Each summer, a handful of talented National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball teams come to Carleton for exhibition games against the Ravens.
Last year, the Ravens beat the Final Four-bound Wisconsin Badgers 95-82 and followed that up with a narrow overtime loss to the Syracuse Orange.
This year, Carleton beat the perennial NCAA tournament-appearing Memphis Tigers twice, while the Ravens’ only loss was a narrow 10-point defeat to the Indiana Hoosiers — without three-time defending national player of the year Philip Scrubb.
But even though the wins are becoming predictable, so too has the annual underestimating of the Ravens.
Every year, American schools are left in awe of how good Carleton actually is on the court.
But should they really be surprised any more?
Respect among our neighbours south of the border is coming. In the last two NBA drafts Canadians were taken with the first overall pick.
Perhaps a day is coming when the Ravens are no longer underestimated by their NCAA counterparts.
Until that day comes, the team will continue to be a secret to its American foes. And visiting players and coaches will still talk about how surprised they are at the Ravens’ shooting, defence, and all-around game.
After all, their team won’t be the first NCAA school to lose to Carleton.
