NCAA Basketball: Houston, Arizona, Auburn rise in latest top 25 power rankings
By Joey Loose
25. Florida Atlantic (14-4)
After returning virtually their entire lineup from a shocking run to the Final Four, Florida Atlantic entered this season with immensely heightened expectations. Their performance in a double overtime thriller against Arizona right before Christmas proved the hype, but the Owls have been far from perfect. Losses to Bryant, Florida Gulf Coast, and Charlotte have been anchors on this team’s performance and resume in the opening months.
Florida Atlantic kept getting back on track this week, getting an 86-73 home win over UAB back last Sunday. Johnell Davis continued another marvelous season with a 30-point, 8-rebound performance as the Owls shot just under 50% from the field. While they dug a halftime hole on Thursday, they survived another home test, using a strong second half to win 86-77 over Wichita State. Alijah Martin had 22 points and 9 rebounds, Davis scored 19, and Vladislav Goldin added 17 in the team’s third-straight win.
Three wins is hardly back on track, especially when the Owls were favorites in all of them, but it was important nonetheless. The Owls clawed back when in trouble against Wichita State and it’s those kinds of performances that you want to see in Boca Raton, especially after those rough losses earlier in the season. They’ll be back on the road next week against UTSA and Rice, facing two teams they should be able to handle.