Earlier in the week, I talked about how Kentucky Wildcats guard Jamal Murray from could improve his draft stock with a strong performance in this year’s NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, which officially tips off today, but the Kitchener native isn’t the only Canadian that could have a major impact on their respective teams and this year’s brackets.
And it’s not just the boys that could make some noise either. Here’s a look at the Canucks to keep an eye on as the NCAA Tournaments get underway.
Dillon Brooks, Chris Boucher – Oregon
Tandem Canadians on a top seed, Brooks and Boucher combined to average just under 30 points per game for the Ducks. Oregon has never been seeded this high and has a lot to prove as the No. 1 seed in the West where schools like Duke, Baylor and Oklahoma State look to halt their run.
Stefan Jankovic – Hawaii
Andrew Wiggins’ former high school teammate started his college career in Iowa State, but left the Corn Belt for island life, where he has blossomed into a multi-faceted starter for the No. 13 seeds, who take on No. 4 Cal in the opening round.
Naz Long – Iowa State
Long and Jankovic were teammates at Iowa State – and profiled in the Up Next series on The Score before heading to college. While the latter departed for island life and greater success, the former stuck around with the Cyclones, who enter as the No. 4 seed in the Midwest, where several people are picking them to fall to No. 13 Iona in the opening round.
Kyle Wiltjer – Gonzaga
Wiltjer started his career at Kentucky, but shuffled off to Spokane and blossomed into a National Player of the Year candidate last season. He’s got a smooth touch from deep and leads a Bulldogs squad that doesn’t have as much buzz this year as in previous seasons, which means they might actually be a good pick to make a nice run in the tournament this year.
Dyshawn Pierre – Dayton
Pierre has been to the tournament with the Flyers a couple times and his return from injury sparked the team to a 16-5 mark over its final 21 games. The seventh seed in the Midwest, Dayton gets the challenge of facing the surprise No. 10 seed Syracuse in the opening round.
Kia Nurse – UConn
The Women’s Huskies are probably going to win another National title this year, having gone 31-0 in the regular season. Nurse has been a big part of that success and should remain such throughout the tournament. Like Murray on the men’s side, the 20-year-old could be one of the breakout stars on the women’s side.
Ruth Hamblin – Oregon State
Averaging nearly a double-double as a sophomore starter, the 6’6” Hamblin could be a serious impact player in this year’s tournament as her size and ability around the bucket are tough for anyone to deal with. Whenever her tournament run ends, Hamblin should move on to the WNBA.
Nirra Fields – UCLA
A member of the National Team like Nurse and a WNBA Draft hopeful like Hamblin, Fields in the second leading scorer for the Bruins, who enter the tournament as a No. 3 in Bridgeport, where an Elite Eight showdown with Nurse and the UConn Huskies could come together.
Mikalah Mulrain, Megan Smith – Robert Morris
Oregon has Brooks and Boucher on the men’s side and on the women’s side, Robert Morris has Mulrain and Smith, a one-two rebounding punch inside. Unfortunately, they open against Nurse and the unbeaten juggernauts from Storrs.
