Can Florida Atlantic make another run to the Final Four? Here's what two analysts say | D'Angelo

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic circled the postseason 11 months ago.

Through the pageantry and parades that followed a Final Four run. Through the decisions made by players and coaches to return. Through summer workouts, fall practice and 31 regular-season games.

Those who returned had one focus … proving FAU was not a One-Hit Wonder in 2023.

The postseason was the focus, which may have led to a game or two when the Owls went through the motions. But here they are, preparing for the American Athletic Conference tournament that will set their course for the NCAA Tournament.

"We went through some different obstacles this year," coach Dusty May said after FAU's 92-84 victory over Memphis Saturday in the regular-season finale. "We like where we are right now. We feel good about the pulse of our locker room, the synergy of our team.

"Have we dropped a couple games where we were the big favorite? Yes. But we performed at a high level for most of the season. And internally, we just need to feel good about the way we're playing the game."

I spoke to a couple of former coaches/analysts and both agreed, FAU has the makeup to do what it did last year.

Seth Greenberg of ESPN believes FAU can be a "second weekend" (Sweet 16) team and "who knows what happens from there."

Steve Lappas of CBS Sports says "they can do what they did last year," which was a buzzer beater away from the championship game.

"I don't think their season starts until the NCAA Tournament," said Greenberg, a former Long Beach State, South Florida and Virginia Tech head coach. "All those kids came back for one reason, to see if they can do that again."

Said Lappas, who coached at Manhattan, Villanova, UMass: "They have a lot of good players, they pass the ball well. And the thing about them — which is why they can do damage in the tournament — is they are comfortable running up and down, they're also comfortable in the half court. They're a really good half-court team."

How important is AAC tournament?

Hanging banners at the Baldwin Arena should not be taken for granted, especially for a program like FAU, which for decades was largely ignored until its stunning run during March Madness last year.

As FAU enters the AAC tournament in Fort Worth as the No. 2 seed, the focus will not be on what lies beyond this week, but, rather, looking to continue to add to this two-year fairytale.

This is not 2023 when the Owls still were flying under the radar at this time despite having put together a 20-game winning streak and having lost just three times in four months.

Now, May is trying to change the "perception" that 24-7 FAU is "struggling," (let that sink in) as it enters the postseason.

"I personally thought we've handled disappointment much better than we've handled success," May said. "We felt at times we are going to step on the court and just win because of last year's team. And there were times when we were up 10 or 12 and we think the other team is just going to go away, we let off the gas a little bit."

FAU is a lock for the NCAA Tournament no matter what happens in the AAC tournament. The Owls, who play Friday after a double-bye, are a popular pick as a seven, eight or nine seed for the NCAA Tournament, which will not change much no matter what happens this week.

So with the majority of this team having tasted the success of an improbable run to the Final Four, how does FAU treat this week?

"I think it alleviates the stress and pressure because as long as they all say we're locked to get in we can go with one focus, and that's winning a conference championship," May said. "We're not thinking about we could be in Salt Lake City or Indianapolis or Boston. We're focused on competing for a conference championship."

As for his seed when the brackets are announced Sunday, May is not concerned with that as much as the matchup. He emphasized a team could be in a more favorable spot as, say, a 10th seed playing a No. 7, than a No. 5 playing a 12, depending on the opponent.

Lappas, though, believes there is a big difference between a No. 7 seed and an eight or a nine.

"If they can win the conference tournament and end up as a seven or better, you're better off as a seven because as the eight/nine you got to play number 1 next. You'd rather not do that if you don't have to."

Ironically, as a No. 9 seed a year ago, FAU avoided playing No. 1 (Purdue) because of luck. The Owls faced Fairleigh Dickinson, who became just the second 16 seed to upset a 1 seed.

Seth Greenberg thinks Owls are better this season

Greenberg believes FAU is better than it was a year ago for various reasons:

• The development of 7-foot-1 center Vladislav Goldin, who has become the team's best player despite Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin being voted co-preseason Players of the Year in the AAC.

• Experience in the backcourt with seniors Bryan Greenlee, Jalen Gaffney and Brandon Weatherspoon.

• FAU's ability to play in transition or the half-court game, a testament to its athleticism and Goldin's presence down low.

• The Owls' ability to close. He calls FAU one of the best closing teams in the country with Davis being the best closer on the team.

"You look at them," Greenberg said, "and say, 'Wait a second here, why not?' "

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida Atlantic not overlooking AAC tournament, but NCAA Tournament looms