BROOKLYN, N.Y. (WCAX) – UVM’s men’s basketball team – and their fans – are gearing up for the NCAA basketball tournament March Madness.
“We go to all the games,” said Derek Punt of Colchester.
“We love watching Vermont whenever we can,” said Katie of New York City.
At Thursday’s open practice, the green and gold came in full force to cheer on their cats.
“Every win just makes the program that much better so looking forward to the program getting better as well,” said Hayes Reza of Texas.
Reza was the team manager when he was a student in the class of 2004.
“The culmination of the game is so fun for all the kids, I’m so proud to be an alum,” said Reza.
For other alum like Katie, who now lives in New York City, this game couldn’t be more convenient.
“They have this streak and this street cred of being a solid team,” said Katie.
But what would a Vermont game be without support straight from the 802?
“I just have been a lifelong fan and have enjoyed the development of the program and this is just another layer of success,” said Ken Lynes of Burlington.
Ken Lynes came to the Big Apple from the Queen City, noting he tries to support the cats as often as he can.
“I was there in 2005 in Worcester, Mass when the Cats took down the orange. And I’ll be there tomorrow night when the Catamounts take down the Blue Devils,” he said.
But this isn’t the Cats’ first time playing the Blue Devils.
Derek Punt came to New York City from Colchester, saying he watched UVM lose to Duke by one point in a regular season game back in 2013.
“I feel like it got stolen from us, so this could be our revenge thing,” said Punt.
You can catch our WCAX pregame show starting tonight at 6:45 p.m., and you can watch the Cats take on the Blue Devils at 7:10.
