NCAA Tournament 2023: Ranking the starting lineups of each Sweet 16 team
By Joey Loose
15. Florida Atlantic (9-seed)
Nick Boyd (Sophomore – Guard)
Boyd redshirted last season but hasn’t wasted time as a sophomore, averaging 9.0 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game for the Owls. Not only is he a hardworker who plays tough defense, but he’s made 41% of his 3-pointers this season. While Boyd has had solid scoring efforts in games earlier in the year, nothing topped his game-winning shot against Memphis in the opening round of the Big Dance.
Johnell Davis (Sophomore – Guard)
An impactful weapon for the Owls who only recently became a starter, Davis averages 13.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in this dynamic backcourt at Florida Atlantic. He’s up to 39% from beyond the arc and was actually named Sixth Man of the Year in Conference USA. Davis was also First Team All-CUSA and has saved his best work for the postseason, putting up 29 points and 12 rebounds to spearhead the Owls’ second-round win over Fairleigh Dickinson.
Vladislav Goldin (Sophomore – Forward)
Goldin is the young 7’1 big man in a relatively small starting unit, making his 10.5 points and 6.4 rebounds per game even more important. An efficient forward, he’s hit 64% of his field goals as a sophomore and was named Third Team All-CUSA for his role in Florida Atlantic’s incredible season. Neither Tournament performances jump off the page, but Goldin’s very presence is important on this team, plus he had a dynamic stretch of offense in February.
Bryan Greenlee (Junior – Guard)
Three years ago a bench piece at Minnesota, Greenlee has worked his way into relevance with the Owls. This was his weakest season, averaging just 7.2 points and 2.5 rebounds per game, but he’s still been a strong weapon for Florida Atlantic, hitting 38% of his 3-pointers. Greenlee was solid with 10 points in their opening-round win against Memphis and actually had a 23-point outing much earlier in the season.
Alijah Martin (Sophomore – Guard)
A major part of Florida Atlantic’s surge this season, Martin averaged 13.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game and was named First Team All-CUSA. He’s one of the best shooters in this conference and earned CUSA Tournament MVP honors after scoring 30 against UAB in the title game. His 14 points against Fairleigh Dickinson helped lead the Owls to their first-ever trip to the Sweet Sixteen.