Top-seeded Vermont won’t know who they face in their quarterfinal matchup until Friday night, as the Catamounts will play the winner of Friday’s eight/nine play-in game tomorrow at noon.
The play-in game features the bottom two teams in the conference, Hartford and Stony Brook. Vermont beat both of these teams easily during the season, cruising over Stony Brook by 13 and 10 and over Hartford by 13 and 16 points.
Vermont is led by two America East Player of the Year candidates, Mike Trimboli and Chris Holm. Trimboli is second in the conference, averaging 16 ppg, while Holm is atop the league in rebounding with 12.2 rpg. The Catamounts are also aided by Kyle Cieplicki, who is experienced and finished the season strong scoring 26 points against Hartford in the final regular season game.
Stony Brook is led by Ricky Lucas, averaging 15.4 ppg, and Mitchell Beauford, averaging 12.6 ppg while Hartford is led by Bo Taylor with 14.9 ppg.
The Catamounts are a dangerous team with a lot of talent, ending the regular season on top of the conference with a 15-1 record, beating teams in AE play by an average of 8.3 ppg.
Prediction: A cake walk for Vermont as they cruise into the semifinals with a double-digit victory no matter which team they face out of the play-in game.