Florida State’s decision to decline a berth in the National Invitational Tournament after its late‑season surge surprised many around the program — but it reflects a new reality in college basketball.
After winning 10 of its final 13 ACC regular-season games and pushing top‑ranked Duke to the brink in the ACC quarterfinals, the Seminoles appeared poised for a postseason opportunity. An 18–15 (10-8 in ACC) finish and a veteran roster of six seniors seemed to make the NIT an ideal stage for a final run.
But that’s not how players view the NIT anymore.
FSU was among the six teams that opted out of the NIT. Notable bubble teams such as Oklahoma, Virginia Tech and Indiana didn’t want any part of it.
In today’s landscape, the NIT has become to basketball what mid‑tier bowls are to college football — optional, low‑stakes and often ignored. Players determine its value, and increasingly, they see little. After investing emotional and physical energy into a near‑upset of Duke, FSU’s players had little interest in restarting the grind for a tournament few watch and even fewer remember.
There’s no bracket challenge. No national buzz. No defining moment waiting at the end. The NIT may brand itself as meaningful, but to most players, it’s an extension of a season they already know has fallen short.
FSU shouldn’t play the NIT just to play the NIT
FSU didn’t quit, as some critics would view as. You can’t quit something you never wanted to do.
Had the Seminoles accepted the invite but sleepwalked through a first‑round loss, the narrative wouldn’t have been any kinder. Competing without conviction serves no one — not the seniors, not the staff, and certainly not a program trying to rebuild.
Florida State has declined their invitation to the NIT 😬 pic.twitter.com/1xa9Zo9rLX
— Hard Rock Bet (@HardRockBet) March 16, 2026
Head coach Luke Loucks revisited the 2007-08 Seminoles team that made the NIT and lost to Akron in the first round, 65-60. As the former Seminole recalled, it was a game that the team wasn’t fully invested in after being on the bubble. That loss to a MAC school was devastating and the worst way to end the season.
“It was so deflating for those guys to go out, and that’s what people are going to remember them by,” Loucks said in his final presser. That is the last thing I want to see from this group. You’re just playing the NIT just to play the NIT.”
And, frankly, if the Seminoles hadn’t opened the season 7–11 in nonconference play or dropped their first five ACC games, this wouldn’t even be a debate. A few more possessions go their way and FSU is in the NCAA tournament instead of weighing a consolation event.
Congratulations to all of the teams that were selected for the NCAA tournament. It is the best tournament on Earth. @FSUHoops will be invited to the party soon enough and we won’t stop working until we get back to dancing every season.
I see a lot of teams we would beat right…
— Luke Loucks (@lukeloucks) March 15, 2026
Loucks acknowledged that he would’ve liked to participate. But he deferred the decision to his seniors, who unanimously declined. Loucks is competitive and ambitious — qualities that will shape his tenure — and he knows the NIT would’ve been a good opportunity, but what is the point if the players half-fast it and or not physically or mentally into it.
Luke Loucks gets an early start on roster building
Now, the reset begins. This time, Loucks will not be far behind after he was hired.
FSU will lose six seniors, including All‑ACC guard Robert McCray V, who averaged 16.3 points and 6.3 assists. Replacing his production and leadership will test Loucks and his staff in the transfer portal, which opens April 7.
The Seminoles must also evaluate how to complement returners such as Martin Somerville,Thomas Bassong,Cam Miles and AJ Swinton, who will be coming off a season‑ending injury.
There is no guarantee all four return. But if Loucks manages to keep the core intact, FSU won’t need to overhaul its roster — only refine it with five freshmen who will officially be enrolled this summer.
While doing that, Loucks will be fundraising. That means a lot of shaking hands and kissing babies, hoping the rich donors will open their checkbooks and financially invest in Loucks’ vision for his basketball program.
It’s time to turn the page
Despite missing the postseason, the Seminoles built a foundation in Loucks’ first year. Their late‑season identity, defensive buy‑in and player development all point toward a program moving in the right direction.
And that’s why turning down the NIT may ultimately be the right call.
Instead of extending a season with no real stakes, FSU chose to invest in the one thing that matters most for a first‑year coach building a long‑term vision: time.
Time to recruit. Time to develop. Time to shape the roster before pressure truly arrives.
In the Loucks era, Florida State shouldn’t be settling for being an NIT team. The plan should be to avoid the conversation altogether.
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FSU basketball skips NIT. Here’s why it was the right call for Luke Loucks