Game 6, 2019-20: vs Virginia (Mohegan Sun, 11/23)

[uz2b-len]

I had the impression from the article the defenders were still guarding specific players.

[LS71]

I did too...but it still feels like a zone...more of a match-up zone perhaps?

[DrG]

Tonight's match-up against Vermont ought to be interesting since the Catamounts are 4-0, with three of those wins coming in the road...including handing St. John's its first loss of the season in NY this past Saturday.

Vermont is a legitimately good mid-major program. I'm glad they're not on our schedule. I will watch this game with great interest.

[tom mclaughlin]

Will be also watching UVM vs VA with interest. My son Corry was the Co-Captain of the 2001-2002 squad that won their 1st Conference Championship. They have had some ride since then with Conference Championships, Conference Playoff Championships and NCAA appearances and an NCAA tournament upset win over a ranked Syracuse team on a 35 foot shot by TJ Sorrentine. That team was led by Taylor Coppenrath. UVM is a fun team to root for they have good kids from great families and come from all over the country. Burlington is a terrific town and the fans fill Patrick Gym for every game. They show up in snow storms, ice storms and in blizzard conditions. Reminds me of the UMass fans that I played in front of.
The reason I like watching them and going to their games is it reminds me of the UMass program back in the 70’s. Very intimate feeling like the Cage and the fans were 110 percent behind them. They also travel well and fans will drive hours to see them. Can remember playing @ Madison Square Garden and having 6,000 UMass fans follow us and beating nationally ranked Missouri. They are getting votes for top 25 and it’s nice to see a Mid-Major with good kids and great fans getting publicity. These kids can play - they play together, pass the ball and play solid defense - nothing spectacular but they give everything they got. They have beaten St.Bonnaventure, Bucknell and St.Johns on the road. They are the kind of team Jack Leaman should be coaching - no frills just tough hard nosed kids that like one another. They will have their hands full vs VA but win or lose they will represent their school with pride a lot like the UMass teams did in the 70’s. One can never explain what it was like to take the floor in a sold out Cage before the best fans in NE basketball it was something special and the bond between the fans and players was magical. I guess in a small way UVM basketball is similar so it’s easy to root for them. Go Cats Go!

[LS71]

24-18 Virginia at the half.

Early on it was a game of runs...Vermont scored the first 7 points of the game; then Virginia ran off 14 unanswered points.

Now with 16:01 to go, it's 24-23 Virginia.

[TheInsider]

Seems so far this season that UVA is an elite defensive team that has trouble scoring.

[JoleonLescottsHair]

Vermont giving them a great game. Providing we manage to get past Rider, I really, really wish UVA didn't have Vermont before us. It is going to be the proverbial test they needed.

[LS71]

34-31 Vermont 11:58 to go.

Rebounds: VA 22; VT 19

Virginia, 7 assists; 9 turnovers.

Vermont 8-23 from 3-point land.

[capezona]

Vermont missed their last 5 3-pt attempts I believe and couldn't pull it out in the end. Close game. Vermont is for real.

[tom mclaughlin]

Happy for all the mid-majors. Vermont always plays hard. I think by the final 5 mins they were hurt by Virginia’s size. The fact that they scored 55 pts vs the best defense in college basketball is encouraging. When you play UVA it’s like going for a root canal - nothing is easy. Every procession is under stress and any mistake becomes magnified. The UVM kids left everything on the floor and Lamb is good - a tough kid from upstate NY - to score 30 against VA is unbelievable.
Good for UMass kids to see a team battle vs VA hopefully will give them a lesson on how to play them. Amazing thing is UVM played MtoM entire game and stayed with them on the boards. Will be a good test for our young kids - hang tough and stay in the game. Go UMass and it’s why you came to Amherst to play at the highest level. Good luck and show UVA how good a team you are!

[MikeUMA]

Stat observations:
UVM played perimeter ball, taking nearly twice as many 3s as 2s (34 to 18), and only went to the line 3 times.
The 34 3s was UVMs high this season, and the 12 makes was the most UVA has given up so far.
UVM hung tough on the glass, 30-29 UVA.
Points in the paint was a decider: 22-8 UVA.

[DrG]

Pretty obvious that UVA will try to pound it inside on us and take away our perimeter shooting.

First things first, though. Let's take care of business against Rider, which is no gimmee.

[Puffton 280]

The game ticket, does anyone if it is good for all 4 games that day? Thanks!

[mdogt12]

The game ticket, does anyone if it is good for all 4 games that day? Thanks!

Yes

[eldonabe]

Seems so far this season that UVA is an elite defensive team that has trouble scoring.

Ummmm - I think you meant this decade...