The 2023 NCAA basketball tournament has been full of surprises, and the Florida Atlantic University (FAU) men’s basketball team is undoubtedly one of them. The team has been fighting the outside world’s perception of who and what they are, and they have succeeded in doing so. Despite a long list of achievements this season, FAU is still considered the Cinderella story of NCAA basketball.
From Division II to the Final Four
FAU basketball program didn’t get NCAA Division I status until 1993. But over time, they made their way through the ranks and clinched an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in 2019. This year, they not only made it to the tournament but also became the first team to reach the Final Four in its first or second appearance since Seton Hall in 1989.
FAU won an NCAA Division II national championship in 1985—their first-ever national championship—which set them on the path to success. The team has stayed poised under pressure throughout the NCAA tournament and has proven that they belong among the nation’s elite teams.
Fighting outside perceptions
The FAU basketball team wants to control how they view themselves and own their own narrative, despite being considered outsiders. The team’s selflessness has helped them win several games this season. Nine players on this Owls team averaged 15 plus minutes this season, and the starting rotation has changed several times.
The FAU basketball players have embraced an unselfish attitude, which can be seen in how they share the ball with their teammates instead of looking for individual glory. This selfless attitude has also helped them win games during crunch time.
Lack of McDonald’s All-American players
This year’s Final Four matchups include UConn, Miami, San Diego State, and FAU, but not a single former McDonald’s All-American player will be suiting up in Houston this weekend for the national semifinals. This marks the first time since the NCAA began seeding the tournament in 1979 that no former McDonald’s All-American player will be part of the Final Four teams.
None of the teams’ rotation players were considered five-star prospects as high school players. But FAU coach Dusty May attributes his team’s success to their work ethic, drive, and competitiveness, despite featuring no former top-100 prospects.
Fictional all-star teams and matchups
What if we look at the past 20 years of each Final Four team and create fictional all-star teams to see how they would match up against each other? Here are some possible scenarios:
The UConn all-star team is anchored by Okafor, one of the greatest college players in NCAA history, along with other elite guards and defensive erasers. Meanwhile, the FAU Owls’ lineup includes three members of the first FAU team to win an NCAA tournament game, along with Atlantic Sun Player of the Year in 2005 and a scoring machine who played more shooting guard than point guard.
On the other hand, San Diego State Aztecs’ lineup has Leonard, an AP All-American second-teamer in 2011, a future NBA superstar, and high-level contributors at every position and veterans. Miami Hurricanes’ team has one of the best point guards over the past decade, along with solid players and the toughest post player Miami faced this season.
In matchup 1 between UConn vs. Miami, UConn is expected to win with a score prediction of UConn 89, Miami 73. In matchup 2 between FAU vs. San Diego State, SDSU is expected to win with a score prediction of SDSU 77, FAU 63.
The national championship game between SDSU vs. UConn is expected to be a close one. Both all-time teams have gaps in their defensive capabilities, but the all-time SDSU team’s list of obstacles in this game is much longer than this all-time UConn team’s. UConn is expected to win with a score prediction of UConn 83, SDSU 73.
In conclusion, the FAU basketball team has proven that they belong among the nation’s elite teams with their Cinderella story. They have fought hard to change people’s perception of them, and their selfless attitude has helped them win games during crunch time. They may not have any former McDonald’s All-American players on their team, but they have made up for it with their work ethic and drive. Even though we will not see them in any fictional all-star lineups, they have made history by reaching the Final Four and will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on NCAA basketball.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
