UMass Lowell vs. Vermont 3/11/23

This game will be played at Patrick High School on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM ET.

Why choose Vermont:

✅ Vermont won 14 straight games in the America East Finals. Their last loss came on the road against this UMass Lowell team, but that was a road game and Vermont easily handled Lowell in Burlington back in the regular season.

✅ This season, the Vermont Catamounts have played 14-1 at home. Her only loss at Patrick Gym came against a Toledo team, which is the MAC’s league this season and one of the best offensive teams in all of college basketball. Against a Lowell team that isn’t the Toledo roster, Vermont will end a perfect conference season at home.

✅ UMass Lowell, meanwhile, has been a house yard trader this season. They have recorded a perfect 17-0 at home this year but only 9-7 away.

UMass Lowell River Hawks: In Search of First America East Title

On Saturday morning, the UMass Lowell River Hawks hope to capture their first conference title in America East and their first conference title as a Division I basketball program. They finished second in America East standings that season and shared their regular-season streak this year against Vermont. But there are some questions as to whether this team can get the job done on the road against a top-flight opponent.

That season, the River Hawks had the 362nd non-conference strength on the schedule, the second-worst among Division I teams, according to Kenpom. That artificially raised their record, which ended the season at 26-7. But the River Hawks aren’t as impressive as that number looks in this championship game between UMass Lowell and Vermont.

In order for Lowell to win this competition, they must find a way to slow down Vermont at Patrick Gym. The Catamounts have averaged 79.5 points per game at home against conference opponents, 6.4 points above their season average. Lowell has to intervene to avoid giving another big number to the Catamounts.

Vermont Catamounts: An Institution in America East

The Vermont Catamounts have won eight America East Tournament titles, the most of any team in league history. They have won three of their last five tournament championships and will be looking to go for four of six with a win over the UMass Lowell River Hawks on Saturday morning. All the Catamounts have to do is do business at home one last time.

At their last meeting in Vermont this season, Vermont shot 63.3% from field and 60.9% from three-point range against Lowell. Those numbers may not be able to be replicated in this competition, but Vermont is certainly capable of fielding another big number to return to the NCAA tournament.

In the past 10 editions of the America East Tournament, the Catamounts have been the home team for five America East Championship games. They’ve won 3-2 in those competitions, but the losing teams either weren’t as good as this year’s team or they faced the UMBC team that upset Virginia in the 2018 NCAA tournament.