MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK
Vermont (10-5, 0-0 AE) begins America East play on Saturday (Jan. 6) when it hosts conference foe Maine (8-7, 0-0 AE) at Patrick Gym. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for purchase at UVMathletics.com/Tickets or by visiting the Patrick Gym Box Office on gameday. Saturday's game is presented by Northfield Savings Bank.
 
BROADCAST INFORMATION
The conference opener will broadcast live on ESPN+ with Rob Ryan and Bernie Cieplicki on the call. An international stream will also be available 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 (Int'l)
Listen on Varsity Network App
Live Stats
Game Notes: Vermont | Maine

POSTER DAY
There will be a Vermont men's basketball poster giveaway at Saturday's game. Fans will have the opportunity to get their posters signed by members of the team after the game.
 
AE OPENER
Vermont opens up America East play at home for the third time in the last five seasons. UVM is 22-22 all-time in America East openers and 9-3 under John Becker.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
The Cats are 34-2 at Patrick Gym since the start of 2021-22 and 91-10 (.901) since 2016-17. Vermont has won 22 straight home games against America East schools.
 
CARDIAC CATS
Each of the last two UVM games have been decided by one point with UVM going 1-1 in those contests. The Catamounts erased a 17-point deficit to defeat Brown 71-70 on Tuesday. Vermont is 3-1 this season in games decided by two points or less.
 
SCOUTING THE BLACK BEARS
Maine carries a three-game losing streak into Saturday's matinee with losses to UCF (L, 74-51), FIU (L, 82-74), and Minnesota (L, 80-62). Prior to that stretch, the Black Bears had won four straight games. Peter Filipovity (13.5 ppg) and Kellen Tynes (13.4 ppg) lead Maine in scoring this season. Tynes was the nation's leader in steals (98) a season ago and ranks 64^th (27) this season. He was named to the America East Preseason All-Conference team in October.
 
COACHING CONNECTION
Maine is coached by former UVM assistant Chris Markwood who joined the Vermont staff in 2011 as an assistant to Cioffi Men's Basketball Head Coach John Becker. Markwood coached at UVM for three seasons, helping the Catamounts go 38-9 in America East play and earning one conference championship.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
Vermont and Maine meet for the 152nd time in series history with the Catamounts holding an 81-70 advantage in the series. UVM has won 26 straight meetings dating back to Jan. 22, 2013. The last meeting between the non-conference foes resulted in a 74-65 victory for the Cats on Feb. 8, 2023 in Bangor, Maine. Vermont had a dominant 66-45 victory over Maine at Patrick Gym on Jan. 19, 2023.  
 
FEWEST CONFERENCE LOSSES
Since the 2016-17 season, Vermont has suffered only 12 losses to America East opponents in league play. Gonzaga is the only school in the nation to record fewer conference losses (6) during that stretch.
 
CHASING A THREE-PEAT
The Vermont men's basketball program is in search of its first America East Championship three-peat since 2005. UVM's lone trip out of the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 came off of that three-peat, with the Catamounts upsetting Syracuse 60-57 in overtime.
 
PRESEASON FAVORITES ONCE AGAIN
The Catamounts were selected No. 1 in the America East Preseason Poll for the seventh time in the last eight seasons, and ninth time in 13 seasons under John Becker. Vermont received six of the nine first-place votes, and a score of 62 points. Aaron Deloney received Preseason All-Conference honors.
 
CONSECUTIVE REGULAR SEASON TITLES
Vermont has earned at least a share of the America East Regular Season Title in each of the last seven seasons.

McGee Automotive Family is the presenting sponsor of Vermont men's basketball