COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Florida Atlantic Owls (FAU) defeated the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights (FDU) 78-70 on Sunday night to notch the school’s first-ever appearance in the Sweet 16.
FAU has done a lot this year, such as being ranked in the AP Top 25 for the first time, winning the Conference USA Championship for the first time, and setting multiple attendance records. The Owls also had the nation’s longest winning streak at 20 games.
And best of all, the Owls are now tied with Houston for the nation’s best overall record this season at 33-3.
It is obvious that FAU’s historic start garnered attention on social media, TV, and especially in Boca Raton. But FAU’s success thus far in March Madness has been even more important, especially on the national stage.
After recording tough, feisty wins against both Memphis and FDU, FAU is en route to Madison Square Garden to face the Tennessee Volunteers in the Big Apple.
Talk about playing in the nation’s most famous arena… with a capacity of 20,789 compared to The Burrow’s 3,130.
Being able to perform at MSG does not come easy, but it is well-deserved for Dusty May’s team.
Being in Conference USA, there is obviously less competition compared to the NCAA’s top conferences like the ACC and the Big 10. However, fans just could not deny the success the Owls have had.
Looking at their resume and their highlight tapes, May has quickly and successfully built an elite program in the middle of Boca Raton.
The Owls are a team built around sharing the ball, three-point shooting, and tough defense. It has already been shown on the national stage in front of millions of March Madness viewers.
In their Round of 32 win against FDU, Johnell Davis became the first player with 25+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ steals in a men’s NCAA Tournament game.
Think about that.
Davis, a sophomore at FAU, posted a stat-line that no other player had ever posted in the history of March Madness (since 1939).
Davis will now forever be in the March Madness history books, adding to his historic FAU season, where he led the Owls averaging 13.6 PPG and 1.6 SPG.
Davis’ best game came in a huge win against UAB, where he dropped 36 points.
But dropping a double-double with five steals on a national stage… I think it’s safe to say that his performance against FDU is his best.
Simply put, FAU has proven a ton of people wrong this season, and there is only more to come.
FAU center Vlad Goldin had this to say on making it to the Sweet 16:
“We’ve been watching (the Sweet 16) on TV every March,” Goldin said. “So I cannot describe this feeling. It’s something that I would love to accomplish, and we did it as a group. But I don’t think we’re finished.”
It is not over yet as FAU will work hard in the coming days to prepare for their matchup with Tennessee on Thursday night.
PHOTO CREDIT: FAU Men’s Basketball
