'We wouldn't be here if we didn't': FAU men's basketball coach Dusty May says Owls have a shot to win NCAA Tournament
WPBF caught up with Florida Atlantic University's basketball head coach Dusty May at the training facility on the Boca Raton campus and asked if his Owls could take the tournament. He answered confidently, "We wouldn't be here if we didn't."
May said players were back in class and practice like any other day.
"For the most part, it's business as usual. We have a game Saturday," he said.
But there’s nothing usual about that game.
"Very few teams have the chance to end their season on a win, and we are one of the four that has that opportunity," May said.
Confetti still lined the parking lot Monday afternoon when the team returned home to mobs of Owls fans greeting them.
"It's been very rewarding to see our guys appreciated for what they've done for this university and the community and seeing people rally around them," May said.
The wins brought in record customers at local restaurants like Flanigan's, where one waiter said, during the last game, it was "crazy."
"We had atmosphere. It was amazing," the waiter said. "The business is great."
"We had a full house and then some," added Kyle, a manager at the restaurant. "People are lined up outside."
That restaurant was one of many on both campuses reporting those record crowds. For the Owls' next game, Saturday managers suggest getting to your watch spot way ahead of that 6 p.m. start.
Another impact of the team's success? More people are trying to get into FAU. One coach cited more potential athletes are looking seriously now at the university.
"A lot of the interested players who were coming to the school next year — it's increasing. They're all interested now. I'm getting way more interest," said Dan Bouganim, a coach of the FAU ice hockey team.
