MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Top-seeded Vermont (22-10, 14-2 AE) clashes with No. 2 UMass Lowell (26-7, 11-5 AE) in the 2023 Jersey Mike's America East Championship on Saturday morning at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is slated for 11 a.m. ET. Fans are encouraged to wear white to the game.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The championship matchup will be nationally televised on ESPN 2 with Jay Alter and Terrence Oglesby on the call. The broadcast will also be available for streaming on ESPN+. Westwood One will be producing a national radio broadcast with Bill Bosinski and Nick Bahe on the call. Fans can also 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 and Bernie Cieplicki on the call.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP COUNTRY FAN FEST & WHITE OUT
Fans are encouraged to wear white to Saturday's game. UVM Athletics will be hosting a Fan Fest at the MAC Court (in the east lobby of Patrick Gym) prior to the game. The Fan Fest begins at 9 a.m. and will run until 10:30 a.m.
 
RELATED LINKS
Watch: ESPN+ (US) 
Listen: Varsity Network App | Westwood One
Live Stats 
Game Notes: Vermont | UMass Lowell
CatamounTV Press Conference: Becker | Duncan | Penn
 
WATCH PARTIES
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub, and Zero Gravity, will be hosting watch parties for Saturday's America East Championship Game. Fans who are unable to purchase tickets are encouraged to stop by and support their Cats in an exciting environment at either of these locations.
 
PURSUIT OF TEN
The Catamounts are in pursuit of their 10th America East Title. UVM's nine conference championships are already the most in league history.
 
BECKER CHASES HISTORY
Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker can win his sixth America East Title on Saturday, setting the league record. Becker is currently in a three-way tie with Jim Calhoun (Northeastern) and Will Brown (UAlbany) with five titles each.
 
FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Vermont will host the America East Championship for the fifth time in the last six title games. The Cats are 7-3 all-time in the championship at Patrick Gym. Vermont owns a 15-2 mark in home playoff games since 2017.
 
W14
UVM brings the nation's third-longest active winning streak into Saturday's championship game. The Cats have outscored opponents by 15.3 points per game during that stretch. The 14-game streak is tied for the third-longest streak during John Becker's tenure.
 
SCOUTING THE RIVER HAWKS
UMass Lowell carries a six-game winning streak into Saturday's title game. The River Hawks defeated No. 3 New Hampshire 75-64 in the semifinals on Tuesday night. UML's other playoff win came against No. 7 Maine (W, 85-54) in the quarterfinals. Everette Hammond leads the UMass Lowell attack with 13.8 points per game. Hammond was the lone River Hawk to receive All-Conference First Team honors. Abdoul Karim Coulibaly was named to the All-Conference Second Team after averaging 11.5 points and 7.7 rebounds. Allin Blunt was named to the All-Conference Third Team and Max Brooks received All-Defensive honors to round UML's All-League honorees.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Catamounts and River Hawks meet in the America East Playoffs for the first time in series history. It is the 21st all-time meeting between the conference foes. Vermont owns a 16-4 mark against UMass Lowell, and an 8-1 record in Patrick Gym. UVM and UML split the season series with each team earning a victory at home. The Cats defeated the River Hawks 93-81 behind a 25-point outing from Finn Sullivan on Feb. 11.
 
RECENT PLAYOFF DOMINANCE
Vermont has won five-straight America East Playoff games, dating back to the 2022 quarterfinals. UVM has outscored opponents by 31.8 points per game in its last five tournament games. The Cats are 10-1 in the America East Playoffs since 2019.
 
LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR'S CHAMPIONSHIP RUN
Vermont dominated the 2022 America East Playoffs, outscoring opponents by 110 points in tits three victories. The +110 margin was the largest by any team in a single conference tournament over the previous 40 seasons. The Cats defeated UMBC 82-43 in the title game, posting the largest margin of victory (+39) in a conference championship game since 1989.
 
McGee Automotive Group is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball