MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont opens the 2016-17 campaign with three games in five days. The Cats visit Quinnipiac on Saturday (Nov. 12) at 1 p.m., Providence on Monday (Nov. 14) for a 7 p.m. tip-off, and lastly Marist on Wednesday (Nov. 16) will get underway at 7 p.m.. All UVM men's basketball games can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM and online at 1013ESPN.com with Sam Hyman on the call. The games can be seen live for free in HD by clicking the links below.
 
RELATED LINKS
Quinnipiac: Video | Live Stats | Audio | Tickets
Providence: Video | Live Stats | Audio | Tickets
Marist: Video | Live Stats | Audio | Tickets
Game Notes: Vermont (.pdf) | Marist (.pdf)
 
SETTING THE SCENE
The Catamounts used a pair of tune-up games against the University of Quebec at Montreal and crosstown Division II foe Saint Michael's College to get ready for the season. In the two preseason outings, the Cats were fueled by a pair of underclassmen. Anthony Lamb averaged 21.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while Ernie Duncan followed with 21.0 points and shot 55.6% from long range. The season opener at Quinnipiac will mark the sixth time in the last seven seasons that Vermont has opened a new season on the road. UVM has traveled to Siena, South Florida, Siena, Canisius, and Eastern Michigan during the stretch.
 
THE AE ON ESPN3
The America East Conference and ESPN announced on Thursday an 11-year rights agreement that will result in an unprecedented number of basketball games being carried on ESPN3/WatchESPN. 'The AE on ESPN3' will include all America East men's and women's basketball games this season. Broadcast infrastructure at UVM is still under construction. For the time being all UVM home games will continue to be streamed live at AmericaEast.TV. A complete schedule of Vermont men's and women's basketball games to be broadcast on ESPN3 will be released at a later date.
 
FOX SPORTS 2 BROADCAST
Monday night's game at Providence will be televised live on Fox Sports 2 as part of a production by Fox Sports. Fox Sports 2 is located on DirecTV channel 618 and Dish Network channel 149. The hardwood duel will be streamed live on Fox Sports Go and can been seen by logging in with your selected television provider.
 
LAST TIME OUT | Saint Michael's Highlights
Vermont had four players record double figures in last Saturday's 94-65 win over Michael's College at Patrick Gym. Duncan scored a game-high 21 points on 6-of-11 shooting and sank five shots from long range. The Catamounts shot 51.8% (29-of-56) from the floor and 40.0% (12-of-30) from beyond the arc in the win. Vermont's tenacious defense forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 24 points on the other end of the court.  

SCOUTING QUINNIPIAC
The Bobcats finished the 2015-16 season with a 9-21 overall record and 6-14 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play. Under head coach Tom Moore, Quinnipiac has been one of the top rebounding teams in the nation. Last season, the Bobcats led the nation in offensive rebounds per game and ranked second nationally in total rebounds per game. They out-rebounded opponents by an average of 5.7 rebounds per game which ranked 31st nationally. Quinnipiac returns three of its top four scorers from a year ago, including Daniel Harris who averaged 10.2 points per contest. Big man Chaise Daniels averaged just south of double digits (9.8 ppg) during his sophomore season and hauled in 6.2 rebounds per contest. Abdulai Bundu led the team in rebounding last season as a freshman and is back for his sophomore season.
 
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
In the last three seasons, the Friars are one of the most decorated teams in the country with three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, three 22+ win seasons, three All-Americans, a pair of NBA draft picks, and one Big East title. Providence ranked as one of the most disciplined teams in the country last season. The Friars had a 3.2 turnover margin – good enough for 14th in the nation and led Big East. On the offensive end of the floor, Providence dished out a total of 550 assists in 2015-16, which sat 25th in the land at season's end. Rodney Bullock returns for his junior season after the 6-8 forward averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 boards per game a year ago. In the NCAA Tournament First Round game against Southern California, he registered a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds and added two steals, two blocks, and an assist.  

SCOUTING MARIST
The Red Foxes start off the new season at one of the toughest teams in America. Marist plays its season opener on Friday (Nov. 11) at top-ranked Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium.  The Red Foxes return 90.3% percent of last year's scoring and all five starters. Khallid Hart and Brian Parker figure to lead the Red Foxes this season. Hart is a Preseason First Team All-MAAC selection after leading the MAAC in scoring at 20.3 points per game last year. Parker made the MAAC All-Rookie Team after an impressive freshman season in 2015-16. His .514 field goal percentage was the best in the country among freshman guards, and he averaged 15.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Vermont has dominated the all-time series against Quinnipiac with a 7-3 record. The Catamounts won the first five meetings, but the five victories were closely contested as four of them were determined by single digits. UVM took the last matchup early last season with an 83-70 win and snapped a two-game skid against Quinnipiac.
 
The Catamounts are searching for their first win over the Friars as the series dates back to 1942-43. In three out of the seven last games, Vermont only lost to Providence by single digits including a tough 67-63 defeat to the Big East power early in the 1997-98 season.
 
UVM is currently on a seven-game winning streak against Marist and 10 of the last 11 matchups overall dating back to the 2002-03 season. During the seven-game stretch, the Cats have averaged an 11.3 point victory. Wednesday's meeting will mark the earliest the two teams have squared off in a season.
  
WHO'S NEXT
After the three-game road trip, Vermont returns to Patrick Gym on Saturday, November 19 to host Division III in-state foe Lyndon State. Single game tickets for the 2016-17 season can be purchased at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or at the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday. All UVM men's basketball games can be heard on ESPN 101.3 FM and online at 1013ESPN.com with Sam Hyman on the call. The game can be seen live for free in HD via AmericaEast.TV.