NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking all remaining Sweet 16 teams

Mar 17, 2023; Denver, CO, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs bench players including center Efton Reid III (15) and guard Nolan Hickman (11) celebrate with forward Anton Watson (22) during the first half against the Grand Canyon Antelopes at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael Ciaglo-USA TODAY Sports /

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Xavier Musketeers guard Souley Boum NCAA Tournament Ncaa Xavier Pitt Basketball March 19 0480 /

12. Xavier Musketeers – 27-9 (15-5 Big East)

Wins over Kennesaw State and Pittsburgh

There were a couple of big-time upsets in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and Xavier was very close to being one of them. They were trailing by as many as 12 points to 14-seed Kennesaw State and were playing awful on the defensive end. But a big second-half performance by the starters led a big comeback to prevent the upset, winning 72-67.

Jerome Hunter, who is the 5th scoring option in the lineup, had a game-high 24 points. Souley Boum had 17 points and Jack Nunge had a double-double. It showed the offensive potential the team still had, even without forward Zach Freemantle around. They didn’t have the same kind of trouble against Pitt in the Round of 32, up by as much as 20 points in the 84-73 win.

All six main rotation players were in double figures, led by Nunge with 18 points. Colby Jones had a terrific effort all around, going for 10 points, 14 rebounds, and seven assists. When he plays well, it’s simply difficult to stop Xavier overall.

Their next opponent is Texas, a team with just as much, if not more, scoring depth than the Musketeers. The battle of the backcourts will be one to watch and Xavier needs more from Boum, who has struggled so far, even if the point totals don’t show it.

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