The NCAA basketball season is just a few weeks away, and Florida State is right back in the thick of preparing for the year. Coach Luke Loucks will be entering his second season at the helm after leading the Seminoles to an 18-15 record in his first season. Two five-game losing streaks put a dent in the Seminoles' armor, and Loucks will look to avoid potential disaster during the 2026-27 season by limiting the damage after losses.
Loucks and the Seminoles will return to the court this season with a virtually entirely new roster, as Alex Steen will need to wait before potentially returning amid his eligibility battle. Loucks has voiced support for Steen multiple times, and Steen has been present at practice while he awaits an official decision regarding whether or not he can play this season.
The return of Steen would be massive for Florida State, but even without the star in the picture, a clear starting lineup and rotation are beginning to take shape.
Projected Starting Five
- G Anthony Robinson II
- G Kam Taylor
- F Shon Abaev
- F/C Sebastian Rancik
- C Marcis Ponder
Without Steen in the lineup, the unsung leader of the team will be Anthony Robinson II, a native of Tallahassee who has spent the last three seasons with Missouri. Robinson is coming off a difficult year with the Tigers, where he regressed in multiple areas on offense and defense, but his veteran leadership and experience should allow him to blossom back home with new support.
Joining the starting lineup alongside Robinson will be Kam Taylor, who is fresh off a productive sophomore season with UNC Asheville. The 6-foot-7 guard is a difficult player to stop on offense, and Loucks previously noted that he feels as though Taylor is just starting to embrace his potential. The athleticism and fearlessness of Taylor should give Florida State a dangerous player on offense.
Filling out the rest of the starting lineup should be Shon Abaev, Sebastian Rancik, and the freshman Marcis Ponder. Abaev will provide prior starting experience to the team, while the towering combo of Rancik and Ponder will be hard to ignore. The Seminoles may not have the deepest frontcourt in the ACC, but a versatile starting duo could do enough damage.
Projected Rotation
- F Cooper Schwieger
- F AJ Swinton
- G Martay Barnes
- G Brandon Bass Jr.
The Seminoles should have a competitive starting five in the ACC, and the bench is where the team can truly improve this season. Loucks used a deep bench last year, with eight players in total hitting the court for a minimum of 15 minutes a game.
Leading the attack off the bench for Florida State should be forward Cooper Schwieger, a former part-time starter for Wake Forest. Schwieger averaged 5.1 points and 2.5 rebounds last season in his lone year in a Demon Deacons' uniform, but the forward previously began his collegiate career with Valparaiso. Schwieger averaged 15.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and two blocks per game during the 2024-25 season, and the scoring potential is certainly there with enough shot volume.
Supporting Schwieger at forward off the bench will be AJ Swinton, who is currently recovering from an ACL injury, but should be on track to return for the start of the season. Swinton was injured just six months ago, but Loucks was impressed with his recovery process and the progress he has made.
Freshman guards Martay Barnes and Brandon Bass Jr. are two players who have impressed Loucks early, and the faster the two can make an impact for Florida State this season, the better.
Projected Depth
- G Jasen Lopez
- G Elisee Assui
- G JD Jones
- G Amare Robinson
- G Jalen Crawford
- F Collin Paul
Florida State should have plenty of backcourt depth this season with five guards who likely will not hold onto significant roles. The lone forward, Collin Paul, could actually make his way into the rotation this season, but setbacks in the ACL recovery process could limit the forward early. With players like Swinton, who is also recovering, and Schwieger coming off the bench, there is no real need to rush Paul back to the court.
The international standout Elisee Assui is another interesting player on the Florida State roster, with plenty of experience playing for Team Italy before making the move over to the NCAA. Getting Assui involved this season could be difficult as the Seminoles have numerous mouths to feed, but his experience and basketball knowledge could come in handy late in the season.
Florida State will open the regular season against Florida A&M on November 2 after playing Mississippi State, Auburn, and LSU in exhibitions.
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