IRVING, Texas – Florida Atlantic men’s basketball was ranked at the top of the American Athletic Conference at No. 1 with 11 first-place votes and a total of 167 points. Junior guards Alijah Martin and Johnell Davis were named to the American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference First Team and Preseason Players of the Year.
Florida Atlantic was ranked No. 1 in the AAC Preseason Poll. The 2022-23 C-USA Champions led the conference in scoring margin, rebounding margin, and defensive rebounds per game. The Owls finished the season with an overall record of 35-4 and 18-2 in Conference USA.
Martin enters his fourth season with the Owls in 2023-24 after having an astonishing year. Last season, Martin became the 15th player in Florida Atlantic history to join the 1,000-point club. He was named the 2023 C-USA Tournament Most Outstanding Player and named to the 2023 NCAA All-Tournament Team, 2023 All-C-USA Tournament Team, and 2022-23 All-Conference USA First Team along with other accolades. Martin registered 484 points on the season, 13.4 points per game, and 37 steals. This award marks the first Preseason Player of the Year in his career.
Davis, also entering his fourth season with the Owls, led the team in multiple categories with a total of 509 points on the season, averaging 13.8 points per game, and 56 steals. He is a tremendous player offensively and defensively as he recorded 158 defensive rebounds. Last season, he was named to the 2023 C-USA All-Tournament Team, 2022-23 Conference USA Sixth Player of the Year, 2022-23 All-C-USA First Team, and 2022-23 NABC All-District 17 First Team. This award marks the first Preseason Player of the Year in his career.
During the AAC Media Day, head coach Dusty May discussed the attention and accolades that surrounds the team entering the 2023-24 campaign: “Our guys are elite competitors and workers. Once they get between the lines, they are as consistent and hungrier than ever. Now it’s outside the lines where we can’t let all of the attention and accolades breed complacency and that is something that we have to be on guard for all year. But once are guys get inside the lines, nothing has changed.”
Senior guard Bryan Greenlee, who was selected to be the Owls’ player representative at media day, talked about the mindset of entering a new conference: “Coming into the American, we know there are new competitors, it is obviously going to be very challenging, but we just take a day-by-day approach and try to attack each day the best that we can.”
Also introduced was the trailer for “Run It Back,” an ESPNU documentary following the Owls during the offseason, set to air Sunday, Nov. 5, at 11:30 a.m. EST.
The Owls will open the season on the road at the Barstool Invitational on Wednesday, Nov. 8 against Loyola Chicago. Florida Atlantic returns to Boca Raton for the first home game of the 2023-24 season on Tuesday, Nov. 14 against Eastern Michigan on the Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena at 7 p.m.
GET TICKETS
Less than 100 season tickets remain. In order to lock up your seats to witness the Winning In Paradise at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, call the FAU ticket office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
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