HAMILTON – Colgate Men's Basketball's postseason run continues on Wednesday, when the Raiders host Bucknell in the Patriot League semifinals. Tipoff from Cotterell Court is 7:30 p.m., with the game nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.
 
SETTING THE SCENE
Second-seeded Colgate (12-1) makes its fourth straight semifinals appearance when sixth-seeded Bucknell comes to town on Wednesday. The two teams meet in the postseason for the first time since squaring off in the 2018-19 championship game, which the Raiders won 94-80 to claim their first title since 1996. The home team has won the last seven head-to-head matchups. Colgate and Bucknell were scheduled for a weekend series in Hamilton Jan. 23-24, but the games were postponed hours before tipoff. Wednesday's winner advances to the 2021 Patriot League championship on Sunday, March 14.
 
A NEW LOOK
Colgate faces its first team outside of the North division on Wednesday. Bucknell will be the Raiders' fourth different opponent, while Colgate will be Bucknell's fifth. The two teams have not met since Feb. 26, 2020, when a free throw with seven seconds left sealed a 71-70 win for the Bison in Lewisburg.
 
CHASING HISTORY
No team in Patriot League men's basketball history has reached four consecutive championship games. Bucknell (3), Colgate (2), Holy Cross (2), Lafayette and American have made three straight appearances, but never four. The Raiders are seeking to become the first team to do so with a win on Wednesday.
 
NOTHING BUT NET
Colgate current ranks No. 8 in the latest NCAA NET rankings, its highest ranking of the season. The Raiders have been ranked in the top 20 all season. The NET rankings, introduced in 2018-19, are determined by using a formula that takes into account who teams beat and lose to, where those games take place (home, away, neutral) and how well teams play against given opponents.
 
HOW WE GOT HERE
Colgate defeated Boston University 77-69 in the quarterfinal round on Saturday to reach the semifinals for the fourth straight year. Jordan Burns, Jack Ferguson and Tucker Richardson scored 16 points apiece, while Keegan Records was strong in the post with 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots. The Raiders are riding an 11-game winning streak, good for the fourth-longest streak in the country.
 
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Continuing the effort to support a safe and healthy community in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Colgate University is restricting outside fan attendance at all athletic competitions this semester. All Colgate home regular season games are available for streaming on ESPN+. The men's basketball semifinals and championship games are nationally televised on CBS Sports Network.