There will be no March Madness run for Florida Atlantic after frustrating loss to Northwestern

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NEW YORK — Florida Atlantic decamped from Conference USA for the American Athletic Conference this past summer and brought along almost every piece from last year’s Final Four team, providing a change of address without impacting the immense hype berthed from one of the most unexpected runs in NCAA men’s tournament history.

New conference, same goals: FAU was ranked in the preseason poll for the first time and at No. 9 in that ranking stood among the best teams outside of the Power Six. With almost an identical cast and coach Dusty May back in the fold, the Owls were seen as a group capable of making another postseason push.

But March Madness doesn’t come with rollover dates. One year after putting themselves on the national map with that magical run, No. 8 FAU lost 77-65 in overtime to No. 9 Northwestern in the first round to end a pressure-filled, scrutinized season that barely scratched the surface of the Owls’ expectations.

Despite the experience and pedigree, FAU was never able to recapture last season’s magic amid the onslaught of publicity and notoriety that stemmed from last year’s Final Four berth.

“I just think it’s important to stay together no matter what,” said junior guard Nick Boyd. “Ups and downs, highs and lows. We had a bunch of that this year. I just think this year was a learning lesson for us, you know? With all the lights, all the cameras, all the attention. We had to stay together and stay focused.”

Florida Atlantic guard Jalen Gaffney (12) fights for a loose ball against Northwestern during the first round of the 2024 NCAA men’s tournament at the Barclays Center.

Taken in total, the 25-9 finish and first-round exit from the East Region paints FAU as one of the most disappointing teams in this year’s tournament while highlighting the near-impossible task of turning a Cinderella run into something much more permanent.

FOLLOW ALONG: Live updates of Friday’s NCAA men’s tournament action

Even for teams that bring back nearly the entire…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/no-march-madness-run-florida-211139716.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-03-22 21:11:39

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