BURLINGTON, Vt. -- University of Vermont and University at Albany, two schools that have combined to win seven of the last 10 America East titles, will decide the 2013 title as the two teams meet in the America East Men's Basketball Championship Game presented by SEFCU on Saturday, March 16 at Vermont's Patrick Gym. The winner will also get the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship.
For the 26th straight year, the America East Men's Basketball Championship game will be televised nationally. ESPN2 will carry the contest, which will also be available on ESPN3, which is available through an affiliated internet or video provider online via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE. Bob Picozzi (play-by-play) and LaPhonso Ellis (analyst) have the call at 11:33 a.m.
Second-seeded Vermont (21-10), which posted wins over New Hampshire and UMBC last weekend to earn its ninth title game appearance, comes in having won five of its last six games. Fourth-seeddc Albany (23-10), which beat Maine and top-seeded Stony Brook over the weekend to earn its third championship game appearance, has won four of five.
Championship Primer
Tale of the Tape
This will be the 34th all-time meeting between Vermont and Albany and third in the league's championship game. The Catamounts hold a dominant 25-8 advantage, which includes eight-straight victories. However, the Great Danes have had Vermont's number when it's mattered most, holding a 3-1 series edge in tournament play. In fact, the Catamounts have lost just five of 26 tournament games since 2003 with three of those defeats coming at the hands of the Great Danes. Furthermore, Vermont's is 5-2 in championship game since 2003 and both losses have come against Albany as the Great Danes beat UVM 2006, 80-67, and 2007, 60-59, to win league crowns, while also knocking it out of the 2009 tournament. Vermont's lone tournament win against Albany came in the 2003 quarterfinals.
Tale of the Tape Part II
Vermont swept the season series from Albany by an average of 16 points as it overwhelmed the Great Danes in a 70-45 win on Jan. 5 in Burlington before posting a 50-43 victory in Albany on Jan. 26. The Catamounts' defense shut down the Great Danes in the two wins holding them to 20.8 points below their season average and holding them to just 32.3 shooting in the two games, more than 11 percentage points below their season average of 43.6 percent. In the Jan. 5 meeting, UVM shot 53 percent from the floor and held the Great Danes to just 36 percent and forced 16 turnovers. Trey Blue led Vermont with 15 points while Mike Black paced Albany with 14. On Jan. 24, the Catamounts' defense was even better, limiting Albany to just 29 percent shooting en route to the win. Only four Catamounts scored but all four went for double digits, led by Clancy Rugg's 14 points to go with 10 rebounds. Mike Black paced the Great Danes with 13.
Home Sweet Home
Twenty-nine times the America East men's basketball title has been decided on a member school's home floor and the hometown crowd has rarely been disappointed as home teams are 25-4 in America East title games. Albany and Vermont are familiar with the spoiler role however as the two teams have combined for three of those four victories. Vermont accomplished the feat just last season, winning its fifth America East by beating Stony Brook on the road, 51-43. The Catamounts also won their first conference crown away from home, in 2003 at Boston U., 56-55. Vermont was on the opposite end of the spectrum in 2007 when Albany went into Patrick Gym and came away with a 60-59 victory. Delaware was the first visiting team to accomplish the feat in 1993 by beating Drexel.
Finishing at the Top Matters
Vermont should be in the favorite in this game based on one historical stat. The teams that finish first or second in the conference standings have won 31 of the 33 league titles. Only twice has a team finished outside the top two and gone on to win the league title with Holy Cross (third place) accomplishing the feat in the league's inaugural season, 1980, and Delaware winning the tournament as the No. 3 seed in 1993. No team lower than third has ever won the conference crown. Albany finished fifth in the regular season.
New champion or a Repeat?
Repeat champions have been an important part of the history of America East basketball, just not lately. Parity has hit the league as five different teams have won the last six America East titles, the only such stretch in the league's history, and no team has repeated in that span. The last six league champions are Albany (2007), UMBC (2008), Binghamton (2009), Vermont (2010, '12) and Boston U. (2011). Eight teams, including six different schools, have won consecutive league titles and of those, three (Drexel, Northeastern and Vermont) have won three in a row. No team has won consecutive crowns since Albany in 2006 and '07, matching the longest drought for a returning champion in league history.
One is the Loneliest Number
For the third time in the last four years, the No. 1 seed will not play for the conference title. It's just the eighth time in the 31 years the tournament has used seeds that No. 1 has not played for the crown and the first time it has happened three times in a four-year span. A No. 1 seed has not won the league crown since 2009, which is the longest such stretch in conference history.
The Champ is Here
Reigning champions have returned to the America East championship game in 22 out of 30 seasons they were in the tournament, including Vermont this season. That rate has been even better in recent years as defending champs have reached the title game in 14 of 18 tournaments, including this year. However, no team has won consecutive crowns since Albany in 2006 and '07, matching the longest drought for a returning champion in league history. Vermont, last year's champion, is 3-2 as the defending champion in the next year's title game, winning in 2004 and '05, while falling in 2006 and '11.
Two Plus Four Equals Four
This will be the fourth time the No. 2 and No. 4 seeds meet in the conference championship game and the third time Vermont has been the second seed in the matchup. The second seed has won all three prior meetings, the last coming just three years ago when Vermont beat No. 4 Boston U., 83-70, behind 24 points and 18 rebounds from Marqus Blakely. In 2004, Vermont was again seeded second and beat No. 4 Maine, 72-53, on the back of an America East Championship game record 43 points from Taylor Coppenrath. The only other meeting between the two seeds came in 1988 when No. 2 Boston U. beat No. 4 Niagara, 79-68.
No. 2 Vermont Catamounts (21-10)
Pillars of consistency over the last decade, Vermont is the No. 2 seed this season, the 10th time in the last 12 seasons it has been first or second. The Catamounts have had great success as the No. 2 seed, going 14-1, reaching the championship game five times and winning four of their five conference titles from that position, including last season when they were positioned there and became just the third No. 2 seed to win the crown on the road. Vermont, which also won titles from the No. 2 position in 2003, '04 and '10, won 12 of its last 17 games to secure the program's seventh straight winning season, the longest such stretch in the league. Vermont, which is making its ninth-ever finals appearance and eighth since 2003, has won 20 games for the 10th time in the last 12 years after not having a 20-win campaign in any of its first 87 seasons. Vermont's defense is one of the best in the country, ranking 24th by holding teams to 58.8 points per game.
Consistent Cats
No team has had more America East Championship success over the last 12 years than Vermont. The Catamounts have won 23 games, made eight finals appearances and captured five tournament titles since 2003. In its 22 previous tourneys, Vermont went just 6-19 with only one finals appearance. The Catamounts is the No. 2 seed for the sixth time over that span and has been seeded first or second in 10 of the last 12 tournaments. Overall, the Cats are 30-25 all-time in championship play, the best record among league members eligible for this year's championship.
How the Cats Got Here
Vermont advanced to its eighth championship game in 11 years with two strong second-half performances in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. In the quarterfinals on March 9, the Catamounts trailed No. 7 New Hampshire by eight early in the second half, but proceeded to go on a 27-3 run and outscored the Wildcats, 41-16, after the break en route to a 61-42 victory. Candon Rusin led the way for UVM with 14 points off the bench while Sandro Carissimo added 10. The Cats needed another strong second-half in the semifinals against No. 6 UMBC as UVM trailed by three at the break, but scored 48 second-half points on its way to an 85-72 win. The Cats, who dominated the paint, outscoring UMBC, 40-12, in the key, were again led by Rusin, whose 18 points were a team high. Three teammates joined him in twin figures, as Ethan O'Day and Luke Apfeld each had 16 and Clancy Rugg added 11.
Second to None
No. 2 seeds been dominant of late, appearing in 15 of the last 18 title games and winning seven of the last 11 titles, including the last three. Overall, No. 2 seeds have won the tournament 10 times and made 23 title game appearances. Last season, Vermont became just the third No. 2 seed to knock off the seed on its home floor in the championship game, are again the No. 2 seed this season and has four of its five crowns from that position. Albany (2007), Boston U. (1988, '90, '02, '11), Northeastern (1985), Vermont (2003, '04, '10) are the other teams to win the title from the No. 2 slot.
No. 4 Albany Great Danes (23-10)
Albany is the No. 4 seed for the third-straight year and has tied its program's Division I record with 23 victories. Holders of its third 20-win season at the Division I level and first since the 2006-07 campaign, Albany is making its third America East title game appearance, where it is 2-0 all time. The Great Danes have been seeded fourth or better in seven of their 12 all-time tournament appearances and are 3-3 as the No. 4 seed, all of those wins coming in the last two seasons. Albany is balanced ranking fourth in scoring (64.8 ppg) and third in points allowed (60.6 papg). It also does damage at the foul line, leading the league in free throw percentage (.735) while getting to the line over 20 times per game.
Great Run for Great Danes
Albany has had its own share of success in the America East Championship, posting all 10 of its tournament wins since 2006. Only Vermont has more wins in that span. The Great Danes reeled off seven wins and won two conference titles from 2006-09, and have now posted three wins in the last two tournaments. Among active members, only Boston U. (5) and Vermont (4) have won more championships than Albany’s two. The Great Danes, who are 10-9 all-time in tournament play, are one of just two active members (Boston U., Vermont) to win consecutive league titles and one of just four programs (Northeastern, Delaware and Drexel) to win at least two America East titles within six years of joining the league.
Fourth Street
No. 4 seeds have only won just over one-third of their tournament games all-time, going just 17-30, but have had success in recent years. No. 4 seeds have reached the championship semifinals five of the last six seasons and Albany is the second fourth seed to reach the league title game since 2010. In 2010, Boston U. became just the third No. 4 seed to reach the conference title game. The five wins for the No. 4 seed in a five-year span are the most in tournament history. Maine became only the second No. 4 seed to reach the championship game in 2004, while Niagara was the first in 1988.
Black is Back
With 126 career games under his belt, Albany's Mike Black is among one of the most experienced players in America East. He is also one of the best as the senior guard earned first team all-conference honors this season, the third all-league honor of his career. Black, who became just the 44th player in league history to reach the 1,500 point plateau over the weekend, currently sits in 42nd place on the league's career scoring list with 1,516 career points. This year, he ranks third among league leaders averaging 15.1 points per game and has nine 20-point efforts, which is tied for tops in the league. Black, who has led Albany to its most wins since the 2006-07 campaign, earned America East Player of the Week honors on Dec. 10.
Rowley Ramps It Up
For the first 16 games of the season, Albany's sophomore forward Sam Rowley came off the bench and averaged just 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds over that span. Since entering the starting lineup on Jan. 17, Rowley has elevated his game, averaging 11.7 points and 7.7 boards over those 17 contests. In conference play, Rowley ranked 18th in scoring (11.1 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (7.6 rpg) among league leaders.
Versatile Voelkel
Brian Voelkel is Vermont's Mr. Everything despite not scoring much. While averaging just 6.1 points per game, the junior forward is the Catamounts' most important player as he leads them in rebounding (8.7 rpg), which is second in the conference, and assists (4.9 apg), which also ranks second. The Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 America East Championship, Voelkel has 13 double-digit rebound games to go with one 10-assist game as well. He has accumulated 887 rebounds and 479 assists in less than three years and is on pace to finish his career among the league's top-five all-time in both categories.
Rest of the Cats
Vermont is one of the deepest teams in America East with seven players averaging over 6.0 points per game, all seven of which have led UVM in scoring at least once this season. Junior Clancy Rugg, a second-team all-leaguer, leads the team in scoring (11.4 ppg), which ranks 14th in the league, while Luke Apfeld is second (10.8 ppg). Sandro Carissimo, a third-team all-conference choice, contributes 9.8 points per game.
Brown's Town
The longest tenured head coach in America East, Will Brown, is in his 12th year at Albany and is one of 11 coaches to win multiple America East titles. He has led Albany to all 10 of its America East Championship wins and took the Great Danes to consecutive league crowns in 2006 and 2007, becoming one of just six head coaches to accomplish that feat. Brown ranks second among active coaches on the league's championship wins list and sits in six place all time. This season, Brown has led Albany to its third-ever America East title game and a program-record tying 23 wins. He can become just the fourth coach in league history to win three titles with a win Saturday.
Becker Bursts on the Scene
Few head coaches have experienced the success John Becker has had in less than two seasons as a head coach. The Vermont mentor became just the second head coach in league history (Karl Fogel '86) to lead his team to an America East title in his first season last year. On top of that, Becker led Vermont to just its second NCAA win, a first-round triumph over Lamar. This year, Becker, became the first Vermont coach to ever record 20 wins in his first two seasons as head coach. Furthermore, he improved to a perfect 5-0 all-time in America East Championship play and became one of just five coaches to reach the final in each of his first two seasons as head coach. He can become the first coach in league history to win the title in each of his first two years with a win Saturday. Overall, Becker, who previously served as a Catamount assistant for five years, has a 45-22 record as UVM head coach.
A Coaches' Conference
America East has been the starting point for several of college basketball's top coaches. Overall, seven current Division I head coaches spent time as the top mentor on an America East bench, including Mike Brey (Notre Dame), Patrick Chambers (Penn State), John Giannini (La Salle), Mike Jarvis (Florida Atlantic), Mike Lonergan (George Washington), Rick Pitino (Louisville) and Jay Wright (Villanova). The group has combined to win over 2,000 games, make six Final Four appearances and win a national championship. Additionally the recently retired Jim Calhoun, who won a league-record five titles while at Northeastern, won over 600 NCAA games, took Connecticut to four Final Fours and won three national championships.
Reggie Lewis Award
The Reggie Lewis Award is given each year to the most outstanding player in the America East Men’s Basketball Championship. The award was named in memory of Lewis, the former Northeastern star who won four America East titles, prior to the 1993-94 season. Lewis was drafted in the first round of the 1987 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics.
Postseason Plurality
America East will look to keep up its recent track record of sending multiple teams to the postseason in 2012-13. The conference has had at least two teams playing into the middle of March in eight of the last 10 years. Stony Brook is already guaranteed a postseason berth and will receive an NIT bid for the third time in the last four years. In fact, five teams in all have a shot at the postseason this year. Last year, the conference sent three teams to the postseason (Vermont - NCAA, Stony Brook - NIT, Albany - CIT), tying the league's all-time high. Three teams also reached the postseason in both 2005 (Boston U., Northeastern, Vermont) and 2010 (Boston U., Stony Brook, Vermont). In total, 20 America East teams have reached the postseason over the last 10 teams.