A Cross‑Border Basketball Adventure
The Bucknell Bison men’s basketball team is preparing for a busy stretch of games that will take them north of the border this fall, with two exhibition contests slated against Canadian powerhouses.
In early October the Bison will face Carleton University in Ottawa, followed by a showdown with Queen’s University in Montreal, giving the squad a chance to test its chemistry against two of Canada’s top programs.
Both opponents arrive with strong recent histories; Carleton captured the U SPORTS Final 8 championship in the 2025‑26 season, while Queen’s secured the OUA Wilson Cup and the same national title in the two years prior.
Bucknell’s own campaign last year was marred by injuries, but the team will field 11 new players, including several fresh faces eager to make an impact.
Among them is junior Aleksander Pachucki, a native of Scarborough, Ontario, who will return to his home province for the first time in a Bison uniform.
Coach John Griffin III expressed enthusiasm about the trip, calling it the culmination of a productive summer session that has already seen the team gel on the practice court.
The schedule also includes a stop at the Baha Mar Hoops Summer League in the Bahamas, where Carleton and Queen’s will meet Arkansas, Valparaiso and Texas A&M before heading back to Canada.
Queen’s has posted seven consecutive winning seasons under Coach Stephen Barrie, a streak that adds extra intrigue to the upcoming matchup.
Bucknell’s full non‑conference slate will be released in the coming days, but the Canadian leg of the schedule is already generating buzz among fans and alumni.