Vermont Catamounts: 29-5, 16-0 in the America East
Head coach: John Becker (6th season)
Key players: Anthony Lamb (12.6 PPG, 5.4 RPG); Payton Hansen (11.4 PPG, 5.3 RPG); Ernie Duncan (8.6 PPG, 40.0 3PT%)
Season recap: Vermont enters the NCAA tournament on a 21-game winning streak after capturing the America East regular season and conference tournament titles. Although their success may be partially due to a weak schedule, the Catamounts won only five of the 21 games by single digits and won their first two games of the conference tournament by an average of 39 points. In road contests against then-No. 20 South Carolina and then-No. 13 Butler, Vermont was competitive for a half, before ultimately losing by double-figures.
Unlike some mid-majors, the Catamounts do not rely on one primary scorer, as they have five players averaging at least eight points per game. Vermont is not known as an offensive juggernaut on the whole and plays at one of the slowest paces in the nation. Instead, the Catamounts pride themselves on the defensive end, where they have held opponents to just 42.0 percent shooting this season. Vermont will be making its sixth appearance in the NCAA tournament, with the program's lone victory in the Round of 64 coming in 2005, a memorable upset against Syracuse.
How they make a run: The Catamounts' sound defense comes handy as they frustrate a higher seed into a tough shooting night and win a gritty, low-scoring battle.
How they falter: Vermont's inability to hit shots from beyond the arc allows opponents to pack the paint and make life difficult on an offensively-challenged Catamount team.
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