The Luke Loucks era officially began Tuesday night as the Florida State Seminoles dominated against Alcorn State in a 108-76 victory. It was a great way to start the season as the team displayed an efficient offensive performance. Due to the success of the offense, the MVP of the contest was Robert McCray V as he made history by setting the table for others.
“What a night for Rob McCray, huh,” coach Loucks said in his opening statement following Tuesday’s contest.
When a player makes history in their first game as a Seminole, that means they understand the magnitude of what it takes to play in a uniform. Florida State has a standard for winning across all athletics and each athlete has to bring their best effort every game. Through the past few seasons, the Seminoles have had losing seasons and needed new life within the program. Thanks to Coach Loucks, he did a great job bringing in new talent who can compete at the highest level.
Robert McCray is a dynamic point guard who has developed into a respectable player in the NCAA. He spent his last two seasons playing at Jacksonville and helped the Dolphins become a top-five team in the A-Sun Conference. Coach Loucks understood McCray’s value and how he could make others around him better. Therefore, he went all in on convincing the guard to transfer to Tallahassee.
A point guard sets the tone for the game. His job is to control the action on the floor and place others in great positions to succeed. McCray did exactly that in Tuesday’s home-opener against Alcorn State. What stood out was the way he created a feel early on. Once McCray figured out how the defense was playing him, he broke through it and found high-percentage shots for his teammates.
McCray was dropping dimes everywhere in the Tucker Center. In transition, he did a great job of being aware of the floor and finding open teammates. Whether it was a teammate trailing or popping out to the three-point line, McCray continues to set the table and dish one assist after another.
The Seminoles took control of the game from the start and never looked back. They played with high energy for 40 minutes and were great at controlling the tempo of the contest. Before you know it, McCray finished the contest with a career-high 17 assists, which also broke Coach Loucks’ record of 13 as a player in 2012.
Due to McCray’s historic night, the rest of the Seminoles shined in Tuesday’s contest. Senior forward Chauncey Wiggins was exceptional as he finished with a career-high 22 points while Lajae Jones also finished with 18 points. Overall, Florida State shot 55 percent from the field and led by as many as 34 points. The Donald L. Tucker Center was roaring with energy as the fans watched their team start its season the right way.
The journey of Robert McCray V as Florida State’s point guard has officially begun. In one game, he placed himself in conversations with the likes of Loucks, Trent Forrest, and many others. There are big shoes to fill as a point guard trying to help a program rejuvenate as a contender. Luckily, McCray is up for the challenge as he looks to continue to lead the charge for Florida State.