Introduction to the Reunion
The group chat that includes Nick Boyd, Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin was buzzing Sunday night. The former Florida Atlantic starters — now scattered across the country and playing for other teams — landed on the same side of the NCAA Tournament bracket, meaning the close friends and ex-teammates don’t have a chance to reunite in the Final Four. They’d gladly settle for Elite Eight matchups.
The Scattered Team
Boyd, Davis, Martin and center Vladislav Goldin — four of the five starters who carried FAU to the Final Four in 2023 — are part of March Madness for a third consecutive year. This time, though, they’re wearing different uniforms. Boyd transferred to San Diego State and is the Aztecs’ leading scorer at 13.4 points a game. Davis landed at Arkansas and ranks third on the Razorbacks at 11.2 points a game. Martin stayed much closer to FAU’s campus and joined Florida, where he’s the Gators’ second-leading scorer at 14.5 points a game. Goldin followed coach Dusty May to Michigan and has blossomed into one of the nation’s most dominant big men, averaging 16.7 points and 6.8 rebounds.
Individual Success
They’re as good individually as they were collectively. “You go down the list, and a bunch of our guys had monster seasons,” Boyd said. “You go somewhere else and get a fresh start, and when you’re as talented and as smart and as experienced as you are, you never know what type of role you can create for yourself — and the sky’s the limit.” No one would be surprised to see one of them basking in confetti and cutting down nets in San Antonio next month. Martin would have to be considered the favorite because Florida is a No. 1 seed and one of the hottest teams in the nation, winners of 12 of its last 13 and the Southeastern Conference Tournament champs.
FAU’s Most Memorable Team
Boyd, Davis and Martin were the linchpins of FAU’s most memorable team. The Owls won 35 games during the 2022-23 season, including four in a row as a No. 9 seed in the NCAA Tournament, to reach the Final Four for the first time in school history. Reliving that run is both powerful and painful. FAU knocked off Memphis in the opening round for the program’s first tournament victory and then upset fourth-seeded Tennessee and No. 3 seed Kansas State to reach college basketball’s biggest stage.
The What-If Scenario
Boyd and Martin often wonder where that FAU team would be had it stayed together for one more season. They remember waiting their turn as freshmen, taking over as sophomores and becoming more than merely a March Madness darling. “Our competitive edge was different,” Boyd said. “Coach May found a bunch of guys who loved the game. … We started from the bottom and loved the game of basketball, and once we got older, we learned more and more and more. We stayed in the gym and ultimately our love for the game allowed us to come to practice every single day and have more of a voice, and I think that translated.” And it led them to the Final Four.
Conclusion
The scattered FAU team has shown that even though they are not together, they still have the potential to achieve great things. With their current teams, they are making a name for themselves in the NCAA Tournament. The question remains, what could have been if they had stayed together? Only time will tell, but for now, they will continue to support each other from afar.
FAQs
- Q: What happened to the FAU team after their Final Four run?
A: The team scattered, with players transferring to different schools and the coach leaving for Michigan. - Q: Are the former FAU players still in touch?
A: Yes, they keep in touch through a group chat and regular communication. - Q: Who are the favorite teams to win the NCAA Tournament?
A: Florida, with Alijah Martin, is considered one of the favorites due to their No. 1 seed and recent winning streak. - Q: What is the significance of the FAU team’s run to the Final Four?
A: It was the first time in school history that FAU reached the Final Four, making it a memorable and historic achievement.
