It’s historic for this modest program in the small town of Boca Raton, Florida, and it’s the epitome of what makes the beauty of the “March Madness”: by having successively Memphis, Fairleigh Dickinson, Tennessee in the ” Sweet Sixteen” then Kansas State (#3) tonight at the “Elite Eight”, Florida Atlantica #9 seed, wins the title of East region champion and thus joins the very first “Final Four” in its history.
” I expect tipsters to put us in fifth place in the Final Four » was joking after the Dusty May gamethe coach of these Owls that no one expected in the final four.
Facing a superb Kansas State team and its magician Markquis Nowell once again exceptional with its 30 points, 12 assists and 5 rebounds, Florida Atlantic once again showed incredible resilience despite a roster clearly weaker than that of his opponents on paper, and thus went on to win a sublime offensive duel (79-76), snatched in the dying seconds on the free throw line.
” I literally live in a dream » blurted out Michael Forrestthe author of the two decisive shots on the penalty line, when the small but brilliant leader of the Wildcats, inevitably more disappointed with the result, did not regret having ” gave everything of his heart and soul to this team. »
We let you enjoy the summary of this match, and we give you an appointment on April 1st for the “Final Four”, where Florida Atlantic will challenge the future winner of the South region, Creighton or San Diego State, who face each other this evening.
Nine years later, Connecticut (#4) returns to the “Final Four”
On the Las Vegas side, the suspense lasted less: in a one-way match, the Huskies, probably the best team in the tournament in terms of level and volume of play, as well as dynamics, stalled Gonzaga (#3) : 82-54! After a relatively contested first half (39-32), Dan Hurley’s squad completely took off in the second half (43-22).
Almost miraculous winners of TCU at the “Sweet Sixteen” and UCLA at the “Elite Eight”, the Bulldogs this time were no match for the nuclear attack of the Storrs program which punctuated the match with 11 winning shots in particular, under the impulse of the sniper Jordan Hawkinspotential “lottery pick” next June, with his 20 points at 6/10 behind the arc.
On the other side of the field, the Huskies suffocated the attack of Drew Timme and his band, limited to 33% on shots including 2/20 from 3-pointers, like the discreet match of the mustachioed pivot (12 points to 5/14 on shots)…
” Sacred match of UConn » admitted a Mark Few beaten down but “fair play” after this “blowout”. ” We had no response. None. And it’s obviously difficult to hold on and limit the damage when our attack is so weak. »
Thus, Connecticut wins the West region and finds the “Final Four” nine years after its last appearance in 2014. The national champion this year? Connecticut… In the semi-finals, the former college of Ray Allen will challenge Texas or Miami, who clash this evening for the title of the Midwest region.
