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March Madness is known for the tagline “Survive and Advance,” and through a weekend of frantic action, two of South Florida’s college basketball teams – Florida Atlantic University and the University of Miami – improbably did just that.
Two wins for each program over the weekend mean the schools that are separated by just 53 miles will make up half of this year’s Final Four in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. To get an idea of just how insane that is, consider that more than 20 million March Madness brackets were filled out on ESPN.com, and only 37 correctly predicted a Final Four with FAU and UM in the mix.
Hey @BarstoolUMiami look at us! pic.twitter.com/K2LvusVfxm
— BarstoolFAU (@barstool_fau) March 26, 2023
The fact that FAU and the University of Miami reside on opposite sides of the bracket means the nation could be in store for another layer to the maddest March Madness of them all: an all-South Florida NCAA Championship Final.
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If the teams meet on Monday, April 3, for college basketball’s national title, the NCAA may need a select committee to investigate how they let South Florida take over the sport with such tenacity and ease.
South Florida Basketball Fans Celebrate
The weekend of basketball magic opened all the social-media reactions sluices from FAU and Canes fans alike. To put a pin in this incredible moment in South Florida sports history, we’ve compiled a few of our favorites below.
First up is the disbelief and emotion from FAU fans coming to grips with the fact that the Boca Raton school and Conference USA are coming to the big stage in Houston for the Final Four.
Not my husband getting a reaction video of me in the last few moments of the #FAU game that sent them to the Final Four. ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/EmT7XYymFn
— Dori Zinn (Mastodon @dorizinn) (@dorizinn) March 26, 2023
One Broward woman was seen tightly clutching a pillow, seated in front of the family TV in the final moments of the FAU game. When the Owls prevailed over the Kansas State Wildcats in a nail-biting upset, the superfan appeared to burst into tears before hugging her son.
Final 4 for FAU!!!!!! LFG! Instant reaction from Diener. Let’s celebrate together! @FAUMBB @CoachDustyMay @RobertRoselli pic.twitter.com/5aO6GfgOaZ
— Fox Sports 640 South Florida (@FoxSports640) March 26, 2023
Local sportscaster Stephen Diener was beside himself.
“Every single moment, every win in this tournament… has been history-making for FAU,” Diener said in a post on Fox Sports 640 South Florida’s Twitter account.
Don’t pick us pic.twitter.com/ngzb9TBz9R
— Mike Ryan (Ruiz) 🙌🽠(@MichaelRyanRuiz) March 26, 2023
And of course, the classic swaggering-nipple-pinching-Canes fans were ready with reaction videos after UM clinched the program’s first-ever trip to the Final Four.
ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/fpzkk6fpNo
— Zach Horwitz (@HorwitzZach) March 27, 2023
Some Hurricanes fans looked to be approaching a state of ecstasy after the team beat out the Texas Longhorns Sunday, March 26.
An emotional fan posted a selfie video with a clenched fist and a celebratory grimace as he shouted, “Let’s fucking go!”
— Justin McCant (@McCant4Life) March 27, 2023
— Mike Ryan (Ruiz) 🙌🽠(@MichaelRyanRuiz) March 27, 2023
Final Four Schedule
How does this storybook college basketball season end for South Florida? Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait an excruciating workweek to find out as the teams travel to the home of the Final Four in Houston.
Both FAU and Miami will play their Final Four games on Saturday, April 1, with FAU taking on No. 5 San Diego State at 6:09 p.m. followed by Miami facing No. 4 UConn at 8:49 p.m. Both games will air on CBS.
The national championship game will take place on Monday, April 3, at 9 p.m. on CBS.
If FAU and Miami are still playing next Monday, then Houston, you have a South Florida problem.
