The Madness of March is just around the corner as we head into Conference Championship week.
A brand new season begins, it’s 0-0 ball, but most importantly- it’s win or go home. Across the country, every team will lay it all on the line to live to fight another day for the chance to earn a bid to the big dance. College basketball is a game of runs, a game of emotions a game of life, and in March, we call it madness.
As the American Conference Tournament nears this week (March 11-15), the Florida Atlantic Owls (17–14, 9–9)have begun the final preparation for the road less traveled. After once standing at the top of the League, before an unfortunate one month losing skid, the Owls enter the tournament as the #7 seed where they’ll face the #10 Temple Owls for the 3rd time this season. If Florida Atlantic goes on a run, it certainly won’t be easy, as the Owls would have to play 5 consecutive games of all in basketball for the chance to win their first American Conference Championship in program history.
During this afternoon’s media availability, Owls’ Head Coach John Jakus spoke about the mental fortitude his team will have to develop over the coming days:
“We’re thrilled, it’s March. Everybody’s zero and zero. There’s something cool about the fact that you’re playing in these elimination games, but you’re also playing in these moments that you remember forever…..” Coach Jakus stated. “…March has completely changed my life in the past, whether it was Gonzaga or Baylor, those final four experiences are things I’ll never forget, and there’s just nothing better than March basketball. And I hope our guys are enjoying that. I hope they love the reset. I think they they’re really excited to get out there…”
Coach Jakus would follow up the statement with:
“There’s these things where you get hot, and then the one or two days turn into this massive belief…..Everybody’s on a neutral floor and these special moments that happen in March….. And the reality is, why not us?” Coach Jakus stated. “There still is this belief in there that if we’re completely healthy when we’ve had our top eight together, we were 6-1 in League. And so if we can find that, then why not, so I think overall, the mindset has been pretty solid….We’re definitely in a place of why not us?”
As Coach Jakus previously stated, the Owls’ have battled the injury bug throughout the middle portion of the regular season, with most star G Devin Vanterpool most recently missing the final 5 games of the 2025-26 regular season with an ankle injury. When on the court, Devin Vanterpool’s been the go to guy in Paradise, recording 15.8PPG, 6.3 rebounds per game, 1.5 steals and shooting 44% from the field. Despite his missed time, Vanterpool still leads the team in points, rebounds and steals.
Coach Jakus confirmed to media that Devin Vanterpool is trending in a proper direction, participating in walk throughs with the team just a few minutes prior.
“I would expect to see him at some point, whether that’s game one or game one or game two, I don’t know…And then we’re going to have to manage our decisions as we get through there…..” Coach Jakus stated. “There’s no way for me to tell you for sure that game one he’s in, he did practice, but until you wake up the next morning, you see how it responds, and there’s no swelling. You can’t say for sure, but I’m thrilled with that step forward today, at least.”
The Owls of Florida Atlantic will embark upon the road less traveled in Birmingham, AL. on Wednesday, March 11th, with their first test being the #10 seed Temple Owls. Tip off is slated for 9:00PM EST.
