In what most people may often consider the step children of the NCAA Tournament, we have some Canadians playing in both the National Invitational Tournament and the College Insiders Tournament. Though they don't have the same prestige as the one that will be on your TV, these are still post season tourneys nonetheless and our boys deserve some love. So without further adieu, see who's playing in them right here ...
Like yesterday with our NC-Double-Eh Tournament Breakdown, we will give you a similar bare bones look at both the NIT and College Invitational Tournament that are happening this week. Mark my words, you'll not find a preview of these Canadians anywhere among the media I'm sure ...
National Invitational Tournament
The Players:
Oregon (2) - Devoe Joseph, Olu Ashaolu; Marshall (1) - JP Kambola; Minnesota (1) - Maurice Walker; Drexel (1) - Stevan Manojlovic; Bucknell (1) - Bryson Johnson; Stanford (2) - Dwight Powell, Stefan Nastic; Cleveland State (1) - Ludovic Ndaye
The Starters:
Devoe Joseph, Olu Ashaolu (he has started to end the season but may come off the bench), Dwight Powell
Other guys averaging more than 15 minutes a game:
Bryson Johnson
Guys who make significant statistical contributions:
Devoe Joseph - 16.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 57 made threes, .422 3-PT%, 35.0 mpg
Olu Ashaolu - 8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, .549 FG%, 20.0 mpg
Bryson Johnson - 9.3 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.3 apg, 79 made threes, .409 3-PT%, 25.1 mpg
Dwight Powell - 5.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 17.0 mpg
Provincial Breakdown:
Ontario - Devoe Joseph, Olu Ashaolu, JP Kambola, Maurice Walker, Stevan Manojlovic, Dwight Powell, Stefan Nastic
Quebec - Ludovic Ndaye
Nova Scotia - Bryson Johnson
Of the nine players in the NIT Tournament only one to earn a post season conference honor:
Devoe Joseph - All Pac-12 First Team
Best nickname:
Ludovic Ndaye - Luda. I just had to put that in there. Seeing "Luda" in the boxscores as the year went on just made me chuckle.
College Insiders Invitational
The Players:
Drake (1) - Kurt Alexander; Idaho (1) - Djim Bandoumel; North Dakota (1) - Lenny Antwi; Rice (1) - Dylan Ennis; Tennessee Tech (1) - Liam McMorrow
The Starters:
Djim Bandoumel, Dylan Ennis, Kurt Alexander (he has started towards the end of the season and could come off the bench in the game)
Other guys averaging 15 minutes a game:
None
Guys who make significant statistical contributions:
Djim Bandoumel - 8.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 1.1 apg, 1.5 bpg, 25.4 mpg
Dylan Ennis - 8.0 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.1 spg, 26.3 mpg
Kurt Alexander - 8.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.5 apg, 19.3 mpg
Liam McMorrow - 4.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 13.8 mpg
Provincial Breakdown:
Ontario - Kurt Alexander, Dylan Ennis, Liam McMorrow
Quebec - Djim Bandoumel, Lenny Antwi
Of the five players playing in the CIT Tournament, two have earned post season conference awards:
Djim Bandoumel - Western Athletic Conference All Newcomer Team
Dylan Ennis - Conference USA All Freshman Team