In 1985, Charlie Woolum (second from the left in the second row) was beginning his eleventh season as the men's basketball coach. He had replaced Jim Valvano as head coach in 1975. Valvano's North Carolina State Wolfpack won the NCAA national championship in 1983. Woolum was very successful during the late 1980's with the Bisons going to play in the NCAA basketball tournament twice: in 1987 Georgetown defeated Bucknell 75 to 53 in the Southeast Regional Tournament in Atlanta, Georgia, and in 1989 Syracuse defeated Bucknell 104 to 81 in the Southwest Regional Tournament in Dallas, Texas.

In 1985, Bucknell was a member of the East Coast Conference whose other members were Delaware, Drexel Hofstra, Lafayette, Lehigh, Rider and Towson State. The record for the 1984-85 season was 19 wins and 10 losses, with an ECC record of 10 wins and 4 losses. The record for the 1985-86 season was 17-12 with an ECC record of 8-6.

The scoreboard above the team was a gift of the Bucknell Men's Student Government in 1958. The names and numbers of the players on both teams were listed on the scoreboard and a light next to the name indicated that the player was on the floor. The scoreboard was located at the front of the gymnasium.