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The Canadians ready to compete in the Sweet 16

Syracuse’s Oshae Brissett is one of a select-few Canadians advancing to the Sweet 16.
Syracuse’s Oshae Brissett is one of a select-few Canadians advancing to the Sweet 16.

When teams were chosen on Selection Sunday 10 days ago, 68 teams were given a chance to prove themselves and compete for the NCAA men’s basketball championship.

Included in that, 21 Canadians in the race for the title.

Now after two rounds of unforgettable games (including a ton of huge upsets and crazy buzzer-beaters), just seven players from north of the border remain.

Gonzaga’s Brandon Clarke from Vancouver and Loyola’s Aher Uguak from Edmonton are both red-shirting this season, and therefore aren’t playing in this year’s March Madness tournament, while Syracuse’s Howard Washington suffered a torn ACL in January, keeping him out of competition.

That leaves four. Well, sorta.

Isiah Jasey has only played one minute and recorded one rebound in two games with Texas A&M in his freshman year, limiting it to three Canadians playing prominent roles on teams that danced into the Sweet 16.

Florida State’s Mfiondu Kabengele, a Burlington native, has played a big role in two upsets so far this tournament. First, in the 8 vs. 9 game against Missouri, he scored 14 points, pulled down 12 rebounds and had two blocks to help his team earn the 67-54 victory.

In the second round, with Florida State looking to take down No. 1 Xavier, Kabengele earned nine points and six rebounds in 23 minutes as the Seminoles earned the 75-70 upset.

Florida State meets Gonzaga on Thursday night.

The Syracuse Orange had a difficult road to the Sweet 16, and Mississauga native Oshae Brissett led the way like he has throughout his rookie season.

In the team’s first four play-in game, Brissett recorded a double-double with 23 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Orange punch its ticket to the March Madness bracket.

That’s when the upsets began for Syracuse. In the first- and second-round matchups, Brissett played 40 minutes per game. Against six seed Texas Christian University, Brissett chipped in 15 points and nine rebounds to lead Syracuse to a 57-52 victory, And in the second round, an intense 55-53 upset over third-seeded Michigan State, Brissett poured in 15 points and added nine rebounds.

Syracuse meets the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils on Friday.

Kentucky’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hasn’t played quite as many minutes as Brissett in his first two tournament games, but he’s had a huge impact for the Wildcats.

In the 78-73 victory over Davidson, Gilgeous-Alexander contributed 19 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. And in the second round, when Kentucky defeated the Buffalo Bulls, he outdid himself; Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, adding six rebounds and six assists.

Kentucky will play Kansas State in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.

So, which Canadian player making an impact in the tournament will make it the furthest?

Kabengele’s Seminoles are underdogs versus Gonzaga, but are being given better odds to upset the Bulldogs than Brissett’s Orange to advance. Syracuse, though talented and a headache for opponent with its zone defence, are in tough against Coach K’s perennial tournament contenders.

That leaves Kentucky, the team that has probably benefitted most from all the upsets we have seen so far in the tournament. UMBC’s historic victory over No. 1 Virginia means the Wildcats will avoid meeting a top-four seed on their path to the Final Four.

Unless something crazy happens (which it definitely could and as a Canadian basketball fan, I hope it does!) Hamilton’s Gilgeous-Alexander will be the Canadian to make it furthest in the tournament.

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