KSU guard Markquis Nowell had this to offer about his rolled ankle from last night:

“My ankle feels good,” Nowell said. “I would say it’s about 85 to 90%. I’ve been doing treatment and rehab all night.”

Me thinks it is worse than that given the way he left the floor (twice) but they have no choice but to play it off. We shall see.

Even if it is 85%, running around on it full go is not a good thing.

d-owl said

Assuming FAU section is same section as last night? Was on other side in a sea of stunned orange so want to be in the right section.

EDIT. 105, 106, 208 and 209.

Posted On: Mar 24th 2023, 1:30 PM #413504

I was just about to ask if anyone knew what the FAU sections are. Currently playing chicken with the ideas of flying up tomorrow 🙈

dmarkey said

d-owl said

Assuming FAU section is same section as last night? Was on other side in a sea of stunned orange so want to be in the right section.

EDIT. 105, 106, 208 and 209.

Posted On: Mar 24th 2023, 1:30 PM #413504

I was just about to ask if anyone knew what the FAU sections are. Currently playing chicken with the ideas of flying up tomorrow 🙈

Posted On: Mar 24th 2023, 7:25 PM #413515

Yeah, got it from the Athletic Dept. I had "great seats" last night – but smack dab in Vols land. They were not a happy bunch.

Looking like SDSU is going to do the rest of the teams left a favor and knock off #1 Alabama!

It's all lining up well for the Owls…

     

Alabama is out. Houston the other number 1 seed is behind Miami.

Rick said

Looking like SDSU is going to do the rest of the teams left a favor and knock off #1 Alabama!

It's all lining up well for the Owls…

     

Posted On: Mar 24th 2023, 7:43 PM #413519

Not only that. If Miami keeps the lead on Houston, FAU will have the most wins in the country regardless of what happens tomorrow. 

Top seed Alabama is done!

Houston looks like they are going down as well barring a major comeback!

If Xaiver beats Texas, all the one and two seeds will be gone.

Wow, this is all setting up so nicely…

 

FAU Faces Kansas State in Elite 8

What: #9 FAU (34-3) vs. #3 Kansas State (26-9)

When: Sat. March 25th, @ 6:00 PM

Where: Madison Square Garden

Series: First Meeting


TV : TBS

Radio : FoxSports 640

Live Stats Here

Line:  FAU +1.5


Owl Notables

FAU became one of 12 teams to pull off an upset in the NCAA Tournament when they took down the 4-seed Tennessee Volunteers 62-55 Thursday night in Madison Square Garden to advance to the Elite 8.

The Owls had it tough against the Volunteers during the first half, getting rough shooting splits of 37.5% from the field and 21.4% from deep. After making key adjustments offensively, FAU gained a solid rhythm to outmatch Tennessee in the second half to secure the win. Three players scored in double-figures for the Owls, as sophomore guard Johnell Davis led the way with 15 points and six rebounds.

After going scoreless in the first two games of the tournament, senior guard Michael Forrest came alive in the second half against Tennessee. He had a stretch where he scored eight consecutive points for the Owls to finish with 11 points on 4-7 shooting from the field including three shots from beyond the arc.

With a win, FAU would find themselves in the Final 4 while heading over to Houston, Texas. Their next matchup would feature either the 5-seed San Diego State Aztecs or the 6-seed Creighton Blue Jays on Thursday at an undetermined time.


Wildcat Notables

Kansas State presents themselves as the highest ranked team FAU will have faced so far in this tournament.

Taking care of business in the first round against Montana State, the Wildcats stymied a talented Kentucky squad 75-69 to advance to the Sweet 16. Markquis Nowell notched a game-high 27 points and nine assists to lead Kansas State to victory.

They were heavily tested against a strong Michigan State unit, needing overtime to escape the Spartans 98-93. Kansas State also witnessed Nowell put up a historic night, dishing out 19 assists to his teammates which is a new record in the NCAA Tournament. He ranks second among the assist leaders in the country with 8.1 per contest.

Outside of Nowell, the Owls need to look out for Keyontae Johnson. The Wildcats' leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, Johnson put up 22 points and grabbed six rebounds against Michigan State as he currently has averages of 17.7 points, six rebounds, and 2.3 assists in the tournament. This will also be a reunion between head coach Dusty May and Johnson when May was on the Florida Gators coaching staff and they signed Johnson to the team in 2018.

FAU would need to have good shot selection from the perimeter. Kansas State's three-point percentage defense is currently at 30.5% which ties them at 25th in the nation as one of the best teams in guarding the three-point line. With the way the Owls have shot from deep so far this tournament (29.1%; season-average is 36.5%), being patient and timing their shots from long range throughout the course of the game should be a priority for them if they are to beat the Wildcats.

Kansas State is 6-1 on a neutral court this season.