Game:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UR3W7zsfHhU

Let's start with an obligatory DISCLAIMER that I am by no means a basketball expert.  I'm not even anyone's idea of a kinda-knows-basketball sort of guy.  I'm just a desk potato with feelingsball.

First impression: this was a tough, physical game.  Second thought was that while I picked KSU for the sole reason that it was the biggest win in FAU's history, I felt in hindsight that this was a great game to review.

. . . by which I mean, KSU felt like a "modern" team in terms of makeup, the sort of squad you'd see plenty of in deep tournament runs.  For the most part they looked very quick and long, at least compared to FAU, making it very tough for FAU's create-the-open-man passing game.  FAU was forced into 22 turnovers and much of these were intercepted passes.  On the flip side, KSU also tended to be more performative, flopping on defense and showboating themselves into some silly mistakes -- but I do have to say that I didn't feel it was excessive.  Probably at the upper limit of what I'd tolerate, if I was their coach.  Nowell gave up a few opportunities with flashy passes to nobody (buddy, a no-look between-the-legs bounce pass may be un-defendable but it's also meaningless if your teammate doesn't know it's coming either), and for a stretch in the second half KSU let FAU back into the game with rushed and/or sloppy theatrics.  But I do have to say, they more than made up for it with a crapton of hat-tip plays.

FAU, for their part, looked ready.  They opened the game with a bang, a 3-pointer and two blocks, and closed strong.  Box score says they also went nine deep with four players scoring double digits, which is not what I expect to see from an underdog.  There were times both teams got carried away by momentum, resulting in those back-to-back turnovers you see in almost every game at every level, but neither seemed to ever rattle the other.

I also thought both teams did well at forcing the other into tough shots (floaters, off-hand layups, long 3s).  The problem FAU had was that KSU was just darn good at making them, finishing 27/58 including 10/22 from 3.  Related note, FAU also couldn't do much about Nowell being a bona fide playmaker (30 points, 5/11 from 3, 12 assists, 5 steals).  IMO, it was reasonable metaphor for system vs. talent.

FWIW, I felt Goldin had a moster game.  His stat line was decent (14 pts, 13 reb, 2 blk) but six of those rebounds were offensive, and all game he was making his presence felt.  Late in the game he kept FAU alive with some clutch baby hooks.  FAU does not win this game without their big man.

I noticed a significant difference in approach.  Like I said, KSU was good at making tough shots and Nowell was a serious problem for FAU all game, so KSU was content with (it's oversimplifying but it gets the message across) a quick-hitting "one-pass" system.  Nowell either did something incredible all by himself, or they'd use a high screen to get him loose (FAU's answer seemed to be drop coverage which often didn't go well, but they couldn't switch so whatchagonnado ¯\_(ツ)_/¯), or his immense gravity freed someone up for an easy look.  They did have a slick 2-man off-ball game, with someone smartly cutting at the perfect time for Nowell to find him -- but FAU was pretty good at reading those as well, as often as not breaking things up and forcing KSU to start over.  On that, I liked FAU's help rotation -- how often do you see a desperate close-out get easily pump-faked for an open jumper?  FAU would actually have a second guy close on the jumper!  They weren't as athletic but they almost always seemed to be in position to contest the shot.

What slowed KSU down was that everyone seemed confident at making the tough shot, with somewhat good reason TBF, but a good number of floaters, long 3s, airborne pump-fake up-and-unders and other flashy crappe that FAU was content to let them try, didn't go in when I felt they could've been more patient.  On defense, KSU was athletic enough to switch, which gave FAU a ton of problems.  Screens looked basically ineffective and midway through it looked to me like a ritualistic formality to trigger sets with off-ball movement, which were somewhat more effective but holy cow every pass looked incredibly dangerous.  FAU lived with its passes getting picked off but persisted with its philosophy, although in the 2nd half this seemed to more come from transition and capitalizing off KSU mistakes.  Overall, KSU did a great job of defending the perimeter and collapsing in the paint.  I just don't know if that's their thing, or if FAU was that much of a lunch-pail-and-JAS program.

Anyway, like I said, length vs. passing was a game-long problem for FAU.  FAU did try their share of low-percentage shots, and those often didn't work out, but it tended to feel like the reasonable option left.  I don't know how they ranked nationally but at least compared to FAU, KSU looked like a formidably swarming defense that made passing dangerous.  Despite that, FAU somehow finished 26/54.  They withstood the pressure and stuck to creating open looks whenever they could, but were smart about quick-hitters when KSU wasn't set.

I'm not sure how to sum it up, but it reassuringly feels like FAU wasn't overly reliant on any one thing.  They didn't lean on one player to carry them, but they definitely needed their best to step up.  They faithfully executed their system but didn't stubbornly insist on it; they were smart about capitalizing on mistakes, especially in the second half.  They were by no means perfect, but overall they looked comfortable and disciplined.  In short, they looked like an athletically limited but well-coached squad.  Most importantly, they didn't rely on miracles.  They couldn't match KSU's length or Nowell's playmaking, but they knew their strengths & weaknesses and leaned on the former just enough to win on their terms.