Canadians are still playing key roles for March Madness contenders

The NCAA men’s basketball tournament is well underway, with the first two play-in games setting the stage for the main 64-team bracket that kicks off on Thursday. On the women’s side, the play-ins are starting tonight, leading up to the official start of the tournament on Friday.

Canadian basketball players are making their mark in both tournaments, with a total of 20 Canadians on teams that qualified for the men’s tournament. One notable absence is Zach Edey, the 7-foot-4 centre who led Purdue to the championship game last year and is now making waves in the NBA as a rookie with the Memphis Grizzlies.

However, there are still standout Canadian players to watch, including Ryan Nembhard, the senior point guard for Gonzaga who led all of Division I in assists per game. Nembhard is looking to help Gonzaga make its 10th consecutive trip to the Sweet Sixteen, facing tough competition from teams like Houston, led by Canadian guard Emanuel Sharp.

Another player to keep an eye on is Aden Holloway, a guard for Alabama with dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship. Holloway is known for his three-point shooting and is aiming to help Alabama make a deep tournament run.

On the women’s side, Canadian players like Toby Fournier of Duke and Syla Swords of Michigan are making an impact. Fournier, a freshman forward, earned the ACC freshman of the year award and was named first-team all-conference despite not starting any games. Swords, a guard from Sudbury, Ont., is the second-leading scorer for Michigan and has had impressive performances against top-ranked teams.

Other Canadian players to watch include Mila Holloway, Avery Howell, and JuJu Watkins, a star player for USC. With top teams like USC, UCLA, Texas, and defending champion South Carolina in the mix, the women’s tournament promises to be an exciting competition.

For more insights on the top women in the NCAA tournament, check out CBC Sports’ coverage by Tara De Boer. Stay tuned as the tournament unfolds and see which Canadian players rise to the occasion on the national stage.