For their teammates, the five-game exhibition tour in Canada is simply preparation for the upcoming season. However, Ethan Butler, of Toronto, and Keeshawn Barthelemy and Quincy Guerrier, both from Montreal, have revelled in the opportunity to show off their skills on home soil. "Being able to play in front of our family and friends, it's a blessing," Guerrier told CBC Sports. "I'm grateful to show my talent with my college team to my city." Butler, Barthelemy, and Guerrier have enjoyed a homecoming of sorts as their University of Oregon men's basketball squad completes a pre-season trip north of the border.
For Barthelemy, putting on the Ducks jersey for the first time against McGill was a dream start to his playing career at Oregon. "I haven't played a collegiate game in Canada before, but Sunday's game definitely felt like a homecoming for me.
I'm from Montreal, born and raised. It was great to play in front of that crowd," Barthelemy said. The 6-foot-2 junior guard posted 14 points in the contest.
All three Canadians got on the board with Guerrier, a 6-foot-8 junior forward, putting up 11 points, and Butler, a 6-foot-6 freshman forward, claiming his first points as a Duck with six.