Florida Atlantic wasn't supposed to be here.
Yes, the Owls put together a fantastic regular season, rattling off 31 victories and sweeping Conference USA championships before landing a No. 9 seed in the 2023 men's NCAA tournament. Given that success, FAU cannot be described as an inconceivable Final Four team. More accurately, the Owls were an unlikely, fairy-tale story.
Cinderella wasn't supposed to lose that way, either.
Not after winning four previous games—the first-ever March Madness victories in program history—by a combined 19 points. Not after leading for what will be remembered as 31 minutes and 42 seconds of exhilarating, devastating action in a 72-71 loss to San Diego State.