2022-23 FAU Owls
A couple of years ago, the nation adopted the FAU Owls as America's Team. The ninth-seeded Owls went on a run to the Final Four in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, only to come heartbreakingly short of a spot in the National Championship. While FAU has faltered since then, that team's best players continue to shine.
Three players from that iteration of the Owls are onto the Sweet Sixteen. Vladislav Goldin started all 39 games for the Owls in 2022-23, averaging 10.9 points per game. Johnell Davis also had a breakout campaign that year, ranking second on the team in scoring. Finally, Alijah Martin was the team's leading scorer in their Final Four loss to the San Diego State Aztecs. Now, those three players are plying their craft with the Michigan Wolverines, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Florida Gators, respectively. Moreover, FAU's head coach Dusty May has since moved on to the Wolverines and is the architect of this year's Big Ten Champions.
Even in retrospect, moral victories count for something. The 2022-23 FAU Owls accomplishments look even more spectacular now.
