On Saturday, March 16, the Vermont Catamounts (27-6) will face the UMass Lowell River Hawks in the America East Conference Tournament Championship. The winner of this contest will receive an automatic bid to the 2024 NCAA March Madness. With this in mind, we expect both teams to bring their A-game into this tie.
Vermont Catamounts
Vermont Catamounts (15-1) were champions of the 2024 America East Conference and are looking forward to being crowned champions of the post-season tournament. They won this same title in 2022 and 2023. The team could make it a third consecutive post-season title win and seal their place in the 2024 NCAA tournament on Saturday when they face a quality River Hawks side.
The Catamounts look unstoppable, as they’re currently on a nine-game winning streak. At the start of their post-season title charge, they defeated the Albany Great Danes 75-72 to advance to the semi-finals. Their next game had them seeded with the New Hampshire Wildcats, winning 66-59 to make it to the Championship. John Becker will be confident going into this tie as he has already beaten the River Hawks twice. We could see it happen once again on Saturday at the Patrick Gym.
Mass Lowell River Hawks
We may experience an upset in tomorrow’s America East Conference tournament final when the River Hawks play the Catamounts. The River Hawks were 11-5 in the conference regular season and ranked second, indicating they had a decent finish. The team aims to win the post-season tournament, but it will take a lot of effort. They’ve started pretty well, winning 94-89 against the UMBC retrievers in the quarterfinals and a 77-70 semi-final win against the Bryant Bulldogs. In the final, they face a team who’s in incredible form.
Nevertheless, Pat Duquette has been doing an excellent job with this team this season, and a win against the best team in the America East Conference could be possible. The last time the River Hawks won a post-season tournament was in 2010 while in the Northeast conference. They could go on to win it this time again, but they would have to perform like they haven’t done all season to have a chance.
Head-to-Head Vermont vs UMass Lowell
The Vermont Catamounts have won four in the past five meetings between these two sides. They won both games (home and away) against UMass Lowell in the regular season of the 2023/2024 America East Conference. They also met in the post-season tournament last year, with Vermont winning the contest. Tomorrow’s game will undoubtedly be an exciting tie between these two teams, and we could see the Catamounts win once again or witness an upset from the River Hawks. People can bet on college basketball or other NCAA Basketball picks on the night on BetVictor after signing up and funding their accounts.
Vermont vs UMass Lowell Predictions
The Vermont Catamounts are favorites going into this tie. Hence, bookmakers will price them to win. Their recent records show they’ve won the last four of their five games. However, we discovered that the River Hawks have better numbers than the Catamounts. The River Hawks average 80.6 points, 40.8 rebounds, and 12.9 assists, while the Catamounts average 72.5 points, 34.8 rebounds, and 13.8 assists per game. Hence, there could be an upset in the game. Whether you’d be backing the America East Conference regular season winners or their opponent, it’s essential to wager responsibly. Place bets responsibly or set a deposit limit on your account to more securely manage your funds.
Players To Look Out For
We expect to witness a game between two top sides at the Patrick Gym tomorrow. Both sides have quality players who could impact the outcome of the game. For instance, the Catamounts boast TJ Long, Aaron Deloney, Shamir Bogues, and Ileri-Ayo Faleye. These players have been crucial in their post-season games against the Albany Great Danes and the New Hampshire Wildcats. We expect them to turn up again at the America East Conference tournament finals.
For the UMass Lowell River Hawks, Ayinde Hakim, Quinton Mincey, Max Brooks, and Cam Morris III are players to watch. In the post-season tournament, they’ve been instrumental and showed their qualities against the UMBC retrievers and the Bryant Bulldogs. Now, they face a bigger test in the final, and we trust them to turn up. However, they’ll need to do more, alongside the other teammates, to oust the Vermont Catamounts for a post-season title.
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