Current Projected Seed: No. 7

Florida Atlantic isn't exactly sneaking up on anyone next month after making it to the Final Four last season.

Then again, who had No. 8 seed Butler making it back to the national championship for a second successive year in 2011?

The equal parts terrifying and tantalizing element of picking FAU to win multiple tournament games is that the Owls are addicted to playing to the level of their competition.

Against the likes of Arizona, Illinois, Texas A&M, Butler and Virginia Tech, they looked great.

But against Bryant, Charlotte, Florida Gulf Coast, North Texas, Tulane and UTSA, they were a disaster.

It all proves one simple point about this team: FAU can score on anyone, and anyone can score on FAU.

No one was all that concerned about FAU's defense when the average score of the Arizona, Illinois, Texas A&M and Butler games was 93-92. Those were just high-level, extremely enjoyable games against quality foes, reinforcing the preseason No. 10 ranking in the AP poll.

85-84 against Tulane, though?

112-103 against UTSA?

But in addition to this being basically the same roster that went to the Final Four last year, it bears mentioning that Miami rode the same "elite offense, highly questionable defense" script to the 2023 Final Four, as well. Those types of teams had historically flamed out early in the dance, but now we've got some proof it can work, provided that elite offense is firing on all cylinders.