Tournament Preview

Vermont enters the America East tournament as the number one seed and on the heels of the most dominant conference season in history. The question remains: Can they win the tournament? Every year conference tournaments provide a exciting prequel to March Madness. There are always multiple upsets and teams clawing to get that automatic bid. I for one would like to see the tournament expand so that the regular season and conference champions both get automatic bids. Conference tournaments are great and it would certainly take some of the drama out of them. However, every year some of the best mid major teams in the country are left out because they slip up in the tournament. It would be great for college basketball to get more of the better mid majors into the tournament. This is the task that lies in front of the Catamounts. They certainly do not have an easy road. With the tournament being held at Albany one last time before the america East moves to a conference sites format, Vermont ended up on the Albany side of the bracket. It is an unfortunate result of the format that a team can finish fourth place in conference and still get to possibly play a home game in the semifinals. Especially when Albany was 7-1 at home in conference, versus 2-6 on the road. However, Vermont has to win three games regardless of the opponent. This dominant stretch all comes down to executing when the pressure is at its highest. There is no better situation than having a senior laden team that has been there before. Nothing will rattle the Cats and they will certainly leave it all on the floor. If they do face Albany in the semifinals it will be a great battle and will give the seniors a shot at revenge for the loss last year at Patrick Gym. Will Brown is a excellent coach and it is his ability to coach in pressure situations that has allowed Albany to have so much postseason success. Number one seeds have not fared well lately in the America East and Vermont has actually won 4 out of its 5 championships out of the number two slot. The fact is if Vermont executes the way it has all season they should win the title. However, one bad half of basketball in the postseason can lose a game and in a one and done format that is all it takes. I think Vermont will be prepared and hungry to go out champions.