No. 10 FAU kept its Final Four team together. The Owls hope that leads to a bigger prize

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Following Florida Atlantic’s historic run to the Final Four last spring, it was expected that everything would change.

Dusty May was anticipated to move on to a higher-level coaching position and his key players were projected to either enter the NBA draft or transfer to more high-profile schools with greater sponsorship opportunities.

But to everyone’s surprise, none of these anticipated changes occurred.

May remains in Boca Raton, and all of the players, except one who graduated, are also still with the team. There was a brief flirtation with the NBA draft by some players, but no one opted to enter the transfer portal.

When No. 10 FAU begins its season at Loyola Chicago, it will be composed of the same roster that secured the Final Four berth last season. And the reasons for this continuity seem clear.

“It’s their commitment to each other,” May cited.

Guard Alijah Martin emphasized, “We’re family, and we mean it,”

Forward Giancarlo Rosado added, “It’s the culture of this program and this university.”

These core values, combined with a shared goal of fulfilling unfinished business, have created an unbreakable bond among the team. The Final Four banner is a constant reminder of the ultimate objective for this season, and the players are committed to achieving that target.

While the Owls understand that nothing is guaranteed, they are aware of the challenge that lies ahead, especially after narrowly clinching victory in last season’s Conference USA semifinals.

As they prepare for the upcoming season, the Owls find comfort in the fact that they are bringing back the majority of their key players and stats from the previous season.

“We already have our chemistry, and we all know our roles,” guard Bryan Greenlee affirmed.

Addressing the coach’s decision to stay, Greenlee added, “He told recruits he was staying, told other coaches, told parents, told his players. Maybe they believed him, maybe they didn’t. But he stayed.”

This decision resonated with the players, who committed to staying with the team and building upon the progress made the previous season.

“It’s not about where you go. It’s about what you do where you’re at. Everyone here has bought into that,” Greenlee said.

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AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball