2019 NCAA Tournament: 5 potential breakout coach candidates

DAYTON, OH - MARCH 15: Head coach LeVelle Moton of the North Carolina Central Eagles reacts in the second half against the UC Davis Aggies during the First Four game in the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 15, 2017 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

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Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /

John Becker, Vermont

The Vermont Catamounts and head coach John Becker have been onto something in the past three seasons. They’ve won the America East Conference regular-season title in three consecutive seasons and the conference tournament championship in two of the past three years.

Becker led the Catamounts to a record of 27-6 in 2018-19, their second-straight second with at least 27 wins, in his eighth season at the helm. He’s making his third trip to the Big Dance and has potential NBA draft pick Anthony Lamb at his disposal.

Becker got over the inevitable hump that was the UMBC Retrievers in this year’s conference tournament title game with a 66-49 victory. They lost to UMBC twice during the regular season and went 14-2 in conference play.

As a 13-seed in this year’s field, they’ll have a tough road ahead in the first round and beyond if they hope to make some noise. The Florida State Seminoles will give them all they can handle with their size and depth. Becker could see his stock rise in the coaching carousel with an upset.

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