PREMIUM
**VERY EARLY** 11 AM ET Start >> Rogers' America East WINNER!
(NCAAB) Albany vs. Vermont,
Point Spread: 9.50 | -106.00 Albany (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 9.50 | -106.00 Albany (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: The America East championship is up for grabs when the Albany Great Danes play at the Vermont Catamounts in an early Saturday tip-off (11:00 ET).
Albany: The Greart Danes were 10-6 in league play and all season, have been led by guards Nichols (18.1-3.4-3.2) and Cremo (16.2-5.3-3.8). Albany won at home in this tourney in a blowout of Hatford (Nichols had 40 points!) and then won 63-56 at Stony Brook to advance to the title game and get a third shot this season vs. Vermont.
Vermont: The Catamounts have been the class of the league, joining Princeton (Ivy League), as the only schools to go unbeaten in conference play during the regular season. Vermont uses nine players with three reaching double digits, two forwards and a guard. The 6-6 Lamb (12.6 & 5.30 is the leading scorer with the 6-8 Henson (11.1 & 5.4) just behind him. PG Bell-Haynes (11.2 & 3.8 APG) runs an offense averaging 74.1 PPG and the team connects on 50.0 percent of its shots (6th).
The pick: Vermont's 16-0 league record has allowed them to play all games in this tourney at home and in its first two games, the Catamounts have held each opponent to 41 points, while scoring 86 and 74, themselves. Vermont is 15-1 on its homecourt this season, losig only back on Dec. 10 to Northeastern, when the Huskies shot 52.1% and the Catamounts just 40.4%! However, don't expect a blowout here. Vermont (like Princeton) is in the unenviable position of knowing a loss here leaves them out of the Big Dance, despite dominating the league all season. Albany has the two best scorers in the game in Nichols and Cremo plus is a solid defensive team, as well (66.2 PPG allowed ranks 46th). Note that Albany is 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games. Take the points and make Albany an 8* play.
Albany: The Greart Danes were 10-6 in league play and all season, have been led by guards Nichols (18.1-3.4-3.2) and Cremo (16.2-5.3-3.8). Albany won at home in this tourney in a blowout of Hatford (Nichols had 40 points!) and then won 63-56 at Stony Brook to advance to the title game and get a third shot this season vs. Vermont.
Vermont: The Catamounts have been the class of the league, joining Princeton (Ivy League), as the only schools to go unbeaten in conference play during the regular season. Vermont uses nine players with three reaching double digits, two forwards and a guard. The 6-6 Lamb (12.6 & 5.30 is the leading scorer with the 6-8 Henson (11.1 & 5.4) just behind him. PG Bell-Haynes (11.2 & 3.8 APG) runs an offense averaging 74.1 PPG and the team connects on 50.0 percent of its shots (6th).
The pick: Vermont's 16-0 league record has allowed them to play all games in this tourney at home and in its first two games, the Catamounts have held each opponent to 41 points, while scoring 86 and 74, themselves. Vermont is 15-1 on its homecourt this season, losig only back on Dec. 10 to Northeastern, when the Huskies shot 52.1% and the Catamounts just 40.4%! However, don't expect a blowout here. Vermont (like Princeton) is in the unenviable position of knowing a loss here leaves them out of the Big Dance, despite dominating the league all season. Albany has the two best scorers in the game in Nichols and Cremo plus is a solid defensive team, as well (66.2 PPG allowed ranks 46th). Note that Albany is 12-4 ATS in their last 16 road games. Take the points and make Albany an 8* play.
