Men's Basketball Weekly Release

The University of Vermont Catamounts open the 2001-2002 season with two exhibition games this week at the Patrick Gym. Vermont hosts Mickey Walker's Upstate AAU (USDBL) all-stars on Tuesday and then takes on crosstown rival Saint Michael's College on Thursday. Both games tip off at 7 pm and the St. Mike's game on Thursday will be aired on WVMT as well as over the internet on www.uvmathletics.com.

GREAT GAINES FOR TREVOR ... Senior co-captain Trevor Gaines (Farmington Hills, MI) the 16th Catamount to reach 500 points and 500 boards in his career, has the most points (806) and rebounds (562) among current America East players. Based on last year's numbers, 7.6 per game, he also is the top returning rebounder in the conference. Classmate Corry McLaughlin (Andover, MA) is also a co-captain and joins Gaines in the frontcourt.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES ... Sophomore point guard T.J. Sorrentine (Pawtucket, RI), the 2001 America East Rookie of the Year, is the Catamounts' top returning scorer (14.3 ppg) and also led the conference in assists (5.5 apg). He continues a 14-year stretch of excellent UVM point guards as the previous three, Kenny White '92, Eddie Benton '96 and David Roach '00, each were four-year starters. All four were conference all-rookie selections as well.

STILL THE ONE ... The dean of America East coaches entering his 16th season, Tom Brennan is just one of 26 of the nation's 320 coaches to currently be at the same school for 15 or more years. In the conference, the other eight coaches have combined for just 17 seasons of experience in the America East.

OLD RIVALRY, NOW 'FAMILY' FEUD ... In one of the most unique matchups in college hoops since rarely do D-I and D-II teams now meet, the Cats are looking to settle a score with the Purple Knights who won last year's exhibition, 85-80, in front of over 2,000 fans. In 2000-01, St. Michael's went on to a 27-4 record, a NE-10 title and reached the round of 16 in the NCAA D-II tourney. SMC is coached by a couple of old friends, and former Catamount standouts, in head coach Tom O'Shea '87 and his top assistant, Bernie Cieplicki '96.

NEW RIVALS ... Three new schools will make their America East debut this season, Albany, Stony Brook and Binghamton, as the conference becomes tighter geographically. Also the America East Championships return to New England as the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will be held at Northeastern's Matthews Arena on March 2 and 3. The title game will be held on March 9th at the highest remaining seed and will be broadcast nationally on ESPN for the 15th straight year.

INTRODUCING ... Four newcomers will make their Catamount debut this season. Forward Taylor Coppenrath (West Barnet, VT), who was a redshirt last year, and three guards, Mike Goia (Branchville, NJ), David Hehn (Sarnia, ONT) and Germain Njila (Yaounde, Cameroon) will join the rotation. Also, two new faces will also be on the Vermont bench, assistant coaches Pat Filien and Jeff Rush .

CAT-NIPS ... Geographically, the Catamounts are the most diverse group in many years. All 12 players are from a different U.S. state (10) or country (2) ... The proceeds from the 50-50 raffle at the SMC game will be donated to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. Six UVM alums, and three from St. Mikes, were employed by the firm in the World Trade Center and perished on September 11th. Among them was Martin Niederer '99, who played two seasons with the Catamounts. At UVM's annual Kevin Roberson Memorial Dinner, just over $900 was raised for the fund ... The Catamounts open the regular season on Friday, November 16th taking on Brown at Central Connecticut's Mohegan Sun Classic. The regular season home opener will be on Saturday, November 24th as UVM Hall of Famer Rollie Massimino '56 comes to town with Cleveland State.