For the first time since 2002 and for only the second time in program history, the FAU Owls punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
FAU’s resume this season has put the country on notice, and the Owls were primed for a March Madness bid despite the outcome of Saturdays’s matchup with UAB.
However, you are better being safe than sorry. Dusty May’s team took that message to heart and dominated against Birmingham, winning 78-56.
Alijah Martin had a career-high 30 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Owls. FAU’s leading scorer, Johnell Davis, also had a huge game with 18 points.
Both Martin and Davis have been incredible for Florida Atlantic this season. Both of these players are bound to ruin many brackets this March, unless you bet on FAU, which I highly advise.
The Owls are a team that plays sound basketball to notch wins. They are not always going to play clean basketball or be flashy. Dusty May will get his squad to do whatever it takes to win, and it showed in every win this season – yes, all 31 wins.
Whether it is chasing for the ball on a sloppy possession or going up to contest a dunk, the Owls played their heart out on the court.
Being ranked fifth in the Conference USA’s preseason poll, FAU overcame a ton of doubters with ease. They did not just climb up the C-USA rankings, but the Owls climbed up the AP Top 25 rankings.
The Owls notched upset after upset, including a big win over Colin Castleton and the Florida Gators in The Swamp.
Now that FAU is going dancing in the tournament, what can college basketball fans expect?
Well, as simple as it sounds, fans can expect basketball that features proper execution along with great ball movement. The Owls have been incredible this season against any type of defense. The same can be said for FAU’s defense; they have been incredible against any offense.
Being in C-USA, fans are wondering how FAU matches up with teams in Power 5 conferences. Obviously, FAU has not faced many top programs, but by watching the film and by looking at the stats, it is evident that Dusty May won’t let his team back down from the national stage. Don’t be surprised if FAU can match up with any program.
FAU’s strength is that the roster features no liabilities, meaning that there is not much opposing teams can expose and take to their advantage.
If the Owls are facing a big lineup, well, no problem. Vladislav Goldin and Giancarlo Rosado will fill the void.
If the Owls need three-point shooting, no problem. Bryan Greenlee, Michael Forrest, or Nicholas Boyd will make buckets from downtown.
If the Owls need to get to the stripe for easy points, or make contested floaters or layups, it won’t be a problem. Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin have produced all season doing such, while staying healthy.
If we have learned anything this season, we have learned that the Florida Atlantic Owls are doing anything they can to be the cinderella team of this year’s tournament.
After the win against UAB to punch their ticket, head coach Dusty May said “we (FAU) have no ceiling”.
It might seem cliche but in reality, the Owls have no ceiling. FAU can be a first-round exit or can make it all the way to the promised land.
Whatever happens over the course of the next few weeks, college basketball fans across the world are learning of the talented basketball program that stems from Boca Raton.
Dusty May is getting his name out as one of the best coaches in the nation. May is the winningest coach at FAU and has never had a losing season. Most importantly, he turned FAU into one of the NCAA’s premier teams to watch. And Alijah Martin and Johnell Davis are creating highlight plays to prove how underrated their game truly is.
Anyway, congratulations to FAU for becoming Conference USA champions for the first time. And yet again, congrats to FAU on achieving the following milestones:
- 31 wins – a school record
- First Top 25 ranking in school history (high as 19)
- 20-game winning streak (school record and third-longest in C-USA history)
The Owls will learn their seed, opponent and location in the bracket during Sunday night’s Selection Show.
IMO, it won’t matter what seed FAU receives. They are going to dominate no matter what and record upset after upset to become one of the nation’s biggest stories and cinderella teams.
If anything, FAU will replicate the run Saint Peter’s went on last year. And maybe Johnell Davis will be the next Doug Edert, but without the mustache.