How to watch FSU basketball vs No. 15 Virginia in crucial ACC showdown

Luke Loucks knows Florida State men’s basketball needs to improve, even in the midst of a three-game winning streak.

The Seminoles (11-12, 4-6 ACC) have won three straight and four of the last six games. The winning run has taken the team from last place in the ACC into the top 12, a crucial rise as only the top 14 teams make the conference tournament.

Hosting No. 15 Virginia on Tuesday, Feb. 10, Loucks said his team has plenty to clean up, but it has a “hunger” to continue to improve. He pointed to gameplan and execution errors in games against Wake Forest, SMU, and most recently, the 82-79 win over Notre Dame, but he said it’s a “good place” to be with the team winning while still needing improvement.

“It’s a good feeling as a coach that everyone in the building, everyone in the room feels the same way. We are just scratching the surface of where we can go as a team,” Loucks said. “That’s despite our record. I feel really good about how hungry we are and how hungry we need to be to continue what we’re doing in terms of the results.”

FSU improvement depends on defense

FSU has improved defensively during the stretch, with Loucks and the coaching staff putting a needed emphasis on that side of the ball after the Seminoles‘ blowout loss to NC State, which put 113 points on the board. Loucks said the shift in focus has allowed players to play more freely offensively.

Even with the improvements, FSU still finds itself in close games, with five of the last six games decided by three points or less. The 88-80 win over Stanford is the lone game decided by more than three points. Continued struggles from the free-throw line in clutch moments and ill-timed turnovers have played a part in the frequency of close games.

Loucks continues to press the importance of cleaning up those mistakes to his team while also praising the winning run the Seminoles are on.

“To me, there’s always lessons to be learned in every game, even when you win by 30, lose by 30, win close, or lose close, there is always room for improvement without crushing confidence,” Loucks said. “That’s the fine line you’ve got to walk when you are winning. You can’t be complacent, you can’t be satisfied with success. There is always room to grow. That’s where our locker room has shown a lot of character over these past few weeks.

This season could easily have gone in a different direction, splintered in a million different ways, and the character in that locker room has really been awesome.”

Meet Virginia Cavaliers: Led by young veteran

Virginia will be the biggest test of the Seminoles’ improvement over the last three weeks.

Jan 31, 2026; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Robert McCray (6) dunks the ball during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Donald L. Tucker Center. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-Imagn Images

The Cavs are led by forward Thijs De Ridder, who is classified as a freshman after signing with the program following a five-year pro career in Europe. The 23-year-old Belgian is averaging 16.4 points per game alongside 6.5 rebounds, and is shooting 53% from the field and 34% from three.

He’s likely to be matched up with freshman Thomas Bassong or senior Chauncey Wiggins on the Seminoles side. Bassong has become a reliable starter and given FSU good defensive minutes, while Wiggins has led the team in scoring in each of the last three games.

Wiggins is averaging 21 points per game over the last three, and he’s shot 48% from three during that run. Alongside Wiggins, Robert McCray V has scored in double figures in 10 straight games and continues to set up his teammates with 6.2 assists per game.

The pair of veterans has been key in the season turnaround. Any chances of an upset over Virginia likely rest in their hands.