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BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – With both UVM basketball teams set to open their seasons in the next few weeks, UVM hosted a media day for both Catamount programs. We had the opportunity to speak to some players from both teams as well as the two head coaches, John Becker and Alisa Kresge. The UVM men are at the top of the exhibition calendar. The Cats will host former assistant Chris Santo’s St. Anselm Hawks on Saturday afternoon before a clash with St. Mike’s next week. Vermont once again enters this season with sky-high expectations: They return seven of the top nine scorers from a year ago, and as a result, the league’s coaches picked the Cats to win the America East for the fourth straight year in the previously released preseason poll this week. The Cats had some injury issues over the summer and early in preseason training, particularly at the guard spot. They’re relying on their extensive experience to make up for it while guys like Shamir Bogues and TJ Long work their way back to 100%. But they’re excited to see the continued growth of veterans like TJ Hurley and what upcoming transfers Shy Odom and Gavin Perryman can bring. “What impressed me about these two kids is that they play a successful style of basketball,” Becker said of the transfers. “They’re really selfless, they’re really smart. They’re really attracted to the way we play, the coaching styles and all those things. So I think both of them were great additions.” “I got a lot of reps in to start the year without guys,” Hurley added. “I’ve worked really hard this offseason to kind of enrich my game, develop my game to the point where I’m able to create something for myself and for others and bring another aspect of that to the team.” The UVM women are starting this year with a little chip on their shoulder. Head coach Alisa Kresge called her third-place projection in the preseason conference poll both a sign of respect and an opportunity to prove people wrong. Gone is five-year star Emma Utterback, along with winger Delaney Richason, leaving a leadership void that Kresge will hope her veterans will fill. That includes the likes of all-conference forward Anna Olson, but also a trio of returning guards: Keira Hanson and Bella Vito, who both made big jumps last winter, and Shelburne native Cat Gilwee, who missed all of last year due to injury. These players say they are ready to move up. “I was put in a position to really improve my game last year,” Vito said. “Being thrown into the point guard position, but now that the point guard is back, I still feel comfortable with it. So it’s like I’m able to do it when I need to. I’m really excited. “I’m confident in my role and excited for what the season has to offer.” “I’ve developed a lot as a vocal leader and I think that comes more naturally to me now,” Gilwee said of her time on the bench last year. “I don’t think too much about speaking out. It’s completely natural what I do now. And of course there is still so much room for improvement and I need to continue to be more and more vocal.” The UVM women play their only exhibition game on Tuesday against St. Mike’s, and both programs open the season on Nov. 4: the men at UAB and the women at home against Mizzou.