Florida State University Athletics
Saturday, January 24
Dallas, TX
4:00 PM
Florida State
at
SMU
Photo by: Jeff Romance
Seminoles Travel To Face SMU On Saturday At 4:00
1/23/2026 9:06:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DALLAS, TX – Florida State head coach Luke Loucks has utilized 10 different starting lineups in the first 19 games of the season as he works to find the combination of five players that best fits the schemes he feels will most effectively utilize the Seminoles' talent on the court at any given time.
Senior Robert McCray V, the Seminoles' leading scorer, is the only player who has been in each of Florida State's starting lineups since its opening day victory over Alabama State. Senior Lajae Jones has started 17 of Florida State's 19 games while senior Chauncey Wiggins has been on the court for the opening tip 16 times.
Loucks' rotation of players has included 11 Seminoles with 10 having come off the bench at some point in time throughout the season. Alex Steen has started in 15 of the 18 games he has played while Kobe MaGee and Martin Somerville have been starters in 10 of the 19 games they have played in during their first seasons at Florida State.
Florida State travels to play for the first time at SMU and got its first look inside the Moody Coliseum at practice on Friday. The Seminoles hold a 2-1 series advantage over the newly minted ACC member with each of the first three games having been played in Tallahassee. Florida State most recently defeated the Mustangs, 76-69, in the final home game of the 2025 season.
Saturday's game is set for a 4:00 p.m. ET tip-off with Ted Emrich and Rodney Terry on the call live on the ACC Network. Jeff Culhane and Jacob Ridenhour have the call on the Seminole Sports Network.
The Mustangs are coached by former Seminole assistant coach Andy Enfield who was on the Florida State staff when Loucks was the Seminoles' point guard. Loucks and Enfield helped Florida State reach the ACC Tournament championship game in 2009 while both helped the program advance to three NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2010, 2011) including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.
"We are trying to find different groups and different units that work well together," said Loucks as his team began their preparations for SMU. "We are also trying to find a certain level of defense and competitive spirit among those groups. We feel like we have multiple guys who should be starters, and could be starters, who are coming off the bench."
Based on the very positive statistics from the players coming off the bench since ACC play began against North Carolina on December 30, Loucks and his staff have found a number of outstanding groups.
The Seminoles' bench has outscored its opponents bench players in each of their first six ACC games.
Florida State brought four players off its bench in Tuesday's victory over Miami and received significant contributions from each one Martin Somerville totaled nine points, three assists, and four steals; MaGee scored six points with one rebound; AJ Swinton totaled five points, two rebounds, and two steals and Cam Miles earned four assists and one steal.
The Seminoles' impact reserves combined for 20 points, five rebounds, seven of Florida State's 13 assists and seven of the Seminoles' 12 assists while making five of the Seminoles' six 3-point shots in Florida State's 15th win in its last 16 games against Miami. The Seminoles' +15 bench scoring margin against the Hurricanes ranks as its largest margin in their first six ACC games.
Loucks remembered back to his playing days as a Seminole under the legendary Leonard Hamilton who utilized his bench talent as well as any team in the nation.
"If you look back at Coach Hamilton's best teams, we had eight or nine different starters," said Loucks. "Sometimes it would be the older guys, and sometimes it would be the younger guys."
Loucks referenced a number of prominent Florida State players who came off the bench as Seminoles. Two of those players became NBA Draft Lottery picks including Scottie Barnes (currently of the Toronto Raptors) and Patrick Williams (currently of the Chicago Bulls).
"Florida State has had multiple lottery picks as young Seminoles coming off the bench," said Loucks. "It creates real issues for opponents because they are bringing in their subs who are usually their second tier players, and you are bringing your bench players who have been starters."
MaGee, who is averaging 23.5 minutes played in 19 games, is a prime example of a starter (10 starts) who is making a tremendous difference to the team effort as a bench player. He led the Seminoles with 12 of Florida State's 17 bench points against North Carolina and 17 of the Seminoles' 21 bench points against Duke.
Another outstanding player who has helped the Seminoles coming off of the bench is Somerville. Somerville scored 18 of Florida State's season-high 39 points off of the bench against Syracuse and totaled nine points on two made 3-point shots against Miami earlier this week.
In between the Seminoles' games at Syracuse and Miami, Somerville was back in the starting lineup against Wake Forest. He scored nine points on a perfect four of four from the free throw line as a starter against the Demon Deacons.
Freshman Thomas Bassong, who thrived as a member of the Seminoles' impact reserves during the first 16 games of the season, has earned his way into Florida State's starting lineup in the last three games. As a reserve, he scored in double figures in two games, scored eight or more points in four games, and provided great energy and defense in averaging more than 16 minutes played per game in his first season.
As a starter, Bassong scored in double figures with 11 points against Wake Forest. As a reserve he scored his career-high of 14 points in 21 minutes played against NC State.
"For most teams, Thomas would probably come off the bench," said Loucks. "Not only has he done such a good job starting, but his teammates around him have done such a good job supporting him. It's been great for our team in so many ways."
Loucks knows full well what it takes to be successful as both a starter and as a reserve. Loucks came off of the bench in 97 of his first 101 career games before earning the Seminoles' starting point guard role and leading the program to their first ACC Championship in 2012.
"We have multiple guys that would probably start for a lot of programs now coming off of the bench," said Loucks. "Our guys have done a really good job of putting the team first. Everyone wants to start; everyone wants to hear their name called in the starting lineup, but sometimes for us to win games you have to go outside the box."
As Loucks continues shaping this team's identity, Florida State's depth has shown that the Seminoles' strength comes from how fully they play for one another, no matter when their names are called.
Senior Robert McCray V, the Seminoles' leading scorer, is the only player who has been in each of Florida State's starting lineups since its opening day victory over Alabama State. Senior Lajae Jones has started 17 of Florida State's 19 games while senior Chauncey Wiggins has been on the court for the opening tip 16 times.
Loucks' rotation of players has included 11 Seminoles with 10 having come off the bench at some point in time throughout the season. Alex Steen has started in 15 of the 18 games he has played while Kobe MaGee and Martin Somerville have been starters in 10 of the 19 games they have played in during their first seasons at Florida State.
Florida State travels to play for the first time at SMU and got its first look inside the Moody Coliseum at practice on Friday. The Seminoles hold a 2-1 series advantage over the newly minted ACC member with each of the first three games having been played in Tallahassee. Florida State most recently defeated the Mustangs, 76-69, in the final home game of the 2025 season.
Saturday's game is set for a 4:00 p.m. ET tip-off with Ted Emrich and Rodney Terry on the call live on the ACC Network. Jeff Culhane and Jacob Ridenhour have the call on the Seminole Sports Network.
The Mustangs are coached by former Seminole assistant coach Andy Enfield who was on the Florida State staff when Loucks was the Seminoles' point guard. Loucks and Enfield helped Florida State reach the ACC Tournament championship game in 2009 while both helped the program advance to three NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2010, 2011) including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011.
"We are trying to find different groups and different units that work well together," said Loucks as his team began their preparations for SMU. "We are also trying to find a certain level of defense and competitive spirit among those groups. We feel like we have multiple guys who should be starters, and could be starters, who are coming off the bench."
Based on the very positive statistics from the players coming off the bench since ACC play began against North Carolina on December 30, Loucks and his staff have found a number of outstanding groups.
The Seminoles' bench has outscored its opponents bench players in each of their first six ACC games.
Florida State brought four players off its bench in Tuesday's victory over Miami and received significant contributions from each one Martin Somerville totaled nine points, three assists, and four steals; MaGee scored six points with one rebound; AJ Swinton totaled five points, two rebounds, and two steals and Cam Miles earned four assists and one steal.
The Seminoles' impact reserves combined for 20 points, five rebounds, seven of Florida State's 13 assists and seven of the Seminoles' 12 assists while making five of the Seminoles' six 3-point shots in Florida State's 15th win in its last 16 games against Miami. The Seminoles' +15 bench scoring margin against the Hurricanes ranks as its largest margin in their first six ACC games.
Loucks remembered back to his playing days as a Seminole under the legendary Leonard Hamilton who utilized his bench talent as well as any team in the nation.
"If you look back at Coach Hamilton's best teams, we had eight or nine different starters," said Loucks. "Sometimes it would be the older guys, and sometimes it would be the younger guys."
Loucks referenced a number of prominent Florida State players who came off the bench as Seminoles. Two of those players became NBA Draft Lottery picks including Scottie Barnes (currently of the Toronto Raptors) and Patrick Williams (currently of the Chicago Bulls).
"Florida State has had multiple lottery picks as young Seminoles coming off the bench," said Loucks. "It creates real issues for opponents because they are bringing in their subs who are usually their second tier players, and you are bringing your bench players who have been starters."
MaGee, who is averaging 23.5 minutes played in 19 games, is a prime example of a starter (10 starts) who is making a tremendous difference to the team effort as a bench player. He led the Seminoles with 12 of Florida State's 17 bench points against North Carolina and 17 of the Seminoles' 21 bench points against Duke.
Another outstanding player who has helped the Seminoles coming off of the bench is Somerville. Somerville scored 18 of Florida State's season-high 39 points off of the bench against Syracuse and totaled nine points on two made 3-point shots against Miami earlier this week.
In between the Seminoles' games at Syracuse and Miami, Somerville was back in the starting lineup against Wake Forest. He scored nine points on a perfect four of four from the free throw line as a starter against the Demon Deacons.
Freshman Thomas Bassong, who thrived as a member of the Seminoles' impact reserves during the first 16 games of the season, has earned his way into Florida State's starting lineup in the last three games. As a reserve, he scored in double figures in two games, scored eight or more points in four games, and provided great energy and defense in averaging more than 16 minutes played per game in his first season.
As a starter, Bassong scored in double figures with 11 points against Wake Forest. As a reserve he scored his career-high of 14 points in 21 minutes played against NC State.
"For most teams, Thomas would probably come off the bench," said Loucks. "Not only has he done such a good job starting, but his teammates around him have done such a good job supporting him. It's been great for our team in so many ways."
Loucks knows full well what it takes to be successful as both a starter and as a reserve. Loucks came off of the bench in 97 of his first 101 career games before earning the Seminoles' starting point guard role and leading the program to their first ACC Championship in 2012.
"We have multiple guys that would probably start for a lot of programs now coming off of the bench," said Loucks. "Our guys have done a really good job of putting the team first. Everyone wants to start; everyone wants to hear their name called in the starting lineup, but sometimes for us to win games you have to go outside the box."
As Loucks continues shaping this team's identity, Florida State's depth has shown that the Seminoles' strength comes from how fully they play for one another, no matter when their names are called.
Players Mentioned
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