“We just wanted to make life hard for him" - FAU guard elaborates on game plan against Markquis Nowell as Kansas State exits March Madness

Markquis Nowell was absolutely dominant during March Madness 2023. The 5-foot-8 guard was a big reason why the Kansas State Wildcats reached the Elite Eight as he's had several fantastic performances.

However, Nowell's impressive run came to an end on Saturday night against Florida Atlantic. The Wildcats playmaker had another point-assit double-double, but it wasn't enough to stop the Owls, who won the game by three points.

The Elite Eight victory was a historic success for FAU, a team that has never gone far in the NCAA Tournament before. However, the Owls had a perfect game plan, and the plan revolved around stopping Markquis Nowell.

---

Markquis Nowell was targeted by Florida Atlantic

When the final buzzer of the game sounded off, No. 9 FAU were up by three points against No. 3 Kansas State. The Owls were the underdogs, but they fought hard during the entire game and it paid off in the end.

Nowell had another fantastic performance with 30 points and 12 assists. His court vision was impeccable and he once again showed the world why he's one of the best playmakers in the world.

Nowell is a fantastic point guard who finds his teammates with ease (Image via Getty Images)

Michael Forrest, who knocked down four clutch free throws in the Elite Eight matchup, revealed that the Owls had a plan to reduce Nowell's effectiveness.

"We knew he was their sole ballhandler,” Forrest said. "We just wanted to make life hard for him because we knew no one else was going to make plays."

You may be interested in reading: Markquis Nowell breaks NCAA assists record: All you need to know

The plan could have backfired as the 5-foot-8 guard ended up scoring 30 points in the game. However, he ended up missing a clutch layup with 34 seconds left in the game and could not set up his team properly for the final possession.

The talented playmaker ended up shooting 8-for-12 from the field.

Nowell did all he could to keep Kansas State in the game (Image via Getty Images)

Markquis Nowell was the best player for the Wildcats by a large margin. In addition to 30 points and 12 rebounds, the 23-year-old guard also had a game-high five steals. However, Nowell's amazing season ended with yet another March Madness upset.

You may be interested in reading: "This is why they call it March Madness!" - Fans losing their minds for first-ever Elite-8 with no number 1 seeds

The Florida Atlantic Owls advanced to the Final Four where they will play against the winner of the San Diego State-Creighton matchup. As the ninth-seed, they are the lowest-seeded remaining team in the tournament.

Considering how amazing the Owls have been so far, they could break the record for the lowest-seeded team to win March Madness. The record is currently held by the 1985 Villanova Wildcats, who won the tournament as the eighth seed.