HoopsHD continues its series leading up to Selection Sunday and March Madness, as we simulate what would have happened in TTTW (The Tournament That Wasn’t). Today is Saturday, March 14, a day when 14 conference tournament championship would have been decided, starting with the America East title game between Hartford and Vermont. Do the Hawks have it in them to pull off the upset? Let’s find out!!!
AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
The Vermont Catamounts had entered the America East tournament as the top seed, having locked up home court advantage throughout the playoffs. Despite this advantage, both 8-seed Maine and 4-seed UMBC had given them tough tests at home in the first two rounds. But the Catamounts had survived and advanced, only to find the Hartford Hawks waiting, a team that had a chance to make the Field of 68 for the first time in school history. Unfortunately for the Hawks, history was not being made today, as Vermont came out on fire early with a 15-0 run turning a 12-10 lead into 27-10 just ten minutes into the game. Hartford was never able to mount any serious charge the rest of the way. Anthony Lamb’s 15 points led the way, and the home crowd stormed the court at the final buzzer of the 82-57 win to celebrate another conference title and another dance ticket.
