Last Year: 35-4; Conference-USA Regular Season (18-2) and Conference Tournament champions, lost in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament
Head Coach: Dusty May (Sixth Year; 101-60 at Florida Atlantic, with one NCAA Tournament appearance)
Projected Starting Lineup
| G Bryan Greenlee – 6’0″, 191 – Senior |
| G Nick Boyd – 6’3″, 175 – Sophomore |
| G Alijah Martin – 6’2″, 210 – Junior |
| W Johnell Davis – 6’4″, 203 – Junior |
| C Vladislav Goldin – 7’1″, 240 – Junior |
Projected Starters’ 2022-23 Stats
Bryan Greenlee: 7.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, 0.7 spg – 40.4% 3FG
Nick Boyd: 8.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.8 spg – 40.0% 3FG
Alijah Martin: 13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.4 apg, 1.0 spg – 37.2% 3FG
Johnell Davis: 13.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.5 spg – 35.7% 3FG
Vladislav Goldin: 10.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.2 bpg, 0.4 spg – 62.5% FG
Experienced Reserves
| G Jalen Gaffney – 6’3″, 185 – Senior |
| F Isaiah Gaines – 6’8″, 225 – Junior |
| F/C Giancarlo Rosado – 6’8″, 247 – Junior |
| F Brenen Lorient – 6’9″, 200 – Sophomore |
| G Brandon Weatherspoon – 6’4″, 186 – Senior |
| F Tre Carroll – 6’7″, 227 – Sophomore |
| G Alejandro Ralat – 6’0″, 160 – Junior |
Experienced Reserves’ 2022-23 Stats
Jalen Gaffney: 4.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.3 apg, 0.5 spg – 32.9% FG
Isaiah Gaines: 1.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 0.2 bpg, 0.2 spg – 61.5% FG
Giancarlo Rosado: 5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 0.5 bpg – 63.5% FG
Brenen Lorient: 0.8 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.2 bpg – 53.8% FG
Brandon Weatherspoon: 5.0 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.5 spg – 38.9% FG
Tre Carroll: 3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.1 bpg – 64.1% FG
Alejandro Ralat: 0.5 ppg, 0.4 apg, 25.0% FG
Freshmen
| G Devin Vanterpool – 6’4″, 175 – Freshman |
| G Jakel Powell – 6’5″, 175 – Freshman |
What do you do for an encore after the greatest season in program history? Well, if you’re Florida Atlantic, you get the band back together and attempt to do it all again. Head coach Dusty May returns 12 of the 13 players who saw the floor in an Owls jersey last year, including two guys who worked out among the other elite prospects at the NBA Pre-Draft camp.
There’s been tremendous competition in fall practices for the Owls. “That’s going to be the challenge,” May said about trying to pare down his rotation, though he called it a “good problem” to have. “Starting lineups are not important for us. It’s who finishes but we’re always looking for combinations of players who play well together and find great chemistry. And we were able to do that last year with our first and second units. Our second unit led the country in scoring as a bench group, so we’re excited to hopefully have a similar type of production off the bench this season,” May said this fall.
It wasn’t as though FAU was some Cinderella last season, either. They may not have decades of success in the spotlight, but the Owls were a thoroughly dominant team a year ago. It was a season that delivered on the well-built momentum of three straight years of steady improvement and the construction of a roster that can mix and match lineups to create Owl advantages all over the court. It was proof positive that Florida Atlantic isn’t some flash in the pan or just a ‘mid-major’ power. The Owls can hang with absolutely anybody – but this time around, they’re running the gauntlet with one of the biggest targets in America strapped to their backs.
Those guys who went to Chicago to try out for the NBA return to Boca Raton as the Owls’ explosive leading scorers: Johnell Davis and Alijah Martin. In an era of basketball which emphasizes attacking the bucket and the ability to knock down triples, Martin and Davis are prototype offensive wing players. Given May’s commitment to playing a lot of guys up and down the roster, both Martin and Davis averaged 26 minutes per game last year. That figures to change a bit this year, as the athletic duo spearheaded FAU’s extraordinary run to the Final Four and proved that not only could they handle big minutes, but that opponents couldn’t handle them.
Davis was named the C-USA 6th man of the year, but by the time postseason play was looming, it had become clear to May that Davis needed to be on the court as much as possible. He averaged 30 minutes per game over the Owls’ final 14 tilts, averaging 15 points, shooting 50% from the floor – oh and there was that game when Davis went for 29 and 12 boards with 5 steals and assists each to punch FAU’s ticket to the Sweet Sixteen. Davis is just one of those guys who doesn’t always have to dominate the ball or even necessarily take many shots; but sometimes, he’ll just wake up feeling like “I’m gonna go win this game on my own if the guys need it.” Davis committed three or more thefts of the opposition’s possession ten times last year; he scored in double figures 25 times, had three double-doubles and a 36-point night in a win against UAB – the team most experts had expected to win C-USA last year instead of the Owls. When FAU is in need of something, Davis is one of many guys on this team who couldn’t be happier than to step up and do whatever is asked. And this year, it might be more like ‘Player of the Year’ instead of a 6th Man trophy he takes home.
Martin will be a contender for all of the accolades, too. The Owls’ most bouncy and naturally gifted player, Martin threw down some highlight dunks during his own star-making campaign. That wasn’t all, though. Martin has established himself as a great catch-and-shoot threat on the perimeter when he isn’t slashing to the rack. “This is what we wanted, you know, and now that we have it, we can’t let it slip through our fingers,” Martin told WPTV News in anticipation of the new season. “I’m trying to get back to March Madness,” he said. “I’m trying to play in front of 50,000 people again. Like, I’m trying to be on the biggest stage. I’m trying to win a national championship.” Martin is Florida Atlantic’s highest-volume deep threat over the last two years; he’s ripped off 157 triples at a 38.7% rate over his last 69 games played.
Despite returning as the Owls’ leading scorer from two years ago, May chose to try him off of the bench for awhile mid-season. Eventually, though, Martin was back up nearer the 29 minutes he had averaged in 2021-22. He’s every bit as capable as Davis of taking over a game and getting a tough bucket when all else has failed, and Martin proved in the NCAA Tournament last year that he has the confidence to take a big shot no matter the moment.
May likes to run a lot of guards out there, and he’s got a lot of good ones. That playstyle only works to peak performance though, if there is someone or a couple of people who can hold things down in the paint. Fortunately for the Owls, Vladislav Goldin and Giancarlo Rosado are a terrific and complimentary 1-2 punch at the pivot. Goldin, who joined the Owls after playing just 47 minutes in his lone season at Texas Tech, has improved steadily in Boca Raton. He’s started 72 games the past two years, and gone from an uncertain and often robotic big who only really did the basics to an intimidating rim-protector who won’t hesitate to dunk anything he can. With that focused and efficient approach, Goldin made nearly 63% of his shots overall last year. Goldin still isn’t exactly graceful, and may never be, but he’s become tremendously effective by playing to his strengths and letting things – namely great passes from all of those guards – come to him. He’s a strong defensive presence who changes lots of shot attempts that he doesn’t even get his hands on, and when he gets an offensive rebound he tends to go right back up with it; he snagged 97 offensive boards last year, and added 35 putback tries, per Hoop-Math. This season, Goldin will look to show more refined footwork and more consistency knocking down his hook shot and short jumpers. Goldin does so many good things already that he will continue playing all of the minutes needed to keep fleshing out the rest of his game.
His co-center, Rosado, isn’t a prototype center exactly, but that has actually proven to be a nice contrast to Goldin’s true post play. Rosado is more of a stretch big, and though he has only made three triples so far in his career, Rosado has forced opponents to respect him facing up from the foul line or getting off a nifty turnaround jumper after a quick post-up. He isn’t the intimidating shot swatter that Goldin is, but Rosado is a wide body who will stand his ground against a variety of opposing post players. And despite not being a dunk-first big, Rosado actually shot 64% from the floor. “When (Goldin) is in the game, we play one style. And when I check in, we play another style. So it’s like having to scout two different teams in one game,” Rosario told reporters this fall. He and Goldin are an effective, efficient pair and create both good spacing and great finishing options in the paint for all of those excellent Owl guards.
When (Goldin) is in the game, we play one style. And when I check in, we play another style. So it’s like having to scout two different teams
– Giancarlo Rosado
Nick Boyd is at the head of the flock, and is the type of do-it-all, playmaking guard that any Final Four centender needs. After redshirting two years ago, Boyd showed veteran poise last year, and is looking to assume the mantle of leadership from Michael Forrest. It will be May’s 6th season coaching at FAU, but his first without the now-graduated Forrest, who held a 10.2 scoring average, handed out 340 assists, and won 101 games in an Owls jersey. Having Boyd, already the program’s all-time leader in assist to turnover ratio, back to run the show will be a huge advantage going forward. Boyd can score the ball, but doesn’t need to be getting shots up in order to keep the FAU offense humming. He’s a savvy and unselfish playmaker who knows better than to force anything, and has become particularly good at using his dribble and shot fakes to get into the paint and either score himself or create a wide-open opportunity for one of his buddies. A good jump shooter, Boyd was uncharacteristically shaky from the foul stripe in postseason play, but shot 40% from downtown for the second time in as many seasons played. He’s also a stout on-ball defender who communicates well and is rarely caught out of position defensively. Boyd may look to score more this year, but whether he does or not, May knows his team is in very good hands whenever Boyd is on the floor.
Bryan Greenlee and his 88 starts as an Owl are back to share the ballhandling and playmaking duties with Boyd. While he’s been statistically less productive in each of his three seasons at FAU, Greenlee nonetheless has May’s trust as well, and is a very unselfish player rather than a guy who’s been less-and-less helpful by year. Greenlee scored in double figures 13 times a year ago, including his four triples and 16 points against Kansas State to send FAU to the Final Four. Greenlee isn’t the biggest guy, but he improved defensively last season to compensate for fewer buckets going in. And despite not scoring as often as year’s past, Greenlee swished a career-high 55 three’s at a 40% rate. He’s also put in a concerted effort this fall to be more of a leader than in the past. “I think that’s something personally that I’ve struggled with in the past and I’ve been trying to address more this year,” Greenlee said of his efforts to take on more of a vocal leadership role. There just aren’t many better pairs of point guards around than the Owls’ veteran duo.
| Five Stats Which Tell The Tale (with national ranks) |
| +11.6 – Average Score Margin (7th) |
| .296 – Free Throw Attempts Per FG Attempt (235th) |
| 40.4% – Opponent Shooting Percentage (18th) |
| 2.6 – Blocks Per Game (250th) |
| 9.6 – Made 3FG Per Game (13th) |
That’s not all, though, because the Owls have a couple more experienced backcourt contributors who will be pushing for bigger roles, too. Jalen Gaffney spent three years at Connecticut as a solid contributor off of the Huskies’ bench, but he wanted more. Turns out, he’s indeed good enough to have earned a bigger role – and on a Final Four team, no less. Gaffney isn’t a great outside shooter – though he’s improving – but would rather use his length and quickness to penetrate off the bounce and force defenders to react. Gaffney, like seemingly everyone else in May’s backcourt, is a talented and willing passer, and he’s confident initiating the offense if Boyd or Greenlee aren’t. In his fifth season now, Gaffney is looking to have a career year and show off his full array of skills.
Rounding out the primary rotation from a year ago is Brandon Weatherspoon, the biggest of May’s guards and one who’s ready to break out. Weatherspoon likes to shoot the three, but after averaging 16 points and shooting 45% from deep in junior college, he hasn’t yet translated that success to the Owls’ lineup. Still, he can make outside shots in bunches and provides another deep threat off the bench. Weatherspoon also graded out well as a defender a year ago, combining with his three backcourt buddies to harry opposing guards for all 40 minutes.
| Five Out-of-Conference Games to Keep an Eye on |
| N – Arizona – December 23 |
| N – Texas A&M / Penn State – November 24 |
| N – Illinois – December 5 |
| @ Loyola Chicago – November 8 |
| N – Butler – November 23 |
With four experienced guards competing for Forrest’s 20+ minutes per game, there isn’t likely to be much prime playing time left to share amongst the Owls’ remaining bench players, but May has proven during his time in Boca Raton that he’ll play the guys who earn minutes. Tre Carroll, Brenen Lorient and Isaiah Gaines each averaged about five minutes per game, but each could grow his role – especially if, like last year, the Owls happen to play on the fun side of a few blowouts.
Unfortunately, mop-up duty was mostly the time when Carroll saw the court after coming off a redshirt of his own last year. Fortunately, Carroll played quite well in the limited minutes he saw against overmatched competition. He shot an excellent 64% from the floor, and knocked down six of 11 three point tries. Carroll offers something that wouldn’t be considered unique on many rosters in the country: his in-between size and skill. As a forward who can face up and make shots, Carroll will present May with new lineup possibilities if he continues to make the most of his opportunities. Gaines did get one start early in the season, but then settled into a deep reserve role. He was a double-double machine at Northwest Mississippi Community College, though, and can make a jump shot. Lorient is the most physically intriguing of the three, as he has perimeter skills and the ability to get to the rim and a long, quick 6’9 frame. Lorient may still be a year away from contributing significantly, but he’s athletically gifted enough to keep an eye on. Guard Alejandro Ralat also returns as a deep reserve point guard.
There are only two freshmen joining this year’s team, but with so many returnees, it’s great for the long-term roster to have another pair of talents to learn from the guys who have already done it. One is Devin Vanterpool, a 6’4 combo guard who can make plays at both ends of the court. With so much experience returning ahead of him, it’s possible that Vanterpool will become the latest Owl to redshirt. The same goes for Jalel Powell, a rangy scorer who pledged later on in spring to the Owls. He’s got good quickness, but needs to add some some muscle.
Taking a pragmatic view of things, it is going to be exceedingly difficult for the Owls to have a better season this year than last. They won Conference USA in the regular season (with an 18-2 record!), absolutely stomped on UAB in the C-USA title game, and beat three ranked teams in the NCAA Tournament before it took a legendary buzzer beater to knock them out of a spot in the National Championship game. It was an absolutely sublime year, the kind that most programs never get to experience.
Thing is though, FAU can make a very reasonable case that they’re going to be better this year. With Martin and Davis leading the charge, two highly effective big men who are now thoroughly battle-tested, and a bevy of truly unselfish, multi-skilled guards, FAU has one of the more complete rosters around. “The crazy thing about last year in general is that it happened really fast. And we are so process-oriented, that we’re always on to the next thing and then immediately, the season ends abruptly obviously. And it’s on to the next thing, which is figuring out a way to ‘Let’s all try to do this again’, because I think there’s such a high level of mutual respect of care for everyone within the program,” May said at FAU’s Media Day this fall. “A lot goes into it for our guys but the one thing that’s been constant is their work ethic and their drive to improve.”
The experience they gained last year, and the chemistry they found with one another while constantly finding themselves in new and unprecedented situations, should only serve to prepare them for whatever challenges are up next. “I have a high-level confidence that it’s going to be another really good year,” May said this fall. That target on their back is about the size of an aircraft carrier, but these Owls are fearless and strong. So by all means, doubt them. They’ll just go out and steal the spotlight – heck, the whole entire show – all over again.
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