WILMINGTON, N.C. ? UNC Wilmington will face America East power Vermont on Saturday, Feb. 23, at Trask Coliseum in one of 12 O'Reilly BracketBusters games involving Colonial Athletic Association men's basketball teams.
The Seahawks, 14-9 overall and 7-4 in the CAA, continue their conference slate Wednesday with a 9 p.m. tipoff at Delaware. The game will be aired on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN).
The CAA received two television games in the package, with George Mason playing at Ohio and defending champion VCU traveling to Mid-American Conference East Division co-leader Akron. Times for all 36 games in the event will be announced later.
In addition to UNCW's matchup with the Catamounts, the CAA's other non-televised games include Northeastern at Holy Cross, Loyola (Chicago) at William & Mary, Bucknell at Old Dominion, Delaware at Toledo, Morehead State at James Madison, Hofstra at Iona, High Point at Towson, Fairfield at Drexel and Georgia State at Jacksonville State.
Vermont stands 11-10 overall and 6-3 in the America East. Third-year coach Mike Lonergan's club has won five of its last six games and features talented sophomore Marqus Blakely, who is averaging 19.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. The Catamounts dropped a narrow 75-73 decision to UMBC on their home court Saturday in a showdown for first place in the America East.
“We don't know a lot about them, but they have traditionally been one of the best teams in the America East Conference,” said UNCW second-year coach Benny Moss. “They are a well-coached team that is used to winning. They have been very successful in their league and have advanced to post-season play several years.”
Like UNCW, Vermont enjoyed a strong run in the NCAA's early this decade. The Catamounts and former skipper Tom Brennan, now an ESPN commentator, reached the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2004 and 2005. Longeran piloted UVM to the America East regular season championship with a 25-8 record last season.
Vermont has already played three CAA clubs, going 1-2 against George Mason, Towson and Delaware. The Patriots edged the Catamounts, 60-53, in the season opener on Nov. 9 and Vermont evened the score with the CAA on Nov. 24 with a 59-57 nailbiter over Towson. Delaware then downed the Catamounts, 71-60, on Dec. 19 in Burlington.
UNCW and UVM will be meeting for the first time on the hardwood. The Seahawks have played three America East foes and amassed a 5-3 record against Boston (0-2), Maine (4-1) and New Hampshire (1-0).
