Six freshmen, seven transfers: FSU basketball rebuilds around Loucks

Florida State men’s basketball head coach Luke Loucks and his reconstructed roster of 13 newcomers have flashed potential in exhibition play. The revitalized team faces its first test Monday, Nov. 2, when it takes on Florida A&M University at Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Fla.Now in his second year at the helm, Loucks looks to draw on his experience as an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) champion with FSU during his playing career. The ’Noles’ 2025-26 season ended with a one-point loss to Duke University in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals. The Garnet and Gold now aim to build on last season’s momentum and establish themselves as contenders in the conference.“I think the conference is better when Florida State is one of those top tier teams, I didn't come to Florida State to be average and to be okay with being okay,” Loucks said at the 2026 ACC Tipoff press conference on Oct. 7. “We came here to win and we are all in on getting Florida State back to being a top tier winning program, not just in the conference, but nationally." Recruiting fuels revitalized rosterLoucks’ vision for success on the court starts on the recruiting trail, where he has gone the extra mile to build personal connections with potential players. He traveled to Slovakia to meet with junior forward Sebastian Rancik’s family, emphasizing the importance of establishing relationships with recruits firsthand.Never miss a beat: Sign up for the FSView Newsletter“I think we were dead last in the ACC and dead last in power five basketball last season,” Loucks said. “We were fortunate enough to fight and still finish tied for seventh in the ACC, but our resources went up and that's why we were able to go get guys like [senior guard] Anthony Robinson [II] and Sebastian Rancik.” Though the roster is largely newcomers, the standard and expectation set by Loucks remains evident. For Rancik, that standard starts before the first drill.“We have a thing that we say before every practice and after every break we say ‘all in’ and we got to make sure that we put the team first in everything that we do, compete in every possession on both sides of the floor and be good teammates,” Rancik said at the 2026 ACC Tipoff press conference on Oct. 7.. An “all in” mentality begins with all-in players. With six freshmen and seven transfers joining Florida State, building team chemistry will be crucial to the Seminoles’ success this season.“We have a lot of leaders on this team, we connected from day one and we have a lot of good guys in the group,” Robinson said at the ACC Tip Off. “Being able to gel from day one and really feel connected is a big key, and I believe the most connected team wins."Steen gets another shotFifth-year center Alex Steen has another opportunity to build on his progress with Florida State. On Oct. 19, Leon County Circuit Judge David Frank granted Steen an injunction in his legal battle against the NCAA, clearing the way for a fifth season of college eligibility.As FSU integrates newcomers into the roster, Steen’s experience and familiarity with the program could prove valuable as the ’Noles look to take the next step in the ACC.“You guys know Alex from last year, what you don't see behind the scenes is the impact Alex has on our team in our locker room as a leader,” Loucks said in a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 22. “Just being about the right things, so he will immediately be in the rotation we're planning on playing him.”Schedule standouts One of the Garnet and Gold’s first major tests comes Tuesday, Nov. 10, when Florida State hosts No. 1 University of Florida at the Donald L. Tucker Center. After falling two points short in Gainesville, Fla., last season, the Seminoles will look to defend their home court and snap a five-game losing streak against their in-state rivals.With added depth and talent and a renewed sense of direction under Loucks, the Garnet and Gold will look to turn their potential into results when the regular season tips off Monday.Gia Ciaccio is a Senior Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com. This article originally appeared on FSU News: Six freshmen, seven transfers: FSU basketball rebuilds around Loucks