27 players on 17 teams to represent Canada in NCAA Tournament

With the number of Canadian NBA players on the rise, it's hardly surprising to also see Canadian ballers playing major roles in the college ranks.

The 2014 NCAA Tournament will put a great deal of Canadian basketball talent on display, with many names you're probably already familiar with. Andrew Wiggins could be the top pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, after all, and countrymen Tyler Ennis and Nik Stauskas could join him as first-round selections.

In all, 27 Canadian-born players will participate in March Madness, suiting up for 17 different teams (and these numbers don't include a pair of red-shirted players).

NBA-Bound

Andrew Wiggins, Kansas (No. 2, South Region) 
17.4 PPG, 6 RPG
Everyone is familiar with Wiggins by now. He's a guarantee to be drafted in the top-three, perhaps as high as No. 1, and his fluidity and elite defense should make him an intriguing NBA player right out of the gate. His offensive game can be inconsistent but he's shown the ability to take over games, even without lottery running mate Joel Embiid in the fold.

Tyler Ennis, Syracuse (No. 3, South Region) 
12.7 PPG, 5.5 APG, 2.1 SPG
There is perhaps no more steady player in the college ranks than Ennis, who is constantly composed and rarely has a bad outing. He's presently on the lottery bubble and could secure himself a high draft slot with a strong tournament showing, one that could include a Sweet Sixteen showdown with Wiggins.

Nik Stauskas, Michigan (No. 2, Midwest Region) 
17.5 PPG, 3.4 APG
One of the most improved players in college ball, Stauskas has become a deadly offensive weapon, shooting 50.3 percent on twos and 44.9 percent on threes. While there are concerns about his defense and shot-creation at the next level, he should find himself selected in the middle of the first round in June, perhaps higher if he can lead the Wolverines on a deep run.

Players on High Seeds

Chadrack Lufile, Wichita State (No. 1, Midwest Region), 5.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG
Nick Wiggins, Wichita State (No. 1, Midwest Region), 5.1 PPG
Dylan Ennis, Villanova (No. 2, East Region), 5.4 PPG
Melvin Ejim, Iowa State(No. 3, East Region), 18.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG
Nazareth Long, Iowa State (No. 3, East Region), 7 PPG
Jahenns Manigat, Creighton (No. 3, West Region), 7.2 PPG, 2.9 APG

Both Lufile and Wiggins play minor, off-the-bench roles for the undefeated Shockers, though their minutes could be limited if coach Gregg Marshall employs a tighter rotation as the competition gets tougher. Ennis transferred to Villanova from Rice and got plenty of run early, but took on a more muted role late in the year.

Ejim is the leading scorer and top all-around player for Iowa State, making him a borderline candidate as a second-round pick. Teammate Long has a smaller, but still important, role, often appearing as the first guard off the bench. Manigat starts for the Blue Jays but defers heavily in the offense, as any good guard would do with Doug McDermott on the floor.

More Top Names

Brady Heslip, Baylor (No. 6, West Region), 11.8 PPG
Kenny Chery, Baylor (No. 6, West Region), 11.6 PPG, 5 APG
Kevin Pangos, Gonzaga (No. 8, West Region), 14.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 3.7 APG
Jordan Bachynksi, Arizona State (No. 10, Midwest Region), 11.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 4.1 BPG
Dyshawn Pierre, Dayton (No. 11, South Region), 11.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG

Heslip provides deadly shooting - 47.3 percent on threes - for the Bears, and is a key reason they're one of the tournament's most dangerous teams from long range. Chery is generally the one setting Heslip up, providing solid on-court leadership and a steady hand at the point.

For the third season in a row, Pangos is a key contributor on the Bulldogs. He ranks second on the team in scoring and is deadly from deep, hitting 41.1 percent of his threes. Meanwhile, nobody in the country blocked more shots than Bachynski, a 7-foot-2 shot-erasing machine. Pierre has taken a nice step forward as a sophomore, seeing his percentages slide some but his production increase with a larger role for the Flyers.

New Mexico State is a Canadian Outpost

Sim Bhullar, New Mexico State (No. 13, West Region), 10.3 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.4 BPG
Renaldo Dixon, New Mexico State (No. 13, West Region), 8.4 PPG, 5.6 RPG
Daniel Mullings, New Mexico State (No. 13, West Region), 16.8 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 3.5 APG
Tanveer Bhullar, New Mexico State (No. 13, West Region), has not played

The larger Bhullar brother, Sim - he's 7-foot-5 to brother Tanveer's 7-foot-3 - teams with Dixon to give the Aggies one of the most intimidating frontcourts in college basketball. It's no wonder, then, that New Mexico State was a top-40 rebounding team and seventh in the country in blocks. But it's Mullings who carries the load, leading the team in scoring and assists while providing pesky perimeter defense.

Smart Guys, These Canadians

Dwight Powell, Stanford (No. 10, South Region), 14.2 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.2 APG
Stefan Nastic, Stanford (No. 10, South Region), 7 PPG
Laurent Rivard, Harvard (No. 12, East Region), 10 PPG
Agunwa Okolie, Harvard (No. 12, East Region), 2.8 PPG
Patrick Steeves, Harvard (No. 12, East Region), has not played

Okay, so Stanford technically doesn't play in the Ivy League, they are general included under the "Ivy Plus" academic umbrella. In any case, these five high-IQ ballers could all make noise on opening weekend, as Stanford and Harvard are both popular early picks for round-of-64 upsets.

Powell may be the Cardinals' best player, though he isn't the leading scorer or rebounder, instead taking on a facilitating role from the post. Nastic provides some size alongside Powell at 6-foot-11, though he struggles to block shots and rebound.

Rivard is the leader of the Crimson, a senior who knows his role as a secondary option and looks to add to the whole in other ways. Okolie has a much smaller role and may be kept on the bench against stiffer competition. Steeves has failed to see action for the second season in a row.

Other Canadians

Grandy Glaze, Saint Louis (No. 5, Midwest Region), 4 PPG, 4.8 RPG
Richard Amardi, Oregon (No. 7, West Region), 6.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG
Dustin Triano, Gonzaga (No. 8, West Region), has not played
Jaylen Babb-Harrison, Eastern Kentucky (No. 15, South Region)

Glaze still hasn't carved out a major role as a junior and was used sparingly late in the year but can provide some help on the glass in short bursts. Amardi is usually one of the first post players off the bench for the Ducks, spelling their four-guard starting lineup and introducing some size. Triano, the son of Portland Trail Blazers assistant coach Jay Triano, actually walked-on for the Bulldogs, joining fellow Canadian Pangos. Babb-Harrison also hasn't played, though he'll have a front-row seat for Wiggins in the round-of-64.