SAN ANTONIO – In April 2023, Aliyah Martin’s remarkable journey on the magic carpet unexpectedly ended.
As the eighth seed, Martin and Florida The Atlantic team made it all the way to the Final Four in Houston. However, there they experienced a devastating loss due to a last-second basket by Lamont Butler and San Diego State.
For the majority of college athletes, that opportunity for greatness would mark their final game.
Two years later and 200 miles westward, Martin has returned to the Final Four. This week, he receives an offer. Florida basketball an exclusive and essential perspective on performing at the pinnacle of the sport. Along the way, he aims to secure some revenge and claim victory altogether. the fifth season of collegiate basketball .
A presentation kicks things off.
The previous season proved challenging for the team based in Boca Raton. At various points, the Owls found themselves grappling with the high expectations established the preceding year. This led to inflated egos and greater pressure as they became more of a target for their opponents.
We clashed, buddy, because that's just part of being human. Sometimes you've gotta fight for what you believe in," Martin stated. "This certainly prepared us for the years ahead and taught us how to handle success.
Following an early exit from the tournament, ex-FAU coach Dusty May moved on to join Michigan, sparking intense interest among the Owls' key athletes. When Martin decided to enter the transfer portal, Florida seized the opportunity and presented him with a detailed PowerPoint proposal, something he found appealing.
I tend to be very visually oriented, and once I can envision the possibilities, I get really excited," Martin stated. "I was aware of my influence and understood what I could contribute to this squad, so I placed my trust in Todd Golden.
An immediate chemistry
Right away, Martin connected with his new guards, Walter Clayton Jr. and Will Richard. Despite having extensive experience, each of them comes from four distinct institutions.
Martin mentioned that upon arriving at school, he joined in playing with Richard and Clayton, taking time to get acquainted with them.
"Since then, we have been dining out together and spending time with each other as though we’ve always been around," Martin stated.
Richard mentioned that their bond strengthened due to a common objective: emerging victorious.
Fellow guard Denzel Aberdeen mentioned that Martin has kept reminding the team about their objective throughout the season, particularly during the challenging months of January and February.
His voice stands out, and he has this loyal, dedicated attitude—almost like a devoted puppy. Every single day at practice, he gives it everything he’s got. There hasn’t been one instance when he showed up feeling low or had an off-day; he always brings his best whether it's for defense or offense.
In summary, Aberdeen feels that the victorious atmosphere established by Martin unites the people of Florida.
Florida's coach Todd Golden concurs. He stated that adding Martin elevated the program to new heights.
“Individually for each player as they compete,” Golden stated. “He excels at setting those expectations within our program on a daily basis.”
This doesn't mean Martin lacks humor. He's recognized as one of the top trash-talkers on the squad. He claims it's spontaneous, yet an incident stands out in memory.
Suppose you grab a bucket," Martin stated, "'and I'll tell you, 'okay, keep doing that for the entire game.' But in the final two minutes, things aren’t the same anymore.
Golden was questioned regarding Martin’s trash talk, but he largely declined to comment. However, he did mention that the players refer to him as "Crash Out" for good reasons.
“ He truly dives into it with his competitive spirit and strong mindset,” Golden stated.
Alijah Martin’s invaluable experience
Martin's participation this week provides Florida several advantages over competing teams. Auburn lacks players with experience in the Final Four. Similarly, aside from Martin, neither does Florida. Additionally, Golden had not achieved victory in any previous NCAA tournament games until this year.
However, Martin is the initial player to begin with two Final Four squads. He acknowledges that he might not have been fully focused two years back in Houston. This time, he intends not to repeat that error, particularly as all four teams present here hold top-seed status.
In terms of shooting, many Florida fans have been concerned about playing in a domed stadium because their team heavily relies on three-point shots. Martin has motivated the squad to improve their long-range accuracy.
Film on an outdoor court during nighttime solely for the background," Martin stated. "It’s the nearest we can get to playing in the NFL stadium.
Center Micah Handlogten mentioned Butler’s buzzer-beater from two years back, and the team is eager to get their payback. Martin stated that he prefers not to dwell on it excessively but expressed his desire to make fresh memories instead. Despite this, he acknowledged that the previous game serves as extra motivation for them.
"We aim to go out there and secure a victory for him. Simply observing his reactions and understanding how deeply it affects him inside shows just how much losing that game pains him," Handlogten stated.
Confronting a known adversary in Denver Jones
Martin did not participate in the Gators' victory against Auburn on February 8, but he remains acquainted with one of the Tigers - Denver Jones. Similar to Martin, Jones also began his collegiate career at Florida International.
During a January 2023 match held in Miami, Jones managed to score 25 points against the Owls as FAU secured a victory through overtime play.
Jones isn't surprised by Martin's rapid influence because he has faced off against him individually many times before and noted that Martin has shown this level of strength for years.
During that January match, the attendance at FIU was less than 2,500 spectators. On Saturday, however, an estimated 70,000 fans will fill the stadium seats. Jones finds himself amazed by how much his collegiate career has changed. It’s likely that Martin shares similar sentiments with him.
“After the match, we will converse,” Jones stated.
Noah Ram reports on high school sports in the Gainesville area as well as University of Florida athletics for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com, and the USA TODAY Network. Reach out to him via email for more information. Nram@gannett.com and follow him @Noah_ram1 on X/Twitter.
The article initially appeared in The Gainesville Sun. How Alijah Martin leveraged his Final Four performance to instill a winning mindset and ready the Gators for their matchup against Auburn
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