MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (4-0) brings its four-game winning streak to Charlottesville to face the reigning national champion and seventh-ranked Virginia (3-0) on Tuesday night. The opening tip is set for 7 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available at
VirginiaSports.com.
TELEVISION AND RADIO COVERAGE
All of the action can be seen locally on NESN+. For fans in the New England region, NESN+ is located on channel 628-1 for DirecTV users. Dish Network viewers can tune-in to channel 450 (SD) or 9573 (HD). The game will also be streamed on
NESNgo.com. Xfinity subscribers can watch the contest on channel 84 (SD) and 894 (HD). For fans located out of the Virginia television market, a stream can be found on
WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app. Fans located in-market can catch the action on
Fox Sports Go.com and the Fox Sports Go app.
Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College, on 101.3 The Game or online at
Catamounts All-Access with Jake Marsh on the call.
RELATED LINKS
Virginia: Video | Live Stats | Audio | Tickets
Game Notes: Vermont | Virginia
Rankings: AP Poll | USA Today | Goodman's Top 25 | Katz's Power 36
CatamounTV: St. John's Recap | Virginia Practice Report
HISTORIC WIN IN QUEENS
The Catamounts are coming off a 70-68 win at St. John's on Saturday.
Anthony Lamb drained the game-winning jumper in the final seconds and gave the Cats their first win over a high-major program since 2009. Lamb notched his third double-double of the year with 23 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists.
Stef Smith and
Everett Duncan added 17 points apiece. The victory also helped Vermont to its first 4-0 start since 1977-78.
AMERICA EAST WEEKLY HONORS
After averaging a double-double, Lamb was named America East Player of the Week on Monday. Lamb helped the Catamounts to a 2-0 week with wins over former conference rival Boston University and St. John's. The Rochester, New York native averaged a double-double with 19.0 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. The 6-6 forward also dished out eight assists and swatted away three shots. The honor is Lamb's 15th-career weekly conference accolade, only two shy of tying Taylor Coppenrath '05 for the most ever by a UVM player.
CATS IN THE RANKINGS
Vermont earned votes in both national polls this week. The Cats received 11 votes in the Associated Press (AP) Top-25 Poll and 10 votes in the USA Today Coaches' Poll. In addition, Stadium.com insider Jeff Goodman listed the Green and Gold at No. 25 in his top-25 rankings. NCAA.com correspondent Andy Katz moved the Cats up seven spots to No. 29 from last week in his latest Katz's Power 36 rankings.
LAST UPSET OF A RANKED OPPONENT
Sophomore Mike Trimboli led the Catamounts with 17 points, eight assists and six rebounds as UVM stunned 14th-ranked Boston College 77-63 at Conte Forum on Nov. 13, 2006. Senior Chris Holm picked up his third career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
CATS VS. THE DEFENDING CHAMPS
Tuesday's tilt will mark the fourth time that the Catamounts will face the defending national champion. Vermont traveled to Villanova, coached by UVM alum Rollie Massimino '56, in the second game of the 1985-86 campaign. The Cats opened the 1999-00 season at top-ranked UConn and most recently the Cats played at Florida in 2007-08.
SCOUTING VIRGINIA
The Cavaliers, ranked No. 7 in the latest AP Poll, have the best scoring defense (36.7 ppg allowed) and field-goal percentage defense (25.0%) in the country. UVA also sits in the top-20 nationally in rebounds per game (46.3), fewest fouls (26), and three-point percentage defense (23.5%). The reigning national champs are led offensively by Mamadi Diakite. The redshirt senior boasts a 14.7 scoring and 9.0 rebounding average. Jay Huff has also averaged double figures with 11.7 points and 8.3 boards per game. The 7-1 big man has shot 72.7% from the floor this season.
LAST MEETING WITH THE CAVALIERS
Marqus Blakely recorded a double-double with a game-high 24 points and 10 boards but it wasn't enough as Virginia beat Vermont 90-72 on Nov. 11, 2007. Blakely shot 9-of-15 from the floor and three of his 10 boards came on the offensive glass. He also recorded four steals, three assists, and two blocks. Mike Trimboli added 16 points on 7-of-17 shooting and matched Blakely with three assists. Associate head coach
Kyle Cieplicki, a senior guard at the time, netted 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting. The Cavaliers were led by the tandem of Adrian Joseph and Sean Singletary who netted 19 points apiece.
National Life Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2019-20 Vermont men's basketball season
