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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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Bracketology Vermont Catamounts forward Matt Veretto Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Bracketology Vermont Catamounts forward Matt Veretto Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Vermont Catamounts  4-1 (faces Northern Vermont on Wednesday)

The last two teams on the list happened to face each other this past week in the finals of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. First up is the runner-up, the Vermont Catamounts. John Becker’s team is now 4-1 after a good showing in South Carolina.
They began the year by beating Merrimack to begin the year, they beat mid-major darling Charleston 72-64. They then battled Saint Louis in the semifinals and dispatched them by double figures before falling to Liberty in the title game.

Like most of the teams on this list, the Catamounts have used a balanced attack offensively so far.
The combo of Shamir Bogues and Matt Veretto has been particularly strong. The 6-8 senior is netting 12 points in Division I games including an 18-point, five-rebound effort in the win over Charleston. Bogues is a transfer from Tarleton State who is putting up what would be career-high in nearly every major statical category, as he is second on the team in scoring, rebounding, and assists.

Even though Vermont’s resume is more about potential seeding in the NCAA Tournament, the wins over Charleston and Saint Louis along with a three-game stretch in December against Colgate, Virginia Tech, and Toledo will be the key non-conference reference points when it comes to Vermont.

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