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Bracketology 2024: 5 mid-major teams off to a fast start in 2023-24 season

By Jason Burgess

Nov 6, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) walks back to the bench and the James Madison Dukes bench erupts as the final buzzer sounds at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2023; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Tyson Walker (2) walks back to the bench and the James Madison Dukes bench erupts as the final buzzer sounds at Jack Breslin Student Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports /
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Western Carolina Catamounts guard Vonterius Woolbright Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Western Carolina Catamounts guard Vonterius Woolbright Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

Western Carolina Catamounts 4-0

The Western Carolina Catamounts have been clawing away all comers so far this season. The 4-0 Catamounts have already knocked off Notre Dame in convincing fashion and followed that up with a pair of two-point wins over Middle Tennessee State and a good McNeese State team. Justin Gray’s team has won in all sorts of ways this year, whether it be offensively or putting the clamps on teams defensively. The Catamounts have been very efficient offensively, shooting over 47% from the field and over 38% from deep. As of their last game against McNeese State, the Catamounts rank in the top 100 in offensive efficiency on KenPom.

Senior Vonterius Woolbright has been the star Catamounts this season with 19 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. The 6’6 guard is a triple-double threat and has one in his career, but that number will certainly increase this season. Even though the Catamounts have averaged nearly 80 points per game, on the defensive end is where they have made inroads so far. They’ve held opponents to 66 points per game and allowed them to just 41% from the field.

The Catamounts have won 20 games just once since 1973, that was back in 2009-10 when they won 22. Gray won 18 with the team last season and they were picked to finish third in the SoCon this season, there is a good chance the Catamounts reach the plateau for just the second time in half a century.

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