NCAA Tournament: Florida Atlantic Makes History, Connecticut Dominates as Winners and Losers Emerge

Read Time:3 Minute, 56 Second

FAU’s Shocking Final Four Berth and UConn’s Dominance Highlight Saturday’s NCAA Tournament Action

In a stunning upset, No. 9 Florida Atlantic defeated No. 3 Kansas State 79-76 in the East Regional finals to secure a Final Four berth in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. With just their second tournament appearance, the Owls have now claimed Division I’s top spot with 35 wins and are the first Conference USA team since 2008 to make it to the national semifinals. Meanwhile, No. 4 Connecticut dominated Gonzaga 82-54 in the second game, securing their first Final Four appearance since 2014. Both teams led the list of winners in Saturday’s Elite Eight action.

Sanogo’s impact on the court for the Huskies was evident once again, despite his shooting struggles. He recorded his second double-double of the tournament with 10 points on 3 of 11 shooting, 10 rebounds, and a career-high six assists. Even though Gonzaga focused their attention on Sanogo, he was able to find open teammates such as Jordan Hawkins (20 points) and Alex Karaban (12 points). Any team that hopes to stop the Huskies will need to find a way to contain Sanogo, a task that has proven to be difficult.

Despite head coach Dusty May’s reluctance to embrace the “Cinderella” label, Florida Atlantic’s storybook season is undeniable. Since joining Division I in 1993, FAU has been one of the weakest programs in the country, with just one season of more than 19 wins and consistently ranking at the bottom of their conferences. However, May has worked tirelessly to turn the program around, compiling a talented and youthful roster of players who were often overlooked by other schools. The Owls demonstrated their strength throughout the regular season, playing like a top-ranked team. However, their stunning postseason run is a testament to their tenacity and skill, making it one of the most impressive in modern NCAA tournament history.

Despite the defeat, Markquis Nowell, the senior from Kansas State, delivered an impressive performance. With teammate Keyontae Johnson plagued by foul trouble and limited to just 18 minutes of play, Nowell took on more responsibilities as a scorer and recorded a season-high 21 attempts, ultimately scoring 30 points and dishing out 12 assists. Nowell, a transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock, has been outstanding throughout the tournament, averaging 23.5 points and 13.5 assists in four games. He has undoubtedly emerged as the breakout star of the NCAA tournament.

Conference USA is set to receive a significant financial boost thanks to Florida Atlantic’s surprising success in the NCAA tournament. Each win by the Owls translates to more money for the conference, with a minimum of five “units” worth $337,000 each over the next five seasons, totaling over $2 million. This unexpected windfall is a welcome departure gift from Florida Atlantic, who will be leaving the conference this summer for the American Athletic Conference.

Kansas State

While the loss stings, it doesn’t take away from the tremendous debut season for coach Tang and the bright future of the program. The Wildcats have been to the regional finals three times in the last decade, under the leadership of three different coaches. Although they fell just short of the Final Four, Tang and his staff must build off this disappointment and continue to establish themselves as a contender next season. Tang has experience rebounding from this type of setback, having been an assistant for Baylor during their Elite Eight runs in 2010 and 2012, culminating in their national championship in 2021.

Gonzaga

The Bulldogs were dominated by the Huskies, and it’s hard to find anything positive to take away from their performance. Gonzaga struggled from the field, shooting just 33.3%, including 2 of 20 from beyond the arc, and only made 12 of their 22 free throws. After losing forward Drew Timme to foul trouble early in the second half, the game quickly got out of hand, with a 14-3 run by Connecticut resulting in a 23-point deficit. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs will have to wait another year for their first national championship.

Mark Few

Few has an impressive record, with a career winning percentage of almost 84%. However, his record in Elite Eight games is now 2-3, with this loss to Connecticut being one of his worst March moments. Gonzaga is known for recruiting top talent, developing NBA players and producing memorable college stars like Timme. They play a fast-paced offensive style that overwhelms most teams during the regular season. Yet, the Bulldogs have struggled to win a championship. At some point, Few’s legacy will be defined by his inability to take Gonzaga over this final hurdle.