MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Top-seeded Vermont (25-6, 15-1 AE) hosts eighth-seeded UAlbany (13-18) in the quarterfinal round of the 2024 Jersey Mike's America East Playoffs on Saturday (Mar. 9) at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday. The first 1,500 fans in attendance will receive rally towels, courtesy of Jersey Mike's.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The matchup between the Catamounts and Great Danes will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. International fans can watch the game live on AmericaEast.TV. 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
Purchase Tickets
Watch: ESPN+ | AE.TV
Listen on Varsity Network
Live Stats
Game Notes: Vermont | UAlbany
CatamounTV Press Conference: Coach Becker | Deloney | Bogues
America East Championship Central
 
CHASING A THREE-PEAT
UVM is in search of its first America East Championship three-peat since 2005. A three-peat has only happened four times in league history.
 
RECENT PLAYOFF DOMINANCE
Vermont has won six straight America East Playoff games, dating back to the 2022 quarterfinals. UVM has outscored opponents by an average scoring margin of 28.7 points per game in its last six playoff games. No opponent has scored more than 59 points against the Catamounts during that run.
 
CATS AS A NO. 1
The Catamounts are the No. 1 seed for the seventh time in the last eight seasons. UVM is 24-4 all-time as the No. 1 seed, 11-0 in the quarterfinals.
 
SCOUTING THE GREAT DANES
UAlbany is 1-4 in its last five games, with the lone win coming at home against New Hampshire (W, 91-67) on Feb. 29. All-Conference Second Team honoree Sebastian Thomas leads the Great Danes, scoring 19.2 points per game and adding 5.0 assists per game. Amar'e Marshall received All-Conference Third Team honors, averaging 16.8 points per game this season. UAlbany has the top scoring offense (80.6 ppg) in America East play, but also allows a league-high 82.9 points per game.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and UAlbany meet for the 56th time in series history, with the Cats owning a 40-15 record. UVM is 21-8 when playing UAlbany at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts have won nine of the last 10 meetings with the Great Danes, including a pair of victories in regular season play this season. Vermont defeated UAlbany 81-59 at home on Feb. 1. Nick Fiorillo scored a team-high 15 points and Ileri Ayo-Faleye registered his second career double-double (12 points, 10 rebounds). The Catamounts won 94-80 on Feb. 22 in Albany, N.Y., with six players reaching double figures in the win.
 
CATS VS. UALBANY IN THE PLAYOFFS
Vermont is 2-5 against UAlbany in tournament history. The Cats are 1-2 when playing the Great Danes as the top seed. The series is tied 1-1 in the quarterfinal round.
 
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
The conference rivals last met in the postseason in the 2017 America East Championship, when Vermont captured its sixth conference title with a 56-53 victory at Patrick Gym. Payton Henson scored a team-high 17 points in the win.
 
COACH OF THE YEAR
Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker earned his seventh America East Coach of the Year award after leading Vermont to its eighth consecutive regular season title. The UVM bench boss has collected Coach of the Year Awards in six of those eight seasons. The Catamounts won the regular season by three games this year, posting a 15-1 record in America East play. UVM's 25 overall regular season wins tie for the second most in program history. Becker's seven America East Coach of the Year awards tie him for the fourth-most awards in a single conference in the history of NCAA Division I Men's Basketball.
 
NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
Shamir Bogues was named America East Newcomer of the Year, awarded to the league's top transfer, while also earning All-Conference First Team and All-Defensive honors. The Killeen, Texas native led the Catamounts in scoring seven times this season, including a team-best four times in America East play. Vermont was 4-0 in league play when Bogues led in scoring. Bogues scored a season-high 23 points in UVM's thrilling 20-point comeback at UMBC. He led the Catamounts in rebounding (5.3 rpg) and steals (1.1 spg) in league play, while ranking second in assists (2.4 apg) and third in scoring (10.1 ppg). Bogues ranked third in America East play in adjusted defensive rating (94.2).
 
MORE AMERICA EAST AWARDS
Three Catamounts received All-Conference honors: Shamir Bogues (First Team), Aaron Deloney (Second Team), TJ Long (Third Team). Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye received All-Defensive honors. Matt Veretto earned All-Academic honors for the second consecutive season.
 
McGee Automotive Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball