Marquette Golden Eagles play the Vermont Catamounts in first round of NCAA Tournament

The Marquette Golden Eagles will square off against the Vermont Catamounts in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday. The highly anticipated matchup is expected to be a hard-fought contest between two teams that have achieved significant success in the college basketball landscape.

The Golden Eagles, hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, have been a force to be reckoned with in the Big East Conference this season. Led by Head Coach Steve Wojciechowski, the team has compiled a 19-8 overall record, with a 13-5 mark in conference play. Marquette has seen a remarkable turnaround this year, as they have improved upon their 11-21 finish in the 2019-2020 season.

The Catamounts of the University of Vermont, have also experienced success this season, posting a 20-6 overall record, with a 12-4 mark in the America East Conference. The team is coached by John Becker, who has been at the helm since 2011. Becker has guided the Catamounts to six America East titles, including three regular season championships and three tournament championships, since his tenure began.

The Eagles and the Catamounts boast well-rounded teams, with balanced offensive attacks and staunch defensive backlines. Marquette has relied on the scoring prowess of guard D.J. Carton, who has averaged 13.4 points per game this season. Carton has been particularly effective from the three-point line, shooting 41.2 percent from beyond the arc. The Catamounts have been led by forward Ryan Davis, who has averaged a team-high 14.6 points per game. Davis has been a threat from both the inside and the outside, shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 37.5 percent from three-point range.

The Golden Eagles and the Catamounts will clash in a battle of contrasting styles on Thursday. Both teams have shown they can compete on the biggest stage, and the winner of this game will have the opportunity to continue their pursuit of a national title.