MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (0-0) begins the 2022-23 campaign Monday (Nov. 7) when it hosts Brown (0-0) in the season opener at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts and Bears tip off at 7 p.m. Tickets for the opener are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Monday night's matchup will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. Fans can listen to the action for free on the Vermont Sports Network, from Learfield 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. The radio broadcast is also available via the Varsity Network App with Brian McLaughlin on the call.
 
MILITARY APPRECIATION NIGHT
Monday's home opener is also Military Appreciation Night, presented by Milton CAT. The Catamounts will be wearing camouflage jerseys against the Bears, which will be auctioned off starting at tip-off at UVMathletics.com/auctions. Bids start at $125, with proceeds benefiting the Josh Pallotta Fund. All military personnel will receive a complimentary ticket for the game with a valid military ID. A special group rate of $10 per general admission ticket is available for all military family members.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch | Listen | Live Stats | Tickets
Game Notes: Vermont
 
UVM ATHLETICS GOES GREEN WITH DIGITAL PROGRAMS
UVM Athletics is committed to a campus wide effort to reduce waste and has transitioned to digital programs for the 2022-23 season. Fans are encouraged to visit go.uvm.edu/2223 to view and download UVM Athletics' programs.
 
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Brown enters the season picked sixth in the Ivy League Preseason Poll after turning in a 13-16 (5-9 Ivy) record in 2021-22. The Bears lost two members from their starting five, include reigning Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Jaylan Gainey, and scoring leader Tamenang Choh. Kino Lilly Jr. returns to Brown after earning Rookie of the Year a season ago. The 6-0 guard averaged 13.3 points and 2.4 assists in his first collegiate season.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and Brown meet for the fourth official game in series history, and the first official meeting at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts and Bears played an exhibition contest in 2019 at Patrick Gym, with Vermont taking a 70-59 victory. Aaron Deloney and Robin Duncan saw action in the contest. UVM eked out a 70-65 victory when the two teams met in Providence a season ago. Four Catamounts reached double figures in the road win.
 
UVM LEGEND RETURNS
UVM men's basketball legend TJ Sorrentine '05 returns to Patrick Gym Monday night as the associate head coach of the Brown Bears. Sorrentine's number 11 was retired along with teammate Taylor Coppenrath's number 22 in the 2019 exhibition at Patrick Gym. The 2015 UVM Athletics Hall of Fame inductee hit a deep three-pointer "from the parking lot" to help Vermont clinch its NCAA Tournament win over Syracuse in 2005. Sorrentine ranks third all-time in scoring (2,013) at Vermont, and owns the program record in three-pointers made (354).
 
CATS IN OPENERS
Vermont kicks off the season at home for the first time since 2013. The Cats are 58-49 in season openers and 84-31 in home openers. UVM has taken eight straight victories in home openers.
 
HOME SWEET HOME
The Catamounts were a perfect 16-0 in Patrick Gym last season as one of only 15 teams in the country with an unblemished home record. UVM outscored opponents by 21.4 points per game on Tom Brennan Court, and converted on 53.2% of its field goals.
 
AMERICA EAST PRESEASON POLL
The Catamounts were selected as the America East preseason favorite for the sixth time in the last seven seasons, and the eighth time under Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker. Vermont received seven first-place votes and a total score of 63 points. Conference newcomer Bryant received the two remaining first-place votes and a total score of 58 points. UMass Lowell (47 pts) and Binghamton (42 pts) rounded out the league's top four.
 
PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE CATS
UVM guards Finn Sullivan and Dylan Penn were named to the America East Preseason All-Conference team. The preseason honor is the first for Sullivan, who was named to the All-Championship Team late last season. Penn receives his second career preseason honor after being named to the ASUN Preseason All-Conference Team as a member of Bellarmine in 2021-22.
 
THE NEW GUYS
Vermont welcomed seven newcomers to Catamount Country in the offseason. UVM adds three transfers: Ileri Ayo-Faleye, Dylan Penn, and Matt Veretto; and four first-years: TJ Hurley, Jorge Ochoa, Jackson Skipper, and Perry Smith Jr. to the roster.
 
McGee Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball