BRISTOL, Conn. - For the fifth time in seven years, an America East men's basketball team will appear on national television as part of ESPN's BracketBusters series. Vermont has been chosen to face College of Charleston in Charleston, S.C. on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 5 p.m. on ESPNU as part of the event, which pits NCAA hopefuls against each other.
Additionally, the four other America East teams that were named to the BracketBusters pool in September-Boston U., Maine, New Hampshire, and Stony Brook, received their opponents Monday.
“We are proud to have one of our teams selected for a BracketBusters national televised game for the fifth time in seven years. It speaks well to the quality of our men’s basketball programs” said America East Commissioner Patrick Nero. “Vermont is in the midst of one of the best regular season’s in its history. They are well deserving of this selection.”
Vermont (16-5, 7-2 America East) has won four straight games and nine of its last 11, while College of Charleston (15-7, 8-2 Southern Conference) has won six of its last games. The 'Cats sit in second place in America East, while the Cougars are in second in the SoCon's South Division.
This is America East's fifth BracketBuster television game in seven years and the third for Vermont. The Catamounts beat Buffalo, 78-70, in front of a soldout Patrick Gym on ESPN2 in 2009. Albany appeared on ESPNU twice, suffering an 83-82 loss at Boise State in 2007 after falling, 70-67, at Virginia Commonwealth in 2006. Vermont traveled to Nevada for the event’s marquee game on ESPN2 in 2005. The Catamounts dropped a 74-64 decision to the Wolfpack, but advanced to the NCAA Tournament two weeks later where they upset Syracuse, 60-57, in the first round.
In the other BracketBuster pool matchups, Boston University will host Canisius, Maine will visit Siena, New Hampshire will travel to Marist and Stony Brook will entertain Manhattan. Those dates and times are to be announced.
BracketBusters, named because of the success of the teams in NCAA Tournament play, will provide the 22 televised teams an opportunity to play other top non-conference opponents three weeks before Selection Sunday. The 92 teams not selected for BracketBusters will compete against each other through the same three days.
As part of the agreement, all 11 of the BracketBusters home teams in televised games, as well as the remaining 46 home squads, will play a “return” game at the home facility of their opponent in November or December of the 2012-13 season.
Teams participating this season in BracketBusters have produced 74 appearances in the last five NCAA Tournaments, including Vermont in 2010.