Vermont Catamounts (Overall: 29-5, Conf: 16-0)
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Team Strengths
Vermont isn’t playing like a +100,000 long shot right now. The team enters as the hottest team in the tournament, having won 21-consecutive games, including the America East tournament championship.
What’s truly surreal about the Catamounts is their depth and balanced scoring. No player is putting up more than the 12.6 PPG. They’re also shooting 49.7 percent from the field as a whole, among the best in the country. Plus, they have the kind of defense that’s solid enough to keep them competitive, or even lead them to a win. Vermont allows just 62.8 points per game (16th).
Team Weaknesses
Every team has a weakness, and as for the Catamounts, it’s their relatively small size. The tallest player on the team stands at 6’8”, which can explain the lack of rebounding and weak inside scoring. Vermont also abuses its starting unit, expecting them to exert 100 percent on both ends of the floor. That heavy usage could eventually lead to fatigue, especially against top programs.
Team Statistics (from teamrankings.com)
| Category | Stat | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 73.4 | #157 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 33.6 | #267 |
| Blocks Per Game | 4.5 | #56 |
| 3-Point Percentage | 36.7 | #90 |
| Free Throw Percentage | 70.0 | #182 |
Starting Lineup:
| Position | Name | PPG |
|---|---|---|
| F | Payton Henson | 11.4 |
| F | Anthony Lamb | 12.6 |
| G | Trae Bell-Haynes | 11.1 |
| G | Eric Duncan | 8.6 |
| G | Kurt Steidl | 8.0 |
Writer’s Prediction
Vermont (+100,000) loses a close one to Purdue in the opening round.
Create a betting account now and place your bets already for March Madness 2017.
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