with narrower margins and a crucial road win against their ranked arch-rival, the Miami Hurricanes, 65-63.
Coach Loucks has since turned things around, and the Seminoles are now on a roll. Thanks to standout efforts from guard Robert McCray V and forward Chauncey Wiggins, the team has won seven of their last nine games. They now hold a 14-13 overall record, with a 7-7 mark in conference play, highlighted by a road victory over Clemson, handing the Tigers their fourth straight loss.
While there have been moments this season where the Seminoles struggled under pressure against teams like Florida, Duke, Wake Forest, SMU, and Virginia, they've clearly found their rhythm. It's a shame this surge came in mid-February, as they're playing like an NCAA Tournament team and are among the hottest squads in the country. While making it to March Madness is unlikely without an ACC Tournament win, this turnaround is a positive sign for the program's future, and Coach Loucks must be feeling optimistic.
Next up, the Seminoles face the Miami Hurricanes at the Tucker Center on Tuesday, February 24th, at 9:00 PM EST on the ACC Network. They'll need all the support they can get as they look to topple their arch-rivals once again.