Vermont’s Lamb has FSU’s attention

Vermont’s Anthony Lamb is among several players from one-bid conferences capable of leading their teams to major upsets in the NCAA Tournament.

The 6-foot-6 junior forward scored 24 points against Kansas and 25 points against Louisville in the NIT Season Tip Off in November. Although Vermont lost both games, Lamb surely has Florida State’s attention.

Vermont (27-6) is the No. 13 seed in the West Region and faces the Seminoles (27-7) on Thursday at Hartford, Connecticut.

“I don’t really associate the names with the schools,” Lamb said. “I think no matter who you are, you have to prove your worth on the court every time you step onto it. I’m just looking forward to going out there and testing my weight versus them and making sure they have to prove themselves to me.”

Other notable performers on NCAA Tournament teams from one-bid leagues include Wofford’s Fletcher Magee and Buffalo’s CJ Massinburg. Murray State guard and likely NBA lottery pick Ja Morant will likely have one or two highlight-reel moments but isn’t on this list because the Ohio Valley Conference became a multiple-bid league for the first time since 1987 with both Murray State and Belmont making the field.

Lamb has been on this stage before with Vermont.

As a freshman, he scored 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds in an 80-70 NCAA Tournament first-round loss to Purdue.

“I learned that the moment’s really not as big as you think it is,” Lamb said. “You can really overwhelm yourself if you put too much weight on it. Just having fun and just playing basketball like it’s supposed to be played, enjoy the game and enjoy the sport is the purpose of it. Just taking that in hand and bringing that forth with me into competition really allows me to stay relaxed, stay confident and just play basketball how I know I can.”