If you follow university basketball in Canada, you know the name Carleton Ravens. Ottawa's own powerhouse program is once again among the favourites at the U Sports Basketball Championships, and for fans in the capital, this is one of the more exciting sports stories of the spring.
The Dynasty
Carleton's men's basketball program is arguably the greatest dynasty in Canadian university sports history. Since head coach Dave Smart took over in the late 1990s, the Ravens have won a staggering number of national championships, a record that no other Canadian university program in any sport comes close to matching.
The program has produced players who've gone on to professional careers in Europe and beyond, and has built a genuine national profile for what is often an overlooked sport at the university level.
How to Watch
U Sports broadcasts basketball championship games on multiple platforms including their own YouTube channel and U Sports digital properties. Check their website for the current bracket and broadcast schedule.
For those who want the full atmosphere, Carleton's home games at the Ravens Nest (Norm Fenn Gymnasium on campus) are worth attending in person. The student section atmosphere is genuinely among the best in Canadian university sports.
What Ottawa's Sports Community Loves About This Team
In a city dominated by hockey conversation, Carleton basketball provides an interesting counterpoint: proof that Ottawa can produce and support elite sport beyond the NHL. The program's success brings national attention to the capital in a category where that attention rarely goes.
For students, faculty, and alumni, following the Ravens in March is one of those Ottawa traditions that connects generations of people who've been through the university.
Source: CBC Sports / U Sports
