Overall record: 21-12, 11-5 in the America East
Head coach: John Becker
Tenure at Vermont: Third season
Career coaching record: 45-24
Home court: Roy L. Patrick Gymnasium
Starters: F Ethan O'Day, F Clancy Rugg, F Brian Voelkel, G Candon Rusin, G Sandro Carissimo
Overview: Although the glory days of T.J. Sorrentine and Taylor Coppenrath upsetting Syracuse are in the distant past, the Catamounts are still big fish in a small pond. They’ve won more than 20 games in each of the past five seasons, even making it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2012. Vermont finished a game shy of the Big Dance last year, but the Catamounts return their three all-conference selections from last year and are the preseason favorites in America East.
Senior forward Brian Voelkel—the fifth-leading assist man and fourth-leading rebounder in school history—is a jack of all trades. The two-time America East all-defensive team selection averaged 6.0 points, 8.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season. Seniors Luke Apfeld and Clancy Rugg are returning double-digit scorers and provide explosiveness in the frontcourt, and senior point guard Sandro Carissimo commands from the backcourt but averaged just 2.3 assists per game last year.
One thing that needs to go right: The offense develops another sharpshooter to replace the loss of 3-point bomber Trey Blue to complement Carissimo.
One thing that could go wrong: The team slips up in the America East tournament, likely costing them an NCAA Tournament berth because they won't get an at-large.
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