Florida State basketball had a rough patch in early December and January, where the team had two stretches of five-game losing streaks. The fan base was questioning the abilities of head coach Luke Loucks because it didn't look like he was adapting to his team's playing style.
The blowout loss to North Carolina State by a score of 113-69 in the Tucker Center seemed to wake a fire in his squad. The Seminoles had an overall record of 7-9 (0-3 in conference play) and it became apparent the the Seminoles needed a change in direction before it went completely upside down and they didn't want that to happen with Florida State's talented recruiting class about to sign.
As a wise man once said, it gets worse before it gets better. The Seminoles lost three of their next four games after the blowout loss to the Wolfpack, but the performances were better, and the margins were slimmer. They even beat the ranked arch-rival Miami Hurricanes on the road by a score of 65-63 in that span.
Luke Loucks has created a monster with this Florida State basketball team
Florida State needed that production from its players, and guard Robert McCray V and forward Chauncey Wiggins have stepped up their scoring efforts, as the Seminoles have won seven of their last nine games.
Florida State has an overall record of 14-13 (7-7 in conference) after beating Clemson on the road for the Tigers' fourth straight loss.
There have been a couple of contests this season where the Seminoles have not handled the pressure of playing in close games, such as Florida, Duke, Wake Forest, SMU, and Virginia, but Florida State has found its groove.
It is too bad that the program has found its rhythm in mid-February because they are playing like an NCAA Tournament team and are one of the hottest teams in the country. Obviously, they aren't going to make it to March (unless they win the ACC Tournament), but this is a positive step in the right direction for the future of the program and Luke Loucks has to be pleased as of late.
They will be playing the Miami Hurricanes in the Tucker Center on Tuesday, February 24th at 9:00 PM EST on the ACC Network. The Seminoles need your help as they try to knock off their arch-rivals once again.