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NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking the starting lineups of each Sweet 16 team

By Joey Loose

Mar 18, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; Houston Cougars guard Marcus Sasser (0) celebrates with teammates after a play during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2023; Birmingham, AL, USA; Houston Cougars guard Marcus Sasser (0) celebrates with teammates after a play during the second half against the Auburn Tigers at Legacy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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NCAA Tournament Gonzaga Bulldogs Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Tournament Gonzaga Bulldogs Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Gonzaga (3-seed)

Rasir Bolton (Senior – Guard)

Previously an All-Big 12 player at Iowa State, Bolton has been vital in Gonzaga’s backcourt these last two seasons, averaging 10.3 points and 2.6 assists in this his final collegiate campaign. He’s an effective shooter who’s put up a boatload of points in his career and makes around 40% of his 3-pointers. After quiet performances in recent weeks, Bolton was back on track with 17 points in the Bulldogs’ second-round victory over TCU.

Nolan Hickman (Sophomore – Guard)

Honored as one of the WCC’s best freshmen last season, Hickman has taken a step forward as a sophomore, averaging 8.4 points and 3.2 assists in his first season as a starter. He’s put up decent assist numbers and will only continue to grow into a bigger role with the Bulldogs, though he’s scored just 8 combined points in their first two Tournament games.

Julian Strawther (Junior – Guard)

Strawther wasn’t named First Team All-WCC on accident; he’s an elite-level shooter who’s made 43% of his 3-pointers this season. On the year, he’s averaging 15.5 points and 6.1 rebounds and is certainly taking a step forward to help lead this Gonzaga team. After a 40-point effort earlier in the season, Strawther stood out again with a 28-point, 10-rebound effort in the Bulldogs’ first-round win against Grand Canyon.

Drew Timme (Senior – Forward)

Already Gonzaga’s all-time leading scorer, Timme averages 20.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game and is one of the most decorated players in the history of the WCC. Timme was named a Second Team All-American for a third year in a row and is one of the top offensive weapons in the nation. After putting up 21 points against Grand Canyon in Gonzaga’s first game, he was even more impressive with 28 points and 8 rebounds in the second-round victory against TCU, pushing the Bulldogs on another postseason run.

Anton Watson (Senior – Forward)

Watson has developed into a significant weapon for the Bulldogs, putting up 11.4 points and 6.0 rebounds a game in his best season in Spokane. He’s shooting just under 62% from the field and finished second in the WCC with 1.9 steals a game too. Watson had a season-high 20 points against San Francisco in the WCC Tournament and has collected double-digit rebounds in both of Gonzaga’s Tournament wins already.

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