Nine Teams, Nine Days – Over the next nine days we’ll take a look at each of the America East’s nine men’s basketball programs in a lead up to the 2023-24 season. The regular season begins on Monday, Nov. 6 with eight teams in action and the full schedule of contests can be found here.
For the seventh consecutive season in 2022-23 the road to the America East Men’s Basketball Championship had to go through Patrick Gymnasium, and for the fourth time in the past five seasons the Catamounts took home the conference crown.
However, head coach John Becker isn’t one to be satisfied and rest on past season success. A new-look roster, featuring just one returning starter and two of the team’s top six scorers may take a little time to gel but he’s pleased in the direction of his squad.
“Aaron, Nick and Matt have done a great job leading the group and I expect them to have great years this year…, ” said Becker. “We bring in eight players into the program. That has been a challenge getting those guys up to speed so to speak, but we’re really excited about the group.”
Two-time Sixth Man of the Year Aaron Deloney returns as a graduate student this year after ranking third on the team in scoring at 11.6 points per contest. He was first on the team in made three-point field goals with 64, while second in three-point percentage at 40.3%. The team leader in that category was 6-8 Matt Veretto. He shot 41.4 percent from downtown with 58 treys while averaging 8.9 point per game, though he did up that to 13.2 ppg over the final six games of the season. All-Rookie guard TJ Hurley (5.1 ppg) returns for his sophomore campaign while Ileri Ayo-Faleye is poised for a big season as well.
UVM brought in eight newcomers to the roster, four transfers and four freshman. The group of transfers is headlined by Shamir Bogues, a two-time All-WAC defender from Tarleton State. MAAC Sixth Man of the Year TJ Long comes over from Fairfield, while the rest of the newcomers could find a win to get on the floor.
The Catamounts begin the season at home against Merrimack at 7 p.m. and then take to the road for a big matchup with mid-major darling Charleston on Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m. in the Myrtle Beach Invitational. They play two more games in South Carolina and at Bradley later in the month. UVM is home just twice in December, while facing Virginia Tech, Toledo and Miami (OH) on the road. The Catamounts open conference play at home on Jan. 6 against Maine with a 2 p.m. tip-off.
Vermont – Roster - Schedule
Head Coach: John Becker
2022-23 Record: 23-11, 14-2 (1st)
Scoring Offense: 72.7 points per game (4th)
Scoring Defense: 66.9 points per game (2nd)
Turnover Margin: +2.09 per game (1st)
Returning Starters (1)
Matt Veretto, F – 8.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 58 3pt FG
Notable Newcomers (8)
Shamir Bogues, G – transfer from Tarleton State
TJ Long, G – transfer from Fairfield
Brenton Mills, G – transfer from Bowling Green
Seth Joba, F - freshman
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