“He was in attack mode,” Florida State coach Luke Loucks said of Sebastian Rancik following a career-high 25-point performance on Monday night.
The Seminoles are looking to carry their momentum into Friday’s matchup against Troy in Tallahassee. Florida State enters the contest with a 1-0 record after a 113-69 victory over Florida A&M in Tampa, but the upcoming game presents a significantly different challenge than their season opener.
While the recent routing of the Rattlers showcased Florida State’s offensive depth, the program faces a Troy team that won the last meeting in Tallahassee, a 79-72 victory in 2022.
The emergence of new talent in Tallahassee
Freshman Marcis Ponder, a 7-foot, 285-pounder nicknamed “Baby Shaq,” provided a massive interior presence against Florida A&M. Ponder recorded 15 points and 11 rebounds in just 20 minutes of play, becoming the first Florida State freshman to post a double-double in their debut in 18 years.
Rancik, who averaged 12.3 points per game for Colorado last season, led the Seminoles with a career-high 25 points on Monday. The supporting cast also showed significant contributions during Monday’s blowout:
- Anthony Robinson II: 16 points and eight rebounds
- Kameron Taylor: 15 points
- Shon Abaev: Six points and a game-high six assists with zero turnovers
The Seminoles likely will face a tougher test from the Trojans, a program that has won Sun Belt regular season and postseason titles in each of the past two years.
Troy seeks redemption after season opener loss
Coach Adam Howard, who recently transitioned to the head coaching role at Troy following his time as an assistant at North Carolina State, emphasized the necessity of a home-court turnaround. “It’s never acceptable to lose at home,” Howard stated.
While Troy is currently 0-1, the program possesses a pedigree of recent success that remains relevant. The Trojans won both the Sun Belt regular season—sharing the 2024-25 title—and the postseason titles in each of the last two years. However, the roster is currently in a state of significant transition, as all the starters from those championship-winning teams have departed.
Despite the turnover, Troy has identified new offensive leaders. Guard Donovan Oday, who joined the program a month ago after averaging 18.6 points last season at Northern Kentucky, showed immediate impact with 21 points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday. Howard described Oday as the team’s “offensive engine,” noting his “unbelievable motor.”
| Player | Team | Key Performance Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Donovan Oday | Troy | 21 points, 12 rebounds |
| Sebastian Rancik | Florida State | 25 points |
| Marcis Ponder | Florida State | 15 points, 11 rebounds |
Troy struggled in their opener, particularly in fast-break situations where they were outscored 18-4.
Coach Howard acknowledged the strength of the Florida State program, noting that the Seminoles are a talented group with significant size and athleticism. “They’re really talented,” Howard said. “They’re as big as U-Mass, and a bit more athletic at guard.”
“We got him a month ago, and he’s our offensive engine.”
