Florida State University Athletics
Photo by: Florida State University Athletics
Seminoles Also Playing Defense Under Loucks
11/14/2025 2:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball
TALLAHASSEE – As prolific as Florida State's offense has been in its first three games of the season, the Seminoles' defense has been just as stout.
Florida State's offense has scored more than 100 points twice in its first three games, averages 95.0 points scored per game, is shooting nearly 46 percent from the field, has made almost twice as many 3-point field goals as its opponents, and is shooting nearly .800 percent from the free throw line.
Because of the numbers the Seminoles' offense is generating, Florida State's defense has been overlooked heading into Tuesday night's home game at the Donald L Tucker Center against UT Martin. The Seminoles' game against the Skyhawks will be streamed on ACCNX with Shawn Davison and Jacob Ridenhour and can be heard on the Seminole Sports Network with Jeff Culhane and Blake Miles.
Tickets are available for Tuesday's game at Seminoles.com. Tickets for Florida State students are free -- they can be claimed here.
In a special halftime ceremony, former Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton will be honored with a banner in the rafters of the Tucker Center signifying him as the winningest coach in school history with 638 victories during his coaching career in Tallahassee (2003-25).
Hamilton, who is a frequent visitor to the Florida State Basketball Training Center since his retirement in March of 2025, would be very proud of the defense being played by the Seminoles.
Defensively, the Seminoles are among the ACC leaders in steals (9.7 team steals per game) and turnover margin (+7.7 turnovers per game), while allowing only 72.7 points per game and holding their first three opponents to a .411 field goal shooting percentage.
"Our style is an organized chaos" said Loucks. "We are going to run and jump, we are going to trap, we are going to blitz. We are going to make an offense feel that nervousness at times which I thought we did (against Florida). They turned it over 18 times."
The Seminoles have totaled 29 steals in their first three games with 10 each coming in wins over Alcorn State, and Alabama State, and nine coming against No. 10 ranked Florida on the road in Gainesville on Tuesday night. Senior Robert McCray V (seven steals, 2.3 spg) and sophomore Martin Somerville (six steals, 2.0 spg) lead the Seminoles in steals.
The Seminoles' defense has allowed their offense to flip the court and turn strong defense into outstanding offense. Florida State averages 23.3 points off of turnovers in outscoring Alcorn State (27-10), Alabama State (31-14), and Florida (12-11) in the very telling statistical category.
Florida State has also defended its opponents' shooting abilities during the first three games of the season. The Seminoles' first three opponents are shooting a combined .411 from the field after holding the nationally ranked Gators to a season-low .391 field goal shooting percentage on Tuesday night.
Florida State's defense also held the Gators to six of 31 shooting from the 3-point line and is holding its first three opponents to a .300 shooting percentage from the 3-point line.
"There is a science behind what we are trying to do defensively," said Loucks. "I'll live with some gambles, but we gave up too many lob dunks behind the play (on Tuesday night). As we run and jump and trap, there is always someone that has to have the basket.
"Overall I was pleased with our defensive effort (against Florida)."
With its game against UT Martin on Tuesday, Florida State begins a stretch of four games in 11 days with three coming at home against the Skyhawks, Georgia Southern (Nov. 21, 6:00 p.m.), CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 25, 7:00 p.m.) and against Texas A&M at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa (Nov. 28, 5:00 p.m.).
Florida State's offense has scored more than 100 points twice in its first three games, averages 95.0 points scored per game, is shooting nearly 46 percent from the field, has made almost twice as many 3-point field goals as its opponents, and is shooting nearly .800 percent from the free throw line.
Because of the numbers the Seminoles' offense is generating, Florida State's defense has been overlooked heading into Tuesday night's home game at the Donald L Tucker Center against UT Martin. The Seminoles' game against the Skyhawks will be streamed on ACCNX with Shawn Davison and Jacob Ridenhour and can be heard on the Seminole Sports Network with Jeff Culhane and Blake Miles.
Tickets are available for Tuesday's game at Seminoles.com. Tickets for Florida State students are free -- they can be claimed here.
In a special halftime ceremony, former Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton will be honored with a banner in the rafters of the Tucker Center signifying him as the winningest coach in school history with 638 victories during his coaching career in Tallahassee (2003-25).
Hamilton, who is a frequent visitor to the Florida State Basketball Training Center since his retirement in March of 2025, would be very proud of the defense being played by the Seminoles.
Defensively, the Seminoles are among the ACC leaders in steals (9.7 team steals per game) and turnover margin (+7.7 turnovers per game), while allowing only 72.7 points per game and holding their first three opponents to a .411 field goal shooting percentage.
"Our style is an organized chaos" said Loucks. "We are going to run and jump, we are going to trap, we are going to blitz. We are going to make an offense feel that nervousness at times which I thought we did (against Florida). They turned it over 18 times."
The Seminoles have totaled 29 steals in their first three games with 10 each coming in wins over Alcorn State, and Alabama State, and nine coming against No. 10 ranked Florida on the road in Gainesville on Tuesday night. Senior Robert McCray V (seven steals, 2.3 spg) and sophomore Martin Somerville (six steals, 2.0 spg) lead the Seminoles in steals.
The Seminoles' defense has allowed their offense to flip the court and turn strong defense into outstanding offense. Florida State averages 23.3 points off of turnovers in outscoring Alcorn State (27-10), Alabama State (31-14), and Florida (12-11) in the very telling statistical category.
Florida State has also defended its opponents' shooting abilities during the first three games of the season. The Seminoles' first three opponents are shooting a combined .411 from the field after holding the nationally ranked Gators to a season-low .391 field goal shooting percentage on Tuesday night.
Florida State's defense also held the Gators to six of 31 shooting from the 3-point line and is holding its first three opponents to a .300 shooting percentage from the 3-point line.
"There is a science behind what we are trying to do defensively," said Loucks. "I'll live with some gambles, but we gave up too many lob dunks behind the play (on Tuesday night). As we run and jump and trap, there is always someone that has to have the basket.
"Overall I was pleased with our defensive effort (against Florida)."
With its game against UT Martin on Tuesday, Florida State begins a stretch of four games in 11 days with three coming at home against the Skyhawks, Georgia Southern (Nov. 21, 6:00 p.m.), CSU Bakersfield (Nov. 25, 7:00 p.m.) and against Texas A&M at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa (Nov. 28, 5:00 p.m.).
Players Mentioned
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