Over the years Canada basketball has been on the rise and produced lottery picks in the NBA (Andrew Wiggins, Anthony Bennett, and Nik Stauskas). College hoops has gotten a dose of the Canadian flavour, this years NCAA Tournament featured 23 Canadians players; Three of those who competed in the NCAA Final Four.
South Carolina’s Duane Notice had a stellar senior campaign. Notice’s season average was 10.2 Points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists. The Toronto native embraced a vital leadership role this season, and it shown throughout the NCAA Tournament. The Gamecocks fell short in the Final Four to the Gonzaga Bulldogs 77-73. Notice finished with 10 points on 4-9 shooting from the field. The Gamecocks Senior Guard made history this season by leading South Carolina to its 1st Final Four appearance.
For Oregon, an integral part of their success has been attributed to the fellow Canadians (Dylan Ennis, Dillon Brooks, & Chris Boucher). Junior Forward Dillon Brooks has emerged as one of the best players in college hoops. The Mississauga native was named The PAC-12 Player of the Year, while averaging 16.1 points on 40.1 % shooting behind the arc. Chris Boucher also had a key role for the Oregon ducks; unfortunately his season was cut short when he tore his ACL. The 6th-Year Senior Guard Dylan Ennis is the leader for the Ducks, providing his experience, mental toughness, and leadership; Ennis Averaged 10.7 points, 4.4 Rebounds, and 3.1 assists for the season. The Ducks lead by 3 Canadians made it back the Final Four for the 1st time since 1939, before losing to a well experienced North Carolina team. Oregon had a historical run this season and definitely made their mark in the history books.
Looking into the future we can witness the start of a new era, by adding a dose of that Canadian flavour in NCAA college hoops. 3 Canadians playing in a NCAA Final Four, GO CANADA!!!
Article Link: https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/oregon-and-south-carolinas-duane-notice-add-dose-of-canadian-flavour-to-final-four(By: Blake Murphy)
Athletes: Duane Notice, Dylan Ennis, Dillon Brooks
