OWLS TO MARCH MADNESS FOR FIRST TIME IN OVER 20 YEARS

After earning the C-USA’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, FAU will take on the Memphis Tigers in the Round of 64.

For the first time in over 20 years, the FAU Owls are going dancing.

On Saturday night, FAU men’s basketball (31-3, 18-2 C-USA) defeated the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers in the C-USA Tournament Championship, earning themselves an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament—their first appearance since 2002.

Their victory in the conference championship secured them a spot in “The Big Dance”; However, it was revealed a day later on ESPN’s “Selection Sunday” broadcast that the Owls had earned the #9 seed in the East region.

This seeding books FAU for a matchup with the University of Memphis Tigers (26-8, 13-5 AAC) in the round of 64.

Their advance to the NCAA Tournament is the latest of a laundry list of accomplishments the Owls have made this season, including an undefeated home record of 17-0 and the program’s first appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. More than that, it is also the culmination of a five year upward swing the Owls have been on since head coach Dusty May took over the reins.

When May was hired, he inherited a program coming off of seven consecutive losing seasons. Since taking over, he’s led the Owls to five consecutive winning seasons; and now, an NCAA Tournament berth.

The 2001-02 FAU men’s basketball team, the only previous squad to make their way to the Big Dance, earned the South Region’s 15-seed before falling in the round of 64 to the University of Alabama Crimson Tide.

This year’s team, however, boasted a much more impressive resume, including 11 more regular season wins than the 01-02 squad.

The Owls’ matchup with Memphis is set for March 17 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:20 p.m. and will broadcast on TNT.

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