MARCH MADNESS: Heartbreak and Hunger for Miami, Florida Atlantic

HEARTBREAK, AND HUNGER

This year’s Division 1 NCAA Men’s basketball tournament has seen the southern-most part of the state electrified by bracket-busting emergence of the Florida Atlantic, and Miami programs as dark horse championship contenders.

MIAMI HURRICANES (59) UCONN HUSKIES  (72)

“The U” made it’s presence felt, taking down multiple tournament favorites, one after another.

Back in the third week of March, Miami was a lowly fifth seed. Stuck behind the likes of Indiana, Xavier, Texas and, national championship game hosts in Houston. After dispatching the Drake Bulldogs (15) in the first round, Jim Larranaga’s squad shocked both the Hoosiers, and the then first-placed Cougars.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS (71) SAN DIEGO STATE (72)

In January, Florida Atlantic University entered the AP Rankings for the first time in program history.

A landmark achievement, which set the tone for what will go down as the greatest season in FAU basketball, thus far. fifth-year Head Coach Dusty May’s team Despite this, FAU would barely make it within the tournament’s top ten teams. Meanwhile, fifth-year Head Coach Dusty May would keep his Owls focused, as they flew stealthy under the national radar.

March Madness set in early for the Birds from Boca, as the Owl’s first round match up with the Memphis Tigers (8) came down to the absolute wire.

PREDICTION TIME

South Florida is serious, and college basketball was put on notice this year.

A last second, buzzer-beater was the only thing that could keep the Owls out of the national championship. Next year, the rest of the NCAA will have to face a hungrier, vengeful opponent whenever they visit the 305.