Florida Atlantic Owls guard Brandon Weatherspoon Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

FAU radio announcer nearly missed the call of his life

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 3/25/23

Ken LaVicka was ready to make the call of his life as the final seconds of Florida Atlantic's Elite 8 win over Kansas State ticked down. However, technical issues nearly ruined LaVicka's big moment.

Following FAU's remarkable win over K-State, LaVicka revealed to NCAA.com's Andy Katz that an ethernet outage with 18.6 seconds left sent LaVicka and his team into a frenzy, trying desperately to regain power.

"A life's dream is crumbling before me," LaVicka said. "I grabbed from that second table an ethernet cord, plug it into my broadcast equipment. One of my teammates from ESPN West Palm in West Palm Beach sitting next to me, held the comrex unit while I called the final 15 seconds of the game and the day was saved."

Ken LaVicka of the FAU Radio network had quite a hectic final minute of his broadcast. You can’t make this up. He nearly missed his career call for @FAUMBB to go to @MarchMadnessMBB @MFinalFour: pic.twitter.com/H3gRXsFZYG
— Andy Katz (@TheAndyKatz) March 26, 2023

As for the call itself, LaVicka, using the Final Four host city as inspiration, created a new spin on an old classic.

"Houston, you have a problem," LaVicka said. "Florida Atlantic is coming to town looking for a trophy!"

#FAU

you should listen... https://t.co/hlede8Z0dh
— Ken LaVicka (@KLV1063) March 26, 2023

FAU is a true Cinderella, coming from nowhere to within a win of playing for a national title.

Ahead of the 2022-23 season, the program had yet to win a single NCAA Tournament game. However, finishing 31-3, they earned the No. 9 seed in the tournament, rallying off victories over No. 8 Memphis, No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson, No. 4 Tennessee and No. 3 Kansas State.

Now, LaVicka must prepare for his next call behind the mic when the Owls take the floor for the Final Four. FAU will face the winner of Sunday's Elite 8 contest pitting No. 5 San Diego State vs. No. 6 Creighton.

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