If the question is if he should have done it, the answer is no. Florida Atlantic sophomore Alijah Martin should have just let the clock expire.
After securing perhaps the biggest upset in NCAA tournament history, No. 16 seed FDU was not able to keep its Cinderella story alive and fell short against No. 9 seed FAU.
Once the game was no longer within reach, FDU coach Tobin Anderson opted not to foul and instead assumed his opponent would just dribble the ball until the final buzzer that would allow FAU a chance to compete in the Sweet Sixteen.
Martin, however, instead used the final seconds of the game to throw down a huge slam. To make matters worse, he missed the 360-degree dunk attempt.
Florida Atlantic's Alijah Martin tries a huge dunk with the game out of hand in the final seconds and hears boos.
FAU head coach Dusty May appears to apologize to FDU head coach Tobin Anderson, who was upset.🏀 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/Is2rIF8GJx
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) March 20, 2023
Following the embarrassing miss, the crowd booed Martin at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Moments after the game, FAU coach Dusty May appeared to apologize on Martin’s behalf to FDU’s Anderson.
Some fans described Martin as a “basketball enemy for life” while others said he was “classless” and the “villain” of March Madness.
Many remain upset at Martin and it is safe to assume that the anger could carry into FAU’s Sweet Sixteen game against Tennessee at Madison Square Garden. But let’s not get carried away.
stop hating on this kid for trying to give us all a cool dunk at the end of the game. nobody died.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) March 20, 2023
This was an unfortunate moment that didn’t need to happen but it doesn’t define Martin or the FAU program. It was just a very brief lapse in judgment sparked by adrenaline and the thrill of advancing to the next round.
Martin presumably heard as much from his coach and from his opponents in the handshake line. But that doesn’t make him a bad kid.
About that Alijah Martin dunk attempt at end of the @FAUMBB – @FDUKnights game. Take it from someone who’s been following closely, that’s a GREAT kid who got caught in a moment and made a mistake. Go read up on the kid before writing him off. Salt of the earth. These are kids!
— Sergio Gonzalez (@thatgonzalez) March 20, 2023
Here is how coach May has described Martin (via Palm Beach Post):
“He’s even-keeled, he’s never too up, never too down. He really tries to process everything where a lot of guys take in information and it goes in one ear and out the other,” May said. “We feel like he’s always processing what the coaches ask him to do, what his teammates are saying, and so usually when he opens his mouth, there’s a lot of thought and it’s usually on the money but he’s mature and hard working, he’s a great teammate. He’s just a wonderful person, first and foremost.”
As a two-sport athlete in high school, he was also described as a “good kid” and a leader on the football team as well.
Maybe the dunk wasn’t advisable but relax. We can move on from this.
