The NCAA Tournament started on Tuesday night in Dayton with Prime Minister David Cameron in attendance, but several British players will be watching at home after suffering tough losses over the weekend.
Danny Carter’s Stony Brook came up one win short after being defeated by Vermont in the America East conference championship game, with Carter grabbing two rebounds in seven minutes of play.
Patrick Nyeko’s Nevada were upset at the semi-final stage in their conference tournament and missed out on a spot in the Big Dance as a result. Nyeko was scoreless in the game, playing only three minutes.
Aaron Geramipoor and Alex Marcotullio also missed out after their teams were passed over for at-large NCAA Tournament bids.
A loss to Minnesota in the first round of the Big Ten tournament was the final nail in Northwestern’s coffin. Marcotullio had six points in 17 minutes off the Wildcats’ bench. Seton Hall were similarly unimpressive in their conference tournament, losing to Louisville with Geramipoor not getting in the game.
That leaves Shane Walker, Teddy Okereafor (above) and Ali Mackay as the only British players in the tournament field.
Okereafor’s VCU team has the best chance of advancing out of the first round, but even their draw is a tough one as they face Wichita State, a team picked by many as a dark horse for the Final Four.
Walker will have the unenviable task of defending future NBA lottery pick Jared Sullinger as Loyola Maryland will take on Ohio State.
Davidson drew Big East tournament champion Louisville and will play tomorrow afternoon. Mackay is unlikely to get off the bench for the Wildcats, unless the game is a blowout.
You can watch the tournament on ESPN America from 4pm GMT on Thursday.
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