The No. 8-seeded Florida Atlantic Owls — a Cinderella Final Four team last year — take on the East Region’s No. 9 seed, the Northwestern Wildcats. The Owls are a small favorite.
Florida Atlantic Owls (25-8, 14-4 AAC)
The Owls brought just about everyone back from a team that went to the Final Four a year ago, so they have a level of experience that no other squad can match. FAU also has one of the best guards in the country in Johnell Davis — who is capable of scoring with efficiency from all three levels. Big man Vlad Goldin has made strides and at times has been the team’s best player, and also a legit low-post scoring threat.
The defense was a staple last season, ranking 34th in KenPom. This year the Owls struggled on that end, ranking outside of the top 100. That’s been a major area of concern for coach Dusty May all season, along with starting games slow and having to come from behind on a frequent basis. Alijah Martin’s inconsistency has also been worrisome.
The Owls were tough to figure out this season. They had some terrible losses (Bryant and Florida Gulf Coast) and some terrific wins (Arizona). They were expected to win the AAC, but finished behind South Florida. Still, this is a team that can make another run with Davis, Goldin and Martin — who stepped up last postseason and will need to do it again. —Jeff Goodman, The Field of 68
Northwestern Wildcats (21-11, 12-8 Big Ten)
Northwestern is one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the country, led by fifth-year senior Boo Buie, whose percentage jumped from 31.8 to 44.3 this season. Princeton transfer Ryan Langborg (41.5) and Brooks Barnhizer (35.2) make it rain as well. They’ve kept it up despite losing their starting shooting guard Ty Berry to a season-ending injury in early February. The Wildcats’ offense also boasts one of the lowest turnover percentages in the country (13.3).
The 2023-24 squad is not as strong defensively as last year’s team that took No. 2-seed UCLA to the wire in the Round of 32. Opponents have averaged nearly 36 percent from three. Meanwhile, 7-foot center Matthew Nicholson, the Wildcats’ blocks leader and second-leading rebounder, has been out with an injury suffered March 2 against Iowa. His status for the NCAA Tournament is uncertain.
Northwestern finished tied for third in the Big Ten and upset No. 1 Purdue for a second straight season, in addition to getting solid wins over tourney teams Dayton, Michigan State and Illinois. The Wildcats admirably withstood Berry’s injury, but their depth will be thin if Nicholson can’t return. They can win at least once if Buie is his usual sensational self, but Barnhizer, Langborg and some role players will need to catch fire in order to make the program’s first Sweet 16. — Stewart Mandel
What: East Region, First Round
Tipoff time: 12:15 p.m. ET Friday
TV: CBS
Location: Brooklyn
No. 8 FAU vs. No. 9 Northwestern odds
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Expert picks
Model projection: Northwestern by 0.5, total 141.5
See Austin Mock’s best futures bets
Players to watch
Florida Atlantic
- Johnell Davis, junior guard, AAC Player of the Year, first-team All-AAC
- Vladislav Goldin, junior center, second-team All-AAC
- Alijah Martin, junior guard, second-team All-AAC
Northwestern
- Boo Buie, graduate guard, first-team All-Big Ten
- Brooks Barnhizer, junior guard, third team All-Big Ten, All-Big Ten defensive team
Library of Madness
(Photo credits: Isaiah Vazquez / Getty Images; David Berding / Getty Images)
