FAU Basketball: 3 keys for Final Four matchup vs San Diego State Aztecs

Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin

Earlier it was mentioned, and it will likely continue to be mentioned throughout the week that San Diego State is going to present a matchup problem for every team they face from here on out. The Aztecs are very physical and slow the game way down on both ends of the floor. Their defense forces bad shots, they run teams off the three-point line, and rarely let anyone get a clean look inside the paint.

If that does happen the Aztecs are a good rebounding team and are able to hold you to one shot. The game is going to be a physical rock fight from start to finish and that is how San Diego State likes it. Creighton and Alabama both tried to speed them up and they both lost. They will dictate the pace in this game.

The Owls may have an advantage here because they have already played three teams who play a similar style to San Diego State and they have won the others. In their own conference, they have a team in North Texas that plays a similar style that the Owls also beat. In every one of those games, the two stars for Florida Atlantic showed early and often and helped lead the Owls to a victory. The same thing is going to need to happen on Saturday night against San Diego State. The Aztecs are going to slow this game down and force the Owls to make plays, just like they did Creighton and just like they did Alabama.

Martin and Davis have been the best players on the floor in most of the games that Florida Atlantic has played this season. They are a very nice security blanket that no other team in the tournament has. Those two Owls both shoot the ball at a high percentage from inside the paint and both are deadly three-point shooters. They have shown they can make runs by themselves, and they have hit huge shots in the tournament to make sure the Owls advance.

If those two players play well Florida Atlantic should advance and get the opportunity to play for the National Championship. Your stars have to carry you at this point in the tournament and Martin and Davis are going to need to be great for two more games to get Florida Atlantic to the promised land.