WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (3-1) tips off the Gulf Coast Showcase on Friday (Nov. 24) with an opening round matchup against No. 18 North Carolina (4-0). The game is slated to tip off at 1:30 p.m. at the Hertz Arena in Estero, Fla. The Catamounts will compete in the Gulf Coast Showcase from Nov. 24 to Nov. 26.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The Gulf Coast Showcase will broadcast live on
FloHoops. Vermont's first game against No. 18North Carolina will be televised on FloHoops with Max Tanzer and John Vittas 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 Ryan Zimmerman on the call.
RELATED LINKS
Watch on FloHoops
Listen on Varsity Network App
Live Stats
Purchase Tickets
Gulf Coast Showcase Central
Bracket (.pdf)
Game Notes: Vermont
THE FIELD
The 2023 Gulf Coast Showcase features four squads that competed in the NCAA Tournament a year ago. 2023 national runner-up Iowa, North Carolina, Kansas State, Western Kentucky, Delaware, Florida Gulf Coast and Purdue Fort Wayne along with Vermont will make up the eight-team field. Iowa, North Carolina and Florida Gulf Coast all advanced past the first weekendof the 2023 NCAA Tournament. FGCU pulled off the upset over Washington State (74-63) in the first round, North Carolina fell in the round of 32 to Elite Eight member Ohio State, and Iowa advanced to the National Championship game. There are three teams ranked in the AP Top-25 in the field: No. 18 North Carolina, No. 5 Iowa and No. 16 Kansas State.
CATS VS. THE FIELD
Vermont holds a 19-13 record against members of the tournament field. Vermont has never faced North Carolina. Vermont is 0-2 against Kansas State who is one of their potential matchups in the second round. The Catamounts hold a 19-10 mark against Delaware who they competed in the North Atlantic/America East conference with from 1991-2001.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
No. 18 North Carolina enters Friday's matchup outscoring their opponents 76-47.5 this season. The Tar Heels are shooting 41.2 percent from the field, 30.1 percent from three and 70.6 percent from the free throw line. The Tar Heels have four players averaging double digits. Senior Deja Kelly leads the team with 14.3 points per game to go along with 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per contest. Alyssa Ustby leads the Tar Heels in rebounding at 9.5 per game to go with 11.5 points per contest. Ustby also leads the team with 14 total assists averaging 3.5 per game.
MID MAJOR RANKINGS
It was announced on Monday (Nov. 21) that the Catamounts are currently No. 11 in the
Mid-Major Top 25 rankings. Last season, Vermont reached the top-10 in the mid-major rankings rattling off the second longest winning streak (17) behind only South Dakota State (25). Florida Gulf Coast is also competing in the showcase, and they are ranked No. 3 in the Mid-Major Top 25 rankings and received one first place vote.
The Mid-Major Poll is made up of teams from the following conferences: America East, Atlantic Sun, Big Sky, Big South, Big West, Coastal Athletic, Conference USA, Horizon, Independent, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Mid-America, Mid-eastern, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, Southland, Southwestern, Summit, Sun Belt, West Coast and Western Atlantic.
DEFENSIVE PROWESS
Dating back to last season, in the last 27 regular season games the Catamounts have only allowed five teams to score over 60 points, with just one (NJIT, 2/18/23) scoring over 70 points. Vermont earned an 85-73 victory over the Highlanders in that game. 12 of those opponents have failed to reach 50 points, while Vermont has also held five of them to under 40 points in a contest.
This season, Vermont has yet to allow a team to score 60 points and are forcing 13.8 turnovers per game, while holding their opponents to 37.0 percent shooting from the field and 26.6 percent from three. Vermont is holding teams to 50.5 points per contest which has them ranked 20th in the nation and first in America East. Their shooting percentage surrendered is also first among America East teams. The most points the Catamounts have surrendered this year is57 at Providence (Nov. 10).
Vermont Federal Credit Union is the presenting sponsor of Vermont Women's Basketball
