MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (8-3) begins a three-game road trip on Saturday (Dec. 16) when it visits Virginia Tech (7-3, 1-0) in Blacksburg, Va. The opening tip is set for 4 p.m. ET at Cassell Coliseum. Tickets are available at HokieSports.com.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The matchup between the Catamounts and Hokies will be nationally televised on ACC Network with Connor Onion and Dan Bonner on the call. The game will also be available for streaming on ESPN+. Fans can listen to the game 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.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch on ESPN+
Listen on Varsity Network App
Live Stats
Game Notes: Vermont | Virginia Tech
 
THREE-GAME ROAD TRIP
The Catamounts will be on the road for the next three games, stopping at Virginia Tech before heading to The Buckeye State for matchups with Toledo on Dec. 20 and Miami (OH) on Dec. 22. Vermont will take a brief holiday break before its non-conference finale with Brown.
 
SCOUTING THE HOKIES
Virginia Tech enters Saturday with wins in three of its last five games, including a 71-50 victory over Valparaiso on Dec. 9. The Hokies' losses during that stretch came against No. 15 FAU (L, 84-50) and Auburn (L, 74-57). The Virginia Tech offense is led by Hunter Catoor (15.0 ppg) and Lynn Kidd (15.0 ppg). Kidd, a 6-foot-10 center, is ranked ninth nationally in true-shooting percentage (72.9%) and is 25th in effective field goal percentage (67.9%). Sean Pedulla leads the Hokies in usage, factoring on 29.4% of the team's offensive possessions, and averaging 13.7 points and 4.6 assists in nine games. Virginia Tech is 10th in the country in assists per field goals made (64.6%).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts and Hokies meet for the first time since Dec. 30, 1974. Virginia Tech won the contest 107-87 in Blacksburg.
 
COACHES HEAD-TO-HEAD
Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker and Virginia Tech head coach Mike Young have one previous meeting head-to-head. The Catamounts defeated Wofford who was coached by Young in 2016. Trae Bell-Haynes lifted UVM to a 61-60 victory in the opening round of the Gulf Coast Showcase, sinking a runner with 3.5 second remaining.
 
CATS VS ACC
UVM is looking for its first win over an ACC school since Nov. 13, 2006 when it defeated No. 14 Boston College 77-63. Vermont has played ACC schools tough in the five games coached by Becker, with four of those games decided by 10 points or less. The Cats fell to No. 7 Virginia 61-55 when they last played an ACC school in 2019.
 
SHAMIR'S STEALS
Shamir Bogues registered a season-high four steals last weekend against Colgate. The junior has tallied 182 career steals, which ranks 16th among all active Division I players. Bogues is second among all juniors.
 
LONG FROM LONG RANGE
TJ Long has made 17 of 31 attempts (54.8%) from beyond the arc over the last four games. Long was ranked fourth in the country in scoring efficiency over the last two weeks by Synergy Basketball. His 14 three pointers in December are the eighth-highest total in the country.
 
McGee Automotive Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball