Florida Gulf Coast wins 2017 Atlantic Sun basketball tournament: ‘Dunk City’ is dancing again

Florida Gulf Coast, better known to some as “Dunk City,” is headed to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years. The Eagles punched their ticket by taking care of third-seeded North Florida, 77-61, in the Atlantic Sun tournament championship game.

All five starters scored in double figures for FGCU, which also won the Atlantic Sun’s outright regular season championship. Leading the way was Brandon Goodwin, who poured in a game-high 19 points. The junior guard, who scored 28 points in the Eagles’ semifinal win over Kennesaw State, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

Now FGCU turns its attention to the NCAA Tournament, an event where they’ve had their fair share of success in recent years.

In 2013, Florida Gulf Coast became a household name not just for becoming the first No. 15 seed to crash the Sweet 16, but for the way it did.

The high-flying Eagles blew past both Georgetown and San Diego State during the tournament’s first weekend with a slew of highlight-reel slams that earned the team the nickname of “Dunk City.” Even after head coach Andy Enfield bolted to take the head coaching job at USC following the season, the Dunk City nickname stayed in Fort Myers.

FGCU sophomore guard Rayjon Tucker let the world know Sunday afternoon that Dunk City is back, dunking so hard in the second half that he broke the shot clock.

In 2016, FGCU made its first trip back to the dance since its memorable debut appearance. The Eagles defeated Fairleigh Dickinson by 31 in the First Four, then trailed eventual national runner-up North Carolina by just one at halftime before dropping an 83-67 decision to the top-seeded Tar Heels.

Florida Gulf Coast is currently projected as a No. 14 seed in the latest bracket from SB Nation’s Chris Dobbertean.