Three years ago, Florida Atlantic University’s men’s basketball team could only watch conference tournament championship games on television and wonder when, if ever, their program could make it to a similar level.

That feeling of excellence and euphoria came The level of excellence, the level of euphoria that players playing on TV feel as time expires and leaves them conference champions but also a bid into the NCAA Tournament.

One coaching change, two complete teams later, that time has come for the Owls.

The 1999-2000 season Florida Atlantic hired Sidney Green, a former New York City Player-of-the-Year and NBA player, replacing Kevin Billerman, who coached FAU to a 57-98 record in five years.

Coach Sidney Green’s first year was par to Billerman’s lack of success as the Owls finished 2-28 overall with their only conference victory coming in the Atlantic Sun Tournament.

The next year Green invited only one player back and his first recruiting class surprising to many, featured six freshman.

“I knew what I was getting myself into,” Coach Green said reflecting back on his first two seasons. “But, I never really expected to lose 28 games.”

The 2000-2001 season saw freshman Jeff Cowans and Ernest Crumbley displaying glimpse of potential and the team improved by five wins overall going 7=24.

Before stepping on the court this season, Coach Green and his team, with the off season additions of four Junior College transfers, were projected to finish second to last in the conference.

Green and his players saw things differently.

“That was the fuel to the fire,” Coach Green, a UNLV standout, said. “These players (JUCO transfers) came to FAU because they believed in our program here. All that did (projection to finish second to last in the A-Sun) was spark what was already there.”

Whichever metaphor or adjective used to explain the Owls, nothing speaks louder than the words of 2001 conference champions.

“this is something they;kkl luive with for the rest of their lives. It’s a wonderful thing — Greene

Spark or fuel to the fire, the Owls have finished the 2001 season as Champions and proved many doubters wrong.

Two seasons seperated from a 2-28 record, the Florida Atlantic men’s basketball team beat Georgia State in the Conference finals to win the Atlantic Sun Conference and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history.

GSU’s Lamont MacIntosh took an in-bounds pass with six seconds remaining down by one and missed a shot as time expired and history was written for FAU.

“This feels great. I still don’t believe it. We all stepped up to our game,” said forward Antoine Stevens.

The level of euphoria and level of excellence once dreamed about, now could be felt by the Owls. Players tackled Coach Green and celebrated with family and friends at half court in Orlando as the one-time pipe dream was now reality.

“It really hasn’t all sunken in yet,” Crumbley said last Thursday before the team’s first practice since the one-point victory.

With its 19-11overall record, the team is now headed to March Madness, a field made up of 65 teams with one eventually being crowned National Champions.

The level of competition for FAU doesn’t get any easier, but these high flying FAU Owls don’t seem to be the least bit fazed.

“I feel like we can play with anyone in the country,” point guard Anthony Slater said last Thursday signing a “NCAA Final Four” basketball. “We’re excited to be going to the Tournament, but deep down inside we’re not going just to go. We’re going to win.”

Florida Atlantic will receive a low seed in the tournament and most likely face a nationally ranked top 10 team, a possible no. 3 or 4 seed. Knowing that fact, the Owls chances of advancing past the first round seems dim. However, last year there were 13 first round upsets. One of those upsets was Georgia State defeating no. 6 seed Wisconsin.

The win is the program’s first ever Conference title and the team set a record in wins in a single season with 19.

According to Green who received congratulatory phone calls from many including NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Oakley, the win will not only help the basketball team in recruiting but also help the entire athletic program.

“I told my assistant coach as we celebrated on the court to call the recruits and tell them we’re thinking about them as we go to the dance and celebrate this win.” Green said.

“All the individual accolades I received doesn’t compare to this,” Green said who’s mother came to see her son coach for the first time against Georgia State.

Florida Atlantic is on a five-game winning streak and a deep bench like the Owls is said by many to be dangerous come tournament time.

So, does Cinderella’s slipper fit?

“That’s the great thing about March Madness,” Green said with a smile. “You never know.”

The win is the program’s first ever Conference title and the team set a record in wins in a single season with 19.

According to Green who received congratulatory phone calls from many including NBA stars Michael Jordan and Charles Oakley, the win will not only help the basketball team in recruiting but also help the entire athletic program.

“I told my assistant coach as we celebrated on the court to call the recruits and tell them we’re thinking about them as we go to the dance and celebrate this win.” Green said.

“All the individual accolades I received doesn’t compare to this,” Green said who’s mother came to see her son coach for the first time against Georgia State.

Florida Atlantic is on a five-game winning streak and a deep bench like the Owls is said by many to be dangerous come tournament time.

So, does Cinderella’s slipper fit?

“That’s the great thing about March Madness,” Green said with a smile. “You never know.”