I spent la day with FAU basketball for a feature on Matt Doherty when he was there. It was the kind of place where they put up lawn signs saying “basketball game tonight.” FAU in the Final Four with zero hoops history is arguably crazier than Wichita State, Loyola and the rest.
@slmandel It's amazing don't get me wrong, but it feels like with the new climate in college sports (NIL and transfer rules), it's easier to see how this happens now. You've had #15 seeds advance farther than ever before.
@slmandel As a WVU fan it kills me. I’m happy for those schools but at the same time what is our excuse for always coming up short?
@slmandel Watched a game there in 2015 and there might’ve been 500 people with me.
@slmandel The closest possible parallel to FAU's run *might* be UNC-Charlotte's trip to the Final Four in 1977, the program's 14th season and 7th in D1. Beat Central Michigan, Syracuse, and Michigan before falling to UNLV in the Semis. FAU also giving off George Mason vibes.
@slmandel Agreed, I think their only previous appearance was a forgettable one in 2002 as a 15 seed. Had no idea Doh (or Mike Jarvis!) even coached them. Butler, VCU and Wichita all had been tournament regulars before their breakthrough.
@slmandel We’re gonna see more of this in the NIL/transfer portal era: teams with no tradition can become good fast