I apologize for not having northeast results from last week, because I was busy with finals and driving home from school, and that is also reflected in this past week’s slate.
Not much happened during the week from Dec. 9-13, but once the weekend hit, we had some of the best non-conference action of the year. Unfortunately, most of it was at the high-major level, so there wasn’t a ton from the northeast that you may have missed.
Colgate 65, Vermont 60
It has been a rough start to the season for two of the region’s most powerful programs. Colgate, fresh off its fourth consecutive Patriot League tournament title, had nearly matched its loss total from last year within five weeks of the season starting. The Raiders had a five-game losing streak going after fading away late against Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Wednesday but returned home on Sunday with a big win.
Still without big man Jeff Woodward, Colgate held Vermont’s star, Shamir Bogues, to 2-of-12 from the field and fouled out Ileri Ayo-Faleye in order to secure the win. Sophomore Jalen Cox has had an up-and-down season, but has now put in four straight double-digit scoring games, starting to come into his own before Patriot League play.
Colgate entered that game 2-9, the program’s worst 11-game start since 2016-17, which is the Raiders’ last time finishing with a losing record in conference play. Even sitting at 3-9, it’s probably not wise to bet against Matt Langel’s team in the Patriot League. They rank second in KenPom amongst the 10 teams at the moment, behind only American, but could rise later in the year.
On the Vermont angle, since picking up a road win at UAB on opening night, the Catamounts haven’t impressed at all, at least on the hardwood. UVM has losses to three MAAC teams, two Ivy teams, and now Colgate, and sits 298th nationally in offensive efficiency. We knew that this Vermont team would be more defensive-slanted than past years after losing Aaron Deloney and Matt Veretto, but compounding that with TJ Long’s injury (he has missed the last five games) and Bogues’ offensive struggles (81.4 offensive rating) has made a bad formula.
UMass Lowell is currently the clear favorite in the America East, with the first meeting between them and the Catamounts being scheduled for Jan. 9 in Lowell.
Vermont on the pitch
It’s not all bad for Vermont, as the Catamounts will fight for a national championship on Monday night.
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