Gonzaga routs Kansas, advances to NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 again

The Zags are headed to the Sweet 16 for the 9th consecutive season

Gonzaga v Kansas / Chris Gardner/GettyImages

SALT LAKE CITY - Gonzaga left no doubt.

Considered an NCAA Tournament bubble team just over a month ago, the Gonzaga Bulldogs advanced to their 9th consecutive Sweet 16 with a resounding 89-68 thrashing of the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon.

Kansas led 44-43 at halftime, but did not show up in the second half. The Zags drilled their first five 3-pointers coming out of the locker room and built a 27-point lead with 5:55 to play. They outscored Kansas 46-24 in the second half.

Anton Watson led Gonzaga with 21 points and 6 rebounds and Nolan Hickman added 17. Ben Gregg and Graham Ike finished with 15 points apiece. Braden Huff scored 11 points, all in the first half.

With Ryan Nembhard at the helm, the Bulldogs put Kansas big man Hunter Dickinson in pick and rolls all game, exploiting him with the inside-out versatility of Gregg, Watson and Huff. Nembhard finished with 12 assists.

Dickinson led Kansas with 15 points and 5 rebounds.

Gonzaga advances to face the winner of No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 8 Utah State next week in Detroit.

Stay tuned for full postgame coverage from Gonzaga Nation.