BURLINGTON, Vt. – Patrick Gymnasium is one of the toughest places to play in the America East. Vermont has won 30 of its last 33 home games.
But Maine enters Saturday’s America East men’s basketball conference championship game against the Catamounts filled with confidence. In the regular-season finale two weeks ago, the Black Bears accounted for one of those three losses.
The stakes are far bigger Saturday.
The winner of the sold out ESPN-televised game earns an automatic bid into the NCAA tournament. Vermont, the second seed, represented the America East last year for the first time.
The fourth-ranked Black Bears (20-9) have never participated in the Big Dance. They are playing in the conference finals for the second time in three years
Maine is one of four states that has never sent a team to the NCAA tournament. The remaining three – Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota – do not have a Division I basketball program.
Vermont and Maine split during the regular season, with each winning on the other’s home court.
Even without an NCAA bid, Maine has enjoyed a historic season. This marks the second time that Maine has won at least 20 games in a season. The Black Bears rank ninth in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 39.2. Maine has not lost when holding its opponents to less than 60 points.
The Black Bears have won nine of their last 11 games.
Maine has enjoyed a balanced attack. With guards Kevin Reed (14.7 ppg) and Eric Dobson (12.9) and post player Mark Flavin (12.0) leading the way. Reed also leads the club in rebounding (7.1). Rounding out the starting five are Joe Campbell and former South Portland standout Chris Markwood.
Vermont’s chances may come down to the availability of two-time conference player of the year Taylor Coppenrath, who has missed the last seven games with a broken scaphoid bone in his left wrist. The fifth leading scorer in the country (23.8 ppg), the 6-foot-9 Coppenrath had his cast removed this week and practiced for the first time Wednesday.
His status won’t be determined until game time.
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