8 players with ties to Canada still alive in March Madness
With 36 teams down, there are only a handful of players with notable ties to Canada remaining in the NCAA tournament.
Do any of them have the potential to become the next Andrew Wiggins or Jamal Murray? Only time will tell, but at least a handful of these hoopers from the Great White North are playing crucial roles for their squads, and as the first round made perfectly clear, anything can happen in March Madness.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kentucky
Hamilton native Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solidified his standing as the best Canadian in collegiate hoops this season, leading fifth-seeded Kentucky into a Round of 32 clash with Buffalo. The sophomore guard ranks second on the Wildcats in points (15.9) and first in assists (5.1) per game, leveraging his 6-foot-6 frame into scoring opportunities against opposing backcourts.
The South region is wide open after first-seeded Virginia and fourth-seeded Arizona both fell in the Round of 64. With a few more games of inspired performance, Gilgeous-Alexander could force potential NBA suitors to consider selecting him as a lottery pick - that is, if he does indeed declare for the draft.
When to watch: 5:15 p.m., Saturday, March 17
Dominic Johnson, Buffalo
Windsor's Dominic Johnson has appeared in 10 games to date as a deep bench reserve for the Bulls, including one minute in Buffalo's first-round upset over Arizona. The freshman is also a quarterback for the school's football team.
When to watch: 5:15 p.m., Saturday, March 17
Kyle Alexander, Tennessee
In his third year for Rick Barnes' Tennessee squad, Milton's Kyle Alexander has blossomed into an important contributor, ranking third on the team in rebounds (5.6) and first in blocks (1.7) per game.
Despite the Volunteers' balanced frontcourt rotation, which usually limits Alexander to fewer than 30 minutes per game, the 6-foot-9 forward has hit double digits in boards five times this season.
Tennessee will face 11th-seeded Loyola Chicago next.
When to watch: 6:10 p.m., Saturday, March 17
Christian David, Butler
Christian David, also from Milton, provides wing depth for an upperclassman-laden Butler squad. He's averaged just 5.7 minutes per game over 24 appearances in his freshman campaign and didn't see any action in the Bulldogs' first-round win over Arkansas. When gifted extended run versus Youngstown State back in December, David dropped 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and three rebounds in 19 minutes.
David and Co. will look to extend their season versus second-seeded Purdue to start Sunday's action.
When to watch: 12:10 p.m., Sunday, March 18
Oshae Brissett and Howard Washington, Syracuse
Eleventh-seeded Syracuse offers a two-for-one deal for Canadian hoop heads looking for a local rooting interest.
Freshman power forward Oshae Brissett of Mississauga has started all 35 games this season for the Orange, leading the team - and all Canadians in the NCAA - with 8.9 rebounds per game. Not to be type-cast as a rangeless rebounder, Brissett is second on the team in scoring (14.9 points per game) and has shot 34 percent on 4.5 threes per game.
Buffalo-born Howard Washington also has strong Canadian ties, holding dual-citizenship and spending a year of high school at Orangeville, Ontario's Athlete Institute. Unfortunately, the freshman guard was ruled out for the season after suffering a leg injury in late January.
Syracuse has some work to do versus third-seeded Michigan State.
When to watch: 2:40 p.m., Sunday, March 18
Eliel Nsoseme, Cincinnati
Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eliel Nsoseme attended The RISE Centre in Brantford, Ontario, becoming one of Canada's top 2017 recruits. Now, he's providing frontcourt depth behind seniors Gary Clark and Kyle Washington.
Nsoseme will likely play a limited role in Cincinnati's game against Nevada, but he appears to have an opportunity to seize a much larger role in the years to come.
When to watch: 6:10 p.m., Sunday, March 18
Mfiondu Kabengele, Florida State
The Seminoles boast one of the most balanced attacks in college basketball, with nine players averaging between 6.4 and 13.1 points. Burlington's Mfiondu Kabengele is on the lower end of that spectrum, averaging 7.3 points and 4.7 rebounds - but those numbers come in just 14.5 minutes per game. After dropping a 14-point, 12-rebound performance against Michael Porter Jr.'s Missouri in the Round of 64, the redshirt freshman can't be ignored.
Florida State has reasonable upset potential over first-seeded Xavier.
When to watch: 8:40 p.m., Sunday, March 18
Bonus: Aher Uguak, Loyola Chicago
Loyola Chicago earned some buzz after besting Miami in Round 1 (and receiving a presidential endorsement). Unfortunately, Edmonton's Aher Uguak couldn't directly partake; the 6-foot-7 forward is sitting out 2017-18 after transferring from New Mexico. He'll make his debut with the Ramblers as a redshirt sophomore next season.
When to watch: 6:10 p.m., Saturday, March 17
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)