MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont men's basketball welcomes fans back to Patrick Gym for the first time in 599 days when it hosts Saint Michael's in an exhibition contest on Saturday (Oct. 30). The opening tip is slated for 2 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Patrick Gym box office on gameday. Masks are required indoors at the University of Vermont. Fans are encouraged to read the Winter 2021 Fan & Visitor Policy before attending.
 
TELEVISION AND RADIO COVERAGE
Saturday's meeting between the Catamounts and Purple Knights will broadcast live on AmericaEast.TV with Rob Ryan on the call. Fans can also listen live on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield IMG College on The Game, which will air on 97.1 FM in Burlington, 105.9 FM in Plattsburgh, and 960 AM around the rest of the region. Fans can also listen online at Catamounts All-Access with Brian McLaughlin on the call.  
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets | Winter 2021 Fan & Visitor Policy
 
WELCOMING THE FANS BACK
Vermont is excited to welcome Catamount Country back in to Patrick Gym for the first time since March 10, 2020. UVM was victorious in front of the home crowd as the Catamounts defeated UMBC 81-74 in the America East Semifinal Game to advance to its fifth-straight conference championship game.
 
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Catamounts were selected second in the 2021-22 America East Preseason Poll. Voting was conducted by the conference's men's basketball coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own team. Vermont (74 pts) received four first-place votes, behind only Stony Brook (77 pts) with five first-place votes. The Seawolves snapped the Catamounts' five-year run as preseason conference favorites.
 
SHUNGU & DAVIS HONORED
Co-captain Ben Shungu and reigning America East Player of the Year, Ryan Davis were named to the America East Preseason All-Conference Team. The Catamount duo were joined by Nick Guadarrama (New Hampshire), Jayden Martinez (New Hampshire), Elijah Olaniyi (Stony Brook), Austin Williams (Hartford).
 
NEW CATS
Vermont welcomed five new Catamounts to the program for the 2021-22 season. All five newcomers are guards, including three first years and two transfers. Seniors Finn Sullivan and Kam Gibson come to Vermont from San Diego and Western Carolina, respectively. First-year guards Sam Alamutu and Evan Guillory are joined by local star, Michel Ndayishimiye. Ndayishimiye will be redshirting this season.
 
NEW TO THE STAFF
The Catamounts brought in two new additions to the coaching staff prior to the start of the season. Assistant coaches Bryson Johnson and Chris Santo were named to the staff in September. Johnson joins the Catamounts after several seasons on the George Mason staff. Santo, a member of the 2012 America East Championship team for Vermont, returns to Catamount Country after time as a video coordinator for the New York Knicks.
 
Key Motors of South Burlington is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball