TORONTO, ON (March 18, 2019) - The 2019 NCAA men's basketball tournament is almost upon us and Canadian college hoops fans will have plenty to cheer about as 24 players from North of the border are involved.

Mississauga native R.J. Barrett and the Duke Blue Devils enter the tournament as ACC champions and the No. 1 seed in the East region.  Barrett is coming off a historic season in which he established a new Duke freshman single-season scoring record and ACC freshman single-season scoring record after averaging 22.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.1 assists.  He was also named to Sporting News' All-American First Team and the All-ACC First Team.

Brandon Clarke will look to lead Gonzaga to their first NCAA championship as the Bulldogs open the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the West on Thursday.  Born in Vancouver, Clarke averaged 16.5 points per game and ranked tied for fourth nationally with a .693 field goal percentage.  After missing last season transferring from San Jose State, Clarke’s 3.1 blocks per game have him firmly established as a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year finalist.

Sophmore Nickeil Alexander-Walker has played a major role this season for the Hokies as Virginia Tech appears poised for a deep run as they also chase their first NCAA title in program history.  Alexander-Walker comes into the tournament averaging career highs in points (16.6), rebounds (4.1), assists (4.0) and steals (1.9).

Michigan Wolverines freshman Ignas Brazdeikis turned heads this season as the he was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and to the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.  Brazdeikis was also made an All-Big Ten Second Team selection after averaging 15.1 points and 5.2 rebounds this season for the Wolverines.

12 of the 24 players in the 2019 NCAA tournament have represented Canada internationally.  Most recently, Barrett and Florida Gators guard Andrew Nembhard played for Canada last summer at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers.  Prince Oduro and Lindell Wigginton, along with Barrett, were members of Canada's historic gold medal winning team at the 2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup.

Marcus Carr (Minnesota), Koby McEwen (Marquette) and Prince Oduro (Mississippi State) are sitting out the 2018-19 season due to NCAA transfer rules.

Wednesday, March 20 – First Four

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Thursday, March 21 - First Round

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Friday, March 22 - First Round

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Saturday, March 23 - Second Round

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Sunday, March 24 - Second Round

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Thursday, March 28 - Round of 16

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Friday, March 29 - Round of 16

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Saturday, March 30 - Elite Eight

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Sunday, March 31 - Elite Eight

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Kyle Alexander – #11 F – Senior – Tennessee Volunteers – Milton, ON

77-70 W vs. (15) Colgate - 2 points, 6 rebounds

83-77 W vs. (10) Iowa - 8 points, 9 rebounds

99-94 L OT vs. (3) Purdue - 9 points, 8 rebounds

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Nickeil Alexander-Walker – #4 G – Sophomore – Virginia Tech Hokies – Toronto, ON

66-52 W vs. (13) Saint Louis - 20 points, 6 rebounds

67-58 W vs. (12) Liberty - 6 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds

75-73 L vs. (1) Duke - 9 points, 1 rebbound, 5 assists

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2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men

Devonte Bandoo – #2 G – Junior – Baylor Bears – Brampton, ON

78-69 W vs. (8) Syracuse - 6 points, 1 rebound

83-71 L vs. (1) Gonzaga - 4 points, 1 rebound

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R.J. Barrett – #5 F – Freshman – Duke Blue Devils – Mississauga, ON

86-62 W vs. (16) North Dakota St. - 26 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists

77-76 W vs. (9) UCF - 16 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists

75-73 W vs. (4) Virginia Tech - 18 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds

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2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men, 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship, 2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers

Maxime Boursiquot – #14 G – Junior – Northeastern Huskies – Ottawa, ON (injured)

Ignas Brazdeikis – #13 F – Freshman – Michigan Wolverines – Mono, ON

74-55 W vs. (15) Montana - 14 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist

64-49 W vs. (10) Florida - 5 points, 3 rebounds

63-44 L vs. (3) Texas Tech - 17 points, 13 rebounds

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2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men, 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship

Oshae Brissett – #11 F – Sophomore – Syracuse Orange – Mississauga, ON

78-69 L vs. (9) Baylor - 14 points, 8 rebounds

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2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men

Marcus Carr – #2 G – Sophomore – Minnesota Golden Gophers (transfer from Pittsburgh)

2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men

Brandon Clarke – #15 F – Junior – Gonzaga Bulldogs – Phoenix, AZ (born Vancouver, British Columbia)

87-49 W vs. (16) FDU - 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists

83-71 W vs. (9) Baylor - 36 points, 8 rebounds, 5 blocks, 3 assists, 2 steals

72-58 W vs. (4) Florida State - 15 points, 12 rebounds, 5 blocks, 2 assists

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Joseph Chartouny – #21 G – Senior – Marquette Golden Eagles – Montreal, QC

83-64 L vs. (12) Murray State

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Eze Dike – #1 G – Freshman – Yale Bulldogs – Montreal, QC

79-74 L vs. (3) LSU

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Luguentz Dort – #0 G – Freshman – Arizona State Sun Devils – Montreal, QC

74-65 W vs. (11) St. John's - 21 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists

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Clayton Henry – #5 G – Junior – New Mexico State Aggies – Calgary, AB

78-77 L vs. (5) Auburn

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Ja'Shon Henry – #22 G – Freshman – Bradley Braves – Saskatoon, SK

76-65 L vs. (2) Michigan State - 2 points

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Dominic Johnson – #21 F – Sophomore – Buffalo Bulls – Windsor, ON

91-74 W vs. (11) Arizona State

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Mfiondu Kabengele – #25 F – Sophomore – Florida State Seminoles – Burlington, ON

76-69 W vs. (13) Vermont - 21 points, 10 rebounds

90-62 W vs. (12) Murray St. - 22 points, 7 rebounds

72-58 L vs. (1) Gonzaga - 8 points, 7 rebounds

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Jonathan Kabongo – #10 G – Freshman – Virginia Tech Hokies – Toronto, ON

66-52 W vs. (13) Saint Louis - 1 rebound

67-58 W vs. (12) Liberty

75-73 L vs. (1) Duke

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2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men

Koby McEwen – #25 G – Junior – Marquette Golden Eagles – Toronto, ON (transfer from Utah State)

Andrew Nembhard – #2 G – Freshman – Florida Gators – Aurora, ON

70-61 W vs. (7) Nevada - 8 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists

64-49 L vs. (2) Michigan - 7 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds

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2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men, 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship, 2018 FIBA U18 Americas Championship, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers

Prince Oduro – #15 F – Sophomore – Mississippi State Bulldogs (transfer from Sienna)

2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup

Marial Shayok – #3 G – Senior – Iowa State Cyclones – Ottawa, ON

62-59 L vs. (11) Ohio State - 23 points, 5 rebounds

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2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men, 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men

Stef Smith – #0 G – Sophomore – Vermont Catamounts – Ajax, ON

76-69 L vs. (4) Florida State - 15 points, 6 rebounds

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2016 FIBA U17 World Championship

Howard Washington – #10 G – Sophomore – Syracuse Orange – Buffalo, NY (dual citizenship) (medical redshirt)

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2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men

Lindell Wigginton – #5 G – Sophomore – Iowa State Cyclones – Dartmouth, NS

62-59 L vs. (11) Ohio State - 14 points, 3 rebounds

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2016 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men, 2017 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup

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