More Canadians than ever made the rosters of NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams and 20 of them will be playing in the 2011 March Madness tournament. If nationality is all that matters, Canadians will be cheering for Long Island University, the Northeast Conference champion that features three players from Ontario and one from Quebec. But the Blackbirds are a 15 seed and will struggle to upset No. 2 North Carolina. If talent comes first, then Texas forward Tristan Thompson is the guy to keep in mind when you fill out your March Madness bracket. The freshman from Nevada’s Findlay Prep High School hails from Brampton and, at 6-foot-8, 225 pounds, is considered a potential first-round NBA pick.
Here is a list of the Canadians in the 2011 NCAA Tournament, and their hometowns, according to their respective teams’ websites.
Long Island University
Kyle Johnson (Toronto), 6-5, guard
Arnold Mayorga (London), 6-7, forward
Robinson Odoch Opong (Quebec City), 6-3, guard
Troy Joseph (Ajax), 6-6, guard/forward
Gonzaga
Mangisto Arop (Edmonton; St. Mary’s Secondary Catholic School in Hamilton, Ont.) 6-6, forward
Kelly Olynyk (Kamloops, B.C.), 7-0, forward
Robert Sacre, (North Vancouver, B.C.), 7-0, center
Texas
Cory Joseph (Pickering), 6-3, guard
Tristan Thompson (Brampton), 6-8, forward
Syracuse
Kris Joseph (Montreal), 6-7, forward
Alabama State
Dwayne Harvey (Hamilton), 5-11, guard
Bucknell
Bryson Johnson (Pictou, N.S.; St. David’s Catholic School in Waterloo, Ont.), 6-1, guard
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Adrian Brijbassi 