The pressure’s on for Vermont.

Head coach John Becker and his team know better than most that records are irrelevant in the America East tournament. The fresh start offered by the postseason can negate the season’s work and send the top seed packing. After all, it allowed fourth-seeded Albany to usurp Vermont (21-9, 15-1 AE) last year, cracking the reigning champs’ crown.

Of course, the past is the past. Vermont has not allowed its 2012-13 letdown disrupt its 2013-14 campaign. The Catamounts enter the tournament on a 10-game winning streak, the 4-8 start to non-conference play a far distant memory. Their only America East loss came at second-seeded Stony Brook on Jan. 24, and they have battled in close-fought competitions against national powerhouses, evidenced by their one-point loss to then No. 6 Duke on Nov. 24.

And despite all that, the third-year coach still led his team to its sixth consecutive 20-win season.

“We played the 17th hardest non-conference schedule in the country to try and expose us for what we needed to get better at,” Becker wrote in an email. “I think our non-conference struggles humbled this experienced group and brought out the competitive nature and pride of this group, which we have really seen the last two months.”

But with the same starting lineup as last season and a team full of seniors who remember the sting of the unexpected blow dealt by Albany, Vermont is determined to prevent history from repeating itself.

“I think all of these conference tournament games have pressure because of the finality of it if you lose,” Becker wrote. “We have [six] seniors so they really don’t want their NCAA tournament hopes to end.”

The team, which Becker identified at the beginning of the season as one that is primarily defensive, has evolved its offensive dynamism. With senior forward Clancy Rugg and senior guard Sandro Carissimo leading the veteran squad, the Catamounts averaged 71.4 points per game on 47.1 percent shooting. Rugg, already known for his rise from walk-on to starter, shot 55.7 percent and led the team with 13.1 points per game.

“This is the best we have played offensively since I have been the head coach, but I love defense, rebounding and toughness,” Becker wrote.

And they’re still a potently defensive team, holding opponents to just 60.3 points per game, 14th in the nation. Senior guard Brian Voelkel, whom Becker described as “the engine of the team,” took the reins of the defense, 8.1 boards and 1.4 steals per game, both team highs.

Carissimo’s final year has proved more fruitful for the shooting guard gone point guard. He’s upped his shot attempts per game from 10 per game last season to 12.8 this year, and Becker claimed the New York native is the best point guard in the league.

“He has become much more aggressive on offense this year,” Becker wrote. “I wouldn’t trade him for anyone in our league.”

So it sounds like the Catamounts are in line for their third NCAA appearance in five years, despite needing overtime to beat Binghamton in the regular-season finale. Becker wasn’t unsettled by the surprisingly close game, however.

“Obviously we’re not expecting to lose any time we play, but we knew it would be a game [against Binghamton],” Becker said. “It was a meaningless game for us as far as the standings — I was worried about our guys being off for that.”

Fortunately for them, the Catamounts will face neither Albany nor Binghamton in their quarterfinals contest. They’re taking on New Hampshire. The conference’s bottom seed has fallen victim to the Catamounts twice this season, and neither contest was close. The Wildcats (6-23, 4-12 AE) couldn’t breach Vermont’s defense in their 57-40 loss on Jan. 20, and there was an even starker margin of defeat in their 79-44 meltdown on Feb. 19.

But, as the Catamounts have learned, every game is a competition, and if they want to succeed in the postseason, they can’t take any team for granted.

Vermont’s quarterfinals game with UNH is set for noon on Saturday at SEFCU Arena in Albany.