ANAHEIM - Of every program, in every sport in major college athletics, there might not be a single one which has branded itself better than Oregon football over the last few years. A combination of bright (and ever-changing) uniform combinations, a fun style of offence, and a coach named “Chip Kelly” allowed the school in Eugene, Oregon to go from “college football afterthought” a few years ago, to one of the most recognizable programs in the nation.

Branding is clearly a part of what Oregon “does” and it appears as though the basketball program might have taken a page right out of the football team’s playbook. Yes, the Ducks’ hoops team is officially ready to be known for something... but it’s not the uniforms on their backs, so much as the players who wear those uniforms.

Oregon has three players on its roster from Canada, which raises the question: With just 16 teams left in the NCAA Tournament, is Oregon officially “Canada’s Team"?

“Ha, I never thought about being ‘Canada’s team,’” Dylan Ennis, a senior guard who has spent most of this season injured, said with a laugh on Wednesday. “But we love that we’re all Canadian.”

The “we” Ennis is speaking of, are he, Dillon Brooks and Chris Boucher, three players from north of the border, with three very distinct backgrounds. The trio all arrived in Eugene under completely different circumstances, but have combined to help the Ducks have their best season in generations. Oregon plays defending National Champion Duke on Thursday, and if they win, they will have the opportunity to play for a trip to the Final Four on Saturday.

Of the three Canadians on Oregon’s roster, the most high-profile is definitely Brooks, a dynamic 6’6 wing player from Mississauga, Ontario. To his credit, Brooks has broken out in a big way this season, seeing his scoring average jump from 11 points per game a year ago to over just under 17 in 2016.

That included a 25-point performance in a win over St. Joseph’s last week, a performance that caught the eye of legendary Duke (and Team USA) coach Mike Krzyzewski.

“I think he’s their best player,” Krzyzewski said. “Probably as versatile a player as I've seen (this season). I'm not saying "the most" because (Virginia’s Malcolm) Brogdon we've seen a lot. But he's in that category of just really versatile because he does everything. He rebounds, he defends, he can hit threes, he gets fouled. He does everything.”

Brooks truly is one of the most versatile players in college basketball, and when asked what led to his breakout season, he was quick to credit his time with Team Canada at last summer’s Pan Am games.

“It helped me knowing the ins and outs of the game,” Brooks said. “I played with guys that have played the game (as pros), guys like Carl English, Bennie (Anthony Bennett). Those guys, the veterans, teach you the skills that you’ve never seen before.”

Boucher’s journey to Oregon has been completely different, and frankly one of the most unique in all of college basketball. Boucher was completely out of the sport a few years back, working in a restaurant in his native Montreal. However, a talent scout noticed him playing at a local gym, which eventually landed him at a junior college last year, and then Oregon in 2016.

Even when he arrived last summer, coach Dana Altman wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Boucher.

“We weren't sure what we were getting with Chris,” Altman said Thursday. “You look at him and he's pretty thin, and I wasn't sure how that would translate from junior college to the Division-I level, but he is a competitor. He's very coachable. He's a fearless shot blocker, so those two guys (Boucher and Brooks) have given us a big lift.”

For Boucher, it’s more than just shot blocking however, as the 6’11" center has also made 37 three-pointers this season. That, combined with his inside presence is why teammate Kendall Small believes Boucher is one of the most versatile players in college basketball.

“He hits threes, blocks shots, he’s a great teammate,” Small said. “He does just about everything. He’s been a big key to our success.”

And finally there’s Ennis, a 6’1" guard from Brampton, Ontario, who unfortunately, hasn’t quite had the storybook season that his two fellow Canadians have had this year. Ennis arrived at the school last summer as a transfer from Villanova, but has been limited to just two games due to a foot injury.

Still, Ennis has found a special bond with his two Canadians teammates, describing the relationship they have as a “brotherhood.” That brotherhood goes beyond just Ennis, Brooks and Boucher however, and to other Canadians all across college basketball. They’re all fighting the same battles according to Ennis, so he’s quick to lend a helping hand.

“Even when I see Canadians on other teams, I have to say ‘What’s up’ because it’s just a bond we have coming over here,” Ennis said. “It’s not just basketball. We’re sacrificing family time, and growing up with our families to be basketball players in America. Everybody thinks it’s all happy and joy, but having each other really helps us get through it.”

Ennis has found a home alongside Brooks and Boucher at Oregon, and the best part is, all of Canada seems to be supporting them as well. All three players mentioned that they received phone calls, texts and words of encouragement after their wild win over St. Joseph’s last Sunday, encouragement that has continued to come throughout the week.

And frankly, they’ll need that support Thursday when they face Duke. Not only are the Blue Devils the defending champions, they also face arguably the most talented player left in the tournament, forward Brandon Ingram.

Oregon is a slight favourite according to Vegas, but Boucher will happily take any support he can get - whether it’s from the States or abroad.

“Keep cheering for us,” he said. “We’re going to give 100 per cent. We’re really working hard to make a run here.”

Ennis kept his message much more succinct when asked if he had a message to deliver to Canada.

"Go Ducks."

Aaron Torres covers college basketball for Fox Sports, is a contributor to TSN.ca, and is the author of a new book on Kentucky basketball, “One and Fun: A Behind the Scenes Look at John Calipari and the 2010 Kentucky Wildcats.” For more of his writing, follow him on Twitter at @Aaron_Torres, on Facebook, or e-mail him at ATorres00@gmail.com.