Florida State men's basketball has wrapped up its season without accepting an invitation to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), marking the end of head coach Luke Loucks' first year at the helm.
After a nail-biting 80-79 loss to No. 1 Duke in the ACC tournament quarterfinals, the Seminoles decided to conclude their season. This decision came despite discussions within the program about potentially participating in the NIT, with an invitation anticipated before Sunday's selection show.
The Seminoles closed the season with an 18-15 record, showcasing a remarkable turnaround. From a challenging start at 7-11 and 0-5 in the ACC, they rallied to finish the regular season at 17-14, earning a first-round bye in the ACC tournament.
Their journey in the tournament began with a hard-fought 95-89 victory over Cal, setting the stage for the narrow defeat against Duke.
Coach Loucks, in his inaugural season, made significant strides by integrating key senior players like McCray, who received All-ACC third team honors, along with Chauncey Wiggins, Lajae Jones, Kobe MaGee, Shah Muhammad, and Alex Steen. These players were instrumental in revitalizing the Seminoles program.
Looking ahead, Florida State is set to welcome a highly-touted recruiting class, ranked eighth in the nation, promising an exciting future for the team.