Vermont 87 Illinois State 76
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. All of the UVM fans out there can be thankful that the Cats were able to pull out a win. This is going to be a short recap as it is thanksgiving and I was not able to stay awake all night to listen to the game.
The script was much the same for Vermont. Come out completely flat and look slow and confused on offense. This has been the pattern with this group for the entirety of their four years. There seems to be no explanation for it and personally I have just accepted it and no longer pull my hair out over it. If I had to pick between being a first or second half team, I will always pick the latter. At least if we are ever down in the first half the Cats can most often be counted on to get back into the game. Alright enough about that. Lets focus on the tremendous second half Vermont put together. Vermont outscored Illinois State 56-33 in the second half. Cats fans of the past four years are used to Vermont scoring 56 points in a game. Finally, shots are falling. While the last two games are the other extreme from the shooting at the beginning of the season, the Cats will happily fall somewhere in the middle. Sandro Carissimo has broken out of his early season funk in a big way. This game is almost identical to his game at Harvard last year. It is great to see that he is back to playing at the high level UVM fans have come to expect. Brian Voelkel is putting it all together as well. He is actually taking shots in the lane when he is open and still ending up with 9 assists. After last nights game Voelkel is tied for 10th in the nation at 6.7 assists per game. The key to the last two games has been the offense that the Cats have been getting from Kurt Steidl and Hector Harold. They were a combined 5-7 from three and scored 7 and 11 points respectively. This production off a thin bench is crucial for Vermont to get through this stretch with victories. In every write up I could go on and on about the high level that Clancy Rugg is playing at night in and night out. During the two week break from games for UVM, I will have a post all about Rugg. Now Vermont has a day off to enjoy the warm California weather and eat some turkey before battling a tough San Francisco squad Friday night.
Lastly, today Hanukkah and Thanksgiving coincide and this event will not happen for another 70,000 years. So mark this day in whatever way you see fit. Happy Thanksgivukkah!!!
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Vermont at Duke 11/24/13
Duke 91 Vermont 90
I went 1800 miles, spent 30 hours in a car, slept very little, and saw the greatest basketball game of my life.
When the Duke game was announced I began to formulate a plan for a friend and I to attend the game. His father lived in the area so I knew we would have a place to stay. After looking into tickets I realized that this would be a difficult task as Duke tickets are hard to come by. My friend and I persevered and bought tickets (for well above face value). The plan was simple: Visit Cameron indoor stadium, one of the greatest college basketball venues in the country and hope that the games stays within 20 points. So we began our journey at 4:30 in the morning on Saturday November 23, 2013. The drive was long but smooth. No traffic. No problems. We arrived somewhat exhausted and turned in for the night. Waking up the next morning we found that we had brought the cold weather of Vermont with us. It was a beautiful Vermont day in North Carolina. We piled into the car again and headed for Durham. Upon arrival a very nice parking attendant gave us a secret code to park much closer to Cameron than we originally planned. Things were going our way. Braving the cold we walked to the stadium, took pictures, and soaked in the beautiful campus. Cameron indoor stadium is an unassuming landmark, nearly indistinguishable from the other buildings in the area. We stood in awe as we waited for the doors to open. Once inside the atmosphere was overwhelming. The most striking thing is the size. Cameron is not a large venue. It is a beautiful, intimate place to watch a basketball game. The Cameron Crazies begin to razz the UVM players and tip-off is fast approaching. We soak in the last few moments before game time and wish for Vermont to stay in the game. The ball is up and the game gets underway. The Cats offense seems to be flowing and moving at a pace not seen all season. It begins back and forth and Vermont doesn't back down. Suddenly, Duke begins to rain threes from all over the court. We begin to feel the inevitable is coming. A Duke run that will bury the Cats and we will be resigned to taking in the experience and enjoying the chance to watch Duke play. The gap begins to widen but Kurt Steidl makes a three and our offense continues to click. The hot shooting from Duke continues and suddenly it is a 14 point lead. We keep believing, urging Vermont to battle back. The Cats cut it to ten but Duke has the last possession before the half. I pray that Duke misses and we can go into halftime down only ten. Then it happens. The shot is missed and Voelkel gets fouled on the rebound? He hits both free throws? Amazing. The halftime score is 51-43 and suddenly the feeling changes, Vermont is in the game. The plan changes. Can we challenge Duke? In their house? Vermont comes out of the locker room and the second half begins. Jabari Parker begins to assert himself and again that feeling of dread rises up. Vermont keeps answering every basket and has the look of a confident team. Layup after layup and Duke is unable to stop the Cats from scoring. Duke's threes stop falling and then Becker does the unthinkable. He switches to a zone defense. A zone defense? Becker have you lost your mind. We NEVER play zone. Then suddenly it works. Duke is confused, erratic, and their offense begins to stall. Voelkel and Carissimo are getting to the basket at will and picking apart the Duke defense with precision passing. Back and forth we go and suddenly we are within one. How did this happen? Disbelief is the only emotion I felt and with every passing minute a crazy idea begins to pop into my head.Could we win this game? Is it possible? Then Hector Harold arrives. A monster put back dunk seems to ignite a fire in him. He suddenly plays like a man possessed. We have been waiting all season for him to arrive and suddenly in a flash he becomes a hero. Harold releases a three and Vermont takes the LEAD, 74-73. Coach K takes a time out and my cell phone blows up. Friends watching back home are sharing the same combination of excitement and disbelief. Back and forth and forth and back, Vermont and Duke like boxers in the ring, neither one able to deliver the knockout blow. Then the Cats miss some free throws and Duke goes up by 4 with less than a minute to go. A let down. Well it was a great effort and we gave them a scare. Rusin rises and time stands still. Swish. A whistle. A four point play? It can't be. Vermont refuses to be put away. Rusin makes the free throw and we are all tied at 90 with 17 seconds to go. Duke drives up the court and to the hoop. Rugg blocks the shot, and the ball goes out of bounds off Duke. A whistle. A foul. No way. It was a clean block. Despair. Rodney Hood shoots, he misses. New life, another chance at the win. Makes the second. There are 5 seconds to go. Vermont has no timeouts. Carissimo gets the ball. He runs up the court. Passes to Rusin. The buzzer sounds. The shot goes in. Too late. Game over. 91-90. Duke prevails. One more second. If there was just one more second Vermont wins. We sit back soak it all in and realize what Vermont had done. They had taken the number six team in the country down to the wire in their gym. A victory in and of itself. And I was there. I was there.
I went 1800 miles, spent 30 hours in a car, slept very little, and saw the greatest basketball game of my life.
When the Duke game was announced I began to formulate a plan for a friend and I to attend the game. His father lived in the area so I knew we would have a place to stay. After looking into tickets I realized that this would be a difficult task as Duke tickets are hard to come by. My friend and I persevered and bought tickets (for well above face value). The plan was simple: Visit Cameron indoor stadium, one of the greatest college basketball venues in the country and hope that the games stays within 20 points. So we began our journey at 4:30 in the morning on Saturday November 23, 2013. The drive was long but smooth. No traffic. No problems. We arrived somewhat exhausted and turned in for the night. Waking up the next morning we found that we had brought the cold weather of Vermont with us. It was a beautiful Vermont day in North Carolina. We piled into the car again and headed for Durham. Upon arrival a very nice parking attendant gave us a secret code to park much closer to Cameron than we originally planned. Things were going our way. Braving the cold we walked to the stadium, took pictures, and soaked in the beautiful campus. Cameron indoor stadium is an unassuming landmark, nearly indistinguishable from the other buildings in the area. We stood in awe as we waited for the doors to open. Once inside the atmosphere was overwhelming. The most striking thing is the size. Cameron is not a large venue. It is a beautiful, intimate place to watch a basketball game. The Cameron Crazies begin to razz the UVM players and tip-off is fast approaching. We soak in the last few moments before game time and wish for Vermont to stay in the game. The ball is up and the game gets underway. The Cats offense seems to be flowing and moving at a pace not seen all season. It begins back and forth and Vermont doesn't back down. Suddenly, Duke begins to rain threes from all over the court. We begin to feel the inevitable is coming. A Duke run that will bury the Cats and we will be resigned to taking in the experience and enjoying the chance to watch Duke play. The gap begins to widen but Kurt Steidl makes a three and our offense continues to click. The hot shooting from Duke continues and suddenly it is a 14 point lead. We keep believing, urging Vermont to battle back. The Cats cut it to ten but Duke has the last possession before the half. I pray that Duke misses and we can go into halftime down only ten. Then it happens. The shot is missed and Voelkel gets fouled on the rebound? He hits both free throws? Amazing. The halftime score is 51-43 and suddenly the feeling changes, Vermont is in the game. The plan changes. Can we challenge Duke? In their house? Vermont comes out of the locker room and the second half begins. Jabari Parker begins to assert himself and again that feeling of dread rises up. Vermont keeps answering every basket and has the look of a confident team. Layup after layup and Duke is unable to stop the Cats from scoring. Duke's threes stop falling and then Becker does the unthinkable. He switches to a zone defense. A zone defense? Becker have you lost your mind. We NEVER play zone. Then suddenly it works. Duke is confused, erratic, and their offense begins to stall. Voelkel and Carissimo are getting to the basket at will and picking apart the Duke defense with precision passing. Back and forth we go and suddenly we are within one. How did this happen? Disbelief is the only emotion I felt and with every passing minute a crazy idea begins to pop into my head.Could we win this game? Is it possible? Then Hector Harold arrives. A monster put back dunk seems to ignite a fire in him. He suddenly plays like a man possessed. We have been waiting all season for him to arrive and suddenly in a flash he becomes a hero. Harold releases a three and Vermont takes the LEAD, 74-73. Coach K takes a time out and my cell phone blows up. Friends watching back home are sharing the same combination of excitement and disbelief. Back and forth and forth and back, Vermont and Duke like boxers in the ring, neither one able to deliver the knockout blow. Then the Cats miss some free throws and Duke goes up by 4 with less than a minute to go. A let down. Well it was a great effort and we gave them a scare. Rusin rises and time stands still. Swish. A whistle. A four point play? It can't be. Vermont refuses to be put away. Rusin makes the free throw and we are all tied at 90 with 17 seconds to go. Duke drives up the court and to the hoop. Rugg blocks the shot, and the ball goes out of bounds off Duke. A whistle. A foul. No way. It was a clean block. Despair. Rodney Hood shoots, he misses. New life, another chance at the win. Makes the second. There are 5 seconds to go. Vermont has no timeouts. Carissimo gets the ball. He runs up the court. Passes to Rusin. The buzzer sounds. The shot goes in. Too late. Game over. 91-90. Duke prevails. One more second. If there was just one more second Vermont wins. We sit back soak it all in and realize what Vermont had done. They had taken the number six team in the country down to the wire in their gym. A victory in and of itself. And I was there. I was there.
Friday, November 22, 2013
Vermont at Wagner 11/21/13
Wagner 68 Vermont 61
The losing continues as Wagner hits 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal a hard fought victory. As has been the case all year Vermont struggled out of the gate on their way to a 13 point halftime deficit. The difference in this game was that the Cats were able to claw their way back into the game and take a 56-55 lead with about 4 minutes to go. That fight was nice to see as it was more like the teams of the past 3 years. However, the poor offensive execution reared its ugly head and mistakes down the stretch cost Vermont the game. The crucial mistake came on a missed free throw by Wagner. Hector Harold failed to box out and instead of getting the ball down 58-57 with a chance to take the lead, Vermont found themselves down 60-57 after two more free throws. Harold had finally found his offense and had his best game as a catamount scoring 11 points. It is lapses like the missed box out that have been keeping him on the bench and preventing him from finding consistent playing time. Clancy Rugg fouling out a short time before really showed on that play as he was a beast down low all night. Rugg is hands down the greatest transformation by any player I have ever had the pleasure of watching for their entire four years. I will cover that in more detail in a later post but I just wanted to mention it now. Rugg has been unbelievable all season and continues to battle night in and night out. While the crucial mistake could have helped Vermont grind out a win, the real culprit in the loss was Vermont's arch enemy, outside shooting. The Cats continue to struggle finding a consistent shooter who can knock down a three pointer. In today's college game it is very difficult to win games without a threat from the three point line. Vermont shot 0 for 12 from three which is just mind boggling. Candon Rusin (7-23 from three) is struggling mightily and Sandro Carissimo (6-22 from three) is also cold from the three point line. Without a three point threat the Cats are losing the out in their inside-out game. One would think that at some point the shots will fall but this is not a good sign so early in the season. Another very concerning statistic is the insane amount of turnovers that Brian Voelkel has committed so far. Even though Voelkel is averaging a career high 5.8 assists per game, it is coming at a cost. Voelkel is also averaging 4.2 turnovers per game which is double his 2.1 per game career average. This number is alarming not only because it is ridiculously high, but also because it is so out of character for Voelkel. He has to reduce his turnovers in order for Vermont's offense to be more efficiently executed. The Cats showed more grit the past few games and that is certainly a positive take away. The long term concern now is: Will Vermont have the mental toughness to handle 10 loses in the nonconference? There is certainly a chance that they will hit that number. If that is the situation they find themselves in before they get healthy, will they be able to bounce back or will the damage already be done. We will have to see as they prepare for a nearly impossible match up with the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday.
On a side note, I am particularly excited for the game at Duke this weekend as I am going to make the trip down and see my first game at Cameron indoor stadium. Check back for an update!
The losing continues as Wagner hits 9 of 10 free throws down the stretch to seal a hard fought victory. As has been the case all year Vermont struggled out of the gate on their way to a 13 point halftime deficit. The difference in this game was that the Cats were able to claw their way back into the game and take a 56-55 lead with about 4 minutes to go. That fight was nice to see as it was more like the teams of the past 3 years. However, the poor offensive execution reared its ugly head and mistakes down the stretch cost Vermont the game. The crucial mistake came on a missed free throw by Wagner. Hector Harold failed to box out and instead of getting the ball down 58-57 with a chance to take the lead, Vermont found themselves down 60-57 after two more free throws. Harold had finally found his offense and had his best game as a catamount scoring 11 points. It is lapses like the missed box out that have been keeping him on the bench and preventing him from finding consistent playing time. Clancy Rugg fouling out a short time before really showed on that play as he was a beast down low all night. Rugg is hands down the greatest transformation by any player I have ever had the pleasure of watching for their entire four years. I will cover that in more detail in a later post but I just wanted to mention it now. Rugg has been unbelievable all season and continues to battle night in and night out. While the crucial mistake could have helped Vermont grind out a win, the real culprit in the loss was Vermont's arch enemy, outside shooting. The Cats continue to struggle finding a consistent shooter who can knock down a three pointer. In today's college game it is very difficult to win games without a threat from the three point line. Vermont shot 0 for 12 from three which is just mind boggling. Candon Rusin (7-23 from three) is struggling mightily and Sandro Carissimo (6-22 from three) is also cold from the three point line. Without a three point threat the Cats are losing the out in their inside-out game. One would think that at some point the shots will fall but this is not a good sign so early in the season. Another very concerning statistic is the insane amount of turnovers that Brian Voelkel has committed so far. Even though Voelkel is averaging a career high 5.8 assists per game, it is coming at a cost. Voelkel is also averaging 4.2 turnovers per game which is double his 2.1 per game career average. This number is alarming not only because it is ridiculously high, but also because it is so out of character for Voelkel. He has to reduce his turnovers in order for Vermont's offense to be more efficiently executed. The Cats showed more grit the past few games and that is certainly a positive take away. The long term concern now is: Will Vermont have the mental toughness to handle 10 loses in the nonconference? There is certainly a chance that they will hit that number. If that is the situation they find themselves in before they get healthy, will they be able to bounce back or will the damage already be done. We will have to see as they prepare for a nearly impossible match up with the Duke Blue Devils on Sunday.
On a side note, I am particularly excited for the game at Duke this weekend as I am going to make the trip down and see my first game at Cameron indoor stadium. Check back for an update!
Monday, November 18, 2013
Vermont at Providence 11/18/13
Providence 70 Vermont 49
It is hard to believe that you can find positives in a blowout loss, but that is how the season is going right now. Providence is a Big East opponent and a tough match up on the Cats best day. The Catamounts lost by 21 points, but the difference between this game and the Bryant game is that they fought hard and battled. There were some bad turnovers and continued stretches of ineffectiveness by the offense, but there was some light shining through. The Catamounts defense was much better and they displayed more hustle as well. This loss was about missed shots. The Cats flat out could not buy a bucket in the first half. Not from the field and not from the line. Against any opponent a team will not win if they don't make shots. In no way is Vermont a knockdown shooting team, but they are not as bad as they showed in the first half. Vermont will shoot better moving forward. Both Apfeld and Carissimo are very good career free throw shooters so it is safe to say that they will not continue to miss at the pace they are so far this season. Tonight this team fought hard. Even when faced with the worst shooting performance of their careers, they kept fighting. Vermont came out in the second half and at least for a moment got back into the game. That showed something that had not been there since the opener. Just when it looked like they had nothing left to give they rose up and gave it a shot. Right now that is what this team needs to do to show improvement. They need to work harder and play tougher to survive the non conference schedule. Clancy Rugg battled all night and finished with a hard fought 10 point 14 rebound double double. Luke Apfeld shook off ineffectiveness from the line and gutted out a 14 point performance. Brian Voelkel moved into fourth place all time at UVM in assists, passing Howard Hudson. If the Cats can bring this fire into the game at Wagner on Thursday, they will come out victorious.
It is hard to believe that you can find positives in a blowout loss, but that is how the season is going right now. Providence is a Big East opponent and a tough match up on the Cats best day. The Catamounts lost by 21 points, but the difference between this game and the Bryant game is that they fought hard and battled. There were some bad turnovers and continued stretches of ineffectiveness by the offense, but there was some light shining through. The Catamounts defense was much better and they displayed more hustle as well. This loss was about missed shots. The Cats flat out could not buy a bucket in the first half. Not from the field and not from the line. Against any opponent a team will not win if they don't make shots. In no way is Vermont a knockdown shooting team, but they are not as bad as they showed in the first half. Vermont will shoot better moving forward. Both Apfeld and Carissimo are very good career free throw shooters so it is safe to say that they will not continue to miss at the pace they are so far this season. Tonight this team fought hard. Even when faced with the worst shooting performance of their careers, they kept fighting. Vermont came out in the second half and at least for a moment got back into the game. That showed something that had not been there since the opener. Just when it looked like they had nothing left to give they rose up and gave it a shot. Right now that is what this team needs to do to show improvement. They need to work harder and play tougher to survive the non conference schedule. Clancy Rugg battled all night and finished with a hard fought 10 point 14 rebound double double. Luke Apfeld shook off ineffectiveness from the line and gutted out a 14 point performance. Brian Voelkel moved into fourth place all time at UVM in assists, passing Howard Hudson. If the Cats can bring this fire into the game at Wagner on Thursday, they will come out victorious.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Vermont at Bryant 11/16/13
Bryant 87 Vermont 64
In the opener of a long road trip the Cats ran into a buzzsaw. Dyami Starks and the Bryant basketball team dominated the second half and may be poised for a special season. Starks could very well lead the nation in scoring this year and Bryant has the look of a tournament team. Hats off to Bryant for executing a perfect game plan. Now on to the Cats......
The injuries are piling up and the effects are apparent on the court. Ethan O'Day is an extremely important player to this team. It is not even his individual loss that is the most damaging, but rather the domino effect it causes in the lineup. Without O'Day (and Pierson for that matter) UVM only has two healthy post players on the roster. It is safe to say that very few college teams are going to win with such a thin frontcourt. This has caused Hector Harold to play the four. Harold has played very poorly so far this season and looks every bit like he has missed a year of game action. The one thing that can be said in his defense is he is playing completely out of position. His height is the only reason he is playing in the post as he is clearly more comfortable on the perimeter. This lack of frontcourt depth is going to pose a serious problem throughout the nonconference schedule. Losing a defender like Dre Wills right before playing a team with a dynamic guard certainly put a wrench in the coach's plan as well. The injuries have pressed young players into action and caused the offense to be inconsistent as they are not quite ready for a prominent role in the offense. The one bright spot in last nights game was that Nas Williams looked like he could contribute to this team. He showed a soft touch and got to the basket at will, which is something this team desperately needs. It looks like he has been working very hard in practice and may see increased minutes during this time of the walking wounded. When healthy, this team is every bit the championship caliber team everyone was talking about preseason. The Cats challenged a very strong St. Josephs team in the second half and had opportunities to pull ahead and win that game. This is the same St. Josephs team that almost beat a highly regarded Creighton team last night. The Cats were far healthier in that game and it showed. The unfortunate thing is that the writing is on the wall for most of the nonconference schedule. With multiple players still at least a month away from returning, the nonconference schedule could be extremely rough. The Cats need to survive this stretch with their confidence in tact because if they are healthy come conference play they will still be a force to be reckoned with. Until then Cats fans are in for some very frustrating games and more losses than they have been accustomed to. The hope is that this senior laden team will absorb every blow and overcome every obstacle while not allowing their confidence and drive to be shaken.
In the opener of a long road trip the Cats ran into a buzzsaw. Dyami Starks and the Bryant basketball team dominated the second half and may be poised for a special season. Starks could very well lead the nation in scoring this year and Bryant has the look of a tournament team. Hats off to Bryant for executing a perfect game plan. Now on to the Cats......
The injuries are piling up and the effects are apparent on the court. Ethan O'Day is an extremely important player to this team. It is not even his individual loss that is the most damaging, but rather the domino effect it causes in the lineup. Without O'Day (and Pierson for that matter) UVM only has two healthy post players on the roster. It is safe to say that very few college teams are going to win with such a thin frontcourt. This has caused Hector Harold to play the four. Harold has played very poorly so far this season and looks every bit like he has missed a year of game action. The one thing that can be said in his defense is he is playing completely out of position. His height is the only reason he is playing in the post as he is clearly more comfortable on the perimeter. This lack of frontcourt depth is going to pose a serious problem throughout the nonconference schedule. Losing a defender like Dre Wills right before playing a team with a dynamic guard certainly put a wrench in the coach's plan as well. The injuries have pressed young players into action and caused the offense to be inconsistent as they are not quite ready for a prominent role in the offense. The one bright spot in last nights game was that Nas Williams looked like he could contribute to this team. He showed a soft touch and got to the basket at will, which is something this team desperately needs. It looks like he has been working very hard in practice and may see increased minutes during this time of the walking wounded. When healthy, this team is every bit the championship caliber team everyone was talking about preseason. The Cats challenged a very strong St. Josephs team in the second half and had opportunities to pull ahead and win that game. This is the same St. Josephs team that almost beat a highly regarded Creighton team last night. The Cats were far healthier in that game and it showed. The unfortunate thing is that the writing is on the wall for most of the nonconference schedule. With multiple players still at least a month away from returning, the nonconference schedule could be extremely rough. The Cats need to survive this stretch with their confidence in tact because if they are healthy come conference play they will still be a force to be reckoned with. Until then Cats fans are in for some very frustrating games and more losses than they have been accustomed to. The hope is that this senior laden team will absorb every blow and overcome every obstacle while not allowing their confidence and drive to be shaken.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Siena at Vermont 11/12/13
I went to a fight and a game broke out.
This is the best way to describe what happened last night at Patrick gym. UVM pulled out a 77-66 win and Clancy Rugg was tremendous for a second game in a row. Unfortunately the story was not about the score or the statistics of the game. As a result I am going to get on my soapbox and rant about how the game was played. .
The Siena men's basketball team and their coach Jimmy Pastos are an embarrassment to college basketball. I have never seen a worse basketball game in my life and much of it was due to the tactics and play of the Siena team. This game was not about basketball, it was about physically bullying an opponent into submission. There is nothing exciting about watching inferior players make non basketball related moves for an entire game. I enjoy watching a team that has a lack of ability but plays their hearts out with class and dignity. Unfortunately class and dignity are not part of Pastos' philosophy. The Siena men's team was undisciplined and out of control. While watching the game unfold, I found myself being more concerned with the safety of the players than the results on the scoreboard and that should never be the case. Many people will look at the box score and brush it off as a game that became ugly due to the new rules in college basketball. Anyone who was there watching the game will be able to say otherwise. Of the 63 combined fouls in Tuesday's game, about 6-8 of them were due to point of emphasis plays. This game was not out of control due to the new rules. Rather, it was the lack integrity that both the players and coaching staff from Siena displayed. With any team it starts with the coach and clearly Pastos is comfortable with allowing his players to play reckless and undisciplined. I sincerely hope that Pastos has a change of heart and begins to teach his players to play the game the right way or he is going to cause injury to opposing players this season. Now some of the UVM players lost their cool as well and I hope Becker makes them think twice before they get involved in any further ridiculousness during the rest of the season. All in all the game was atrocious and I hope that someone in the Siena athletic department speaks to Pastos to ensure that a display like that will not happen the rest of the season.
I will close with a thought about the officiating as well. They lost control of the game. Early in the second half they needed to pull the coaches together and tell them to clean up the game. They did not and by the time they tried to get the game under control it was too late. In my mind they are lucky that no one got hurt because they did not do their job. Officials are there to make sure that the game is played the right way, not the way a coach wants it to be played. They allowed Pastos to impose his will on the way the game was officiated and it resulted in a dangerous situation. An embarrassing game for the NCAA and college basketball.
This is the best way to describe what happened last night at Patrick gym. UVM pulled out a 77-66 win and Clancy Rugg was tremendous for a second game in a row. Unfortunately the story was not about the score or the statistics of the game. As a result I am going to get on my soapbox and rant about how the game was played. .
The Siena men's basketball team and their coach Jimmy Pastos are an embarrassment to college basketball. I have never seen a worse basketball game in my life and much of it was due to the tactics and play of the Siena team. This game was not about basketball, it was about physically bullying an opponent into submission. There is nothing exciting about watching inferior players make non basketball related moves for an entire game. I enjoy watching a team that has a lack of ability but plays their hearts out with class and dignity. Unfortunately class and dignity are not part of Pastos' philosophy. The Siena men's team was undisciplined and out of control. While watching the game unfold, I found myself being more concerned with the safety of the players than the results on the scoreboard and that should never be the case. Many people will look at the box score and brush it off as a game that became ugly due to the new rules in college basketball. Anyone who was there watching the game will be able to say otherwise. Of the 63 combined fouls in Tuesday's game, about 6-8 of them were due to point of emphasis plays. This game was not out of control due to the new rules. Rather, it was the lack integrity that both the players and coaching staff from Siena displayed. With any team it starts with the coach and clearly Pastos is comfortable with allowing his players to play reckless and undisciplined. I sincerely hope that Pastos has a change of heart and begins to teach his players to play the game the right way or he is going to cause injury to opposing players this season. Now some of the UVM players lost their cool as well and I hope Becker makes them think twice before they get involved in any further ridiculousness during the rest of the season. All in all the game was atrocious and I hope that someone in the Siena athletic department speaks to Pastos to ensure that a display like that will not happen the rest of the season.
I will close with a thought about the officiating as well. They lost control of the game. Early in the second half they needed to pull the coaches together and tell them to clean up the game. They did not and by the time they tried to get the game under control it was too late. In my mind they are lucky that no one got hurt because they did not do their job. Officials are there to make sure that the game is played the right way, not the way a coach wants it to be played. They allowed Pastos to impose his will on the way the game was officiated and it resulted in a dangerous situation. An embarrassing game for the NCAA and college basketball.
Sunday, November 10, 2013
St. Joseph's at Vermont 11/9/13
St. Joseph's 74 Vermont 64
Highlights courtesy of Catamount TV
Ronald Roberts and Langston Galloway each scored 21 points while freshman Deandre Bembry added 11 to lead the Hawks to a 10 point win in the opener for both teams. Clancy Rugg led the Catamounts with 17 points and Candon Rusin added 15. Brian Voelkel pulled down a game high 10 rebounds. Here is the good, the bad, and the future.
The Good: Clancy Rugg played a very tough game inside and looked every bit the Cats returning leading scorer. He drew tough fouls inside and had the highlight of the night on a putback dunk in the second half. After falling behind early and looking tentative and over matched the Cats clamped down on defense and fought their way back into the game. After allowing Galloway and Bembry to get whatever they wanted on the perimeter in the first half, the Cats kept them in check the entire second half. St. Joes actually only made 7 shots from the field in the second half. There was a stretch in the second half where the Cats defense had St. Joes back on their heels. The interior defense in the second half was solid as well. The Cats had several impressive blocks and got physical with the St. Joes big men. Candon Rusin was impressive as well. His perimeter shot still left something to be desired but he attacked the hoop with authority and seemed stronger and more confident with the ball. If he could give the Cats in every game what he did tonight, this team will be tough to beat.
The Bad: The Cats came out flat. Period. This is very concerning as any team should be able to come out in their home opener with energy and gusto. They looked confused and unprepared as St. Joes did whatever they wanted on offense in the first half. It has been something that has happened too often with this group. It is a good thing that they almost always play well in the second half but somehow they need to get in a groove earlier in the game. The perimeter shooting also continues to let this team down. There is just no one that can consistently knock down perimeter shots. This really makes the offense unpredictable and causes scoring droughts. Several times the offense looked slow and inefficient. This has to change in order for the Cats to reach their goals. Luke Apfeld looked very slow and struggled to find a rhythm. This was partly due to foul trouble but it continued a trend that was visible in the preseason games. Maybe those knees have betrayed him again. O'Day couldn't stay out of foul trouble which will be the only thing that holds him back from becoming an elite player. Carissimo uncharacteristically missed two crucial layups, but I would expect this game to be the exception rather than the rule. Voelkel struggled to find passing lanes and seemed too focused on his frustration with the officiating. Due to the new rules, games are going to slow down in the second half and this one was no different. The second half became a free throw contest and the referees seemed inconsistent and confused.
The Future: The bottom line is that in any season opener there are going to be mistakes and struggles as everyone shakes off the rust and the team tries to incorporate new players. As long as this team improves every game they will begin to see results on the scoreboard. They have a quick turnaround for their Tuesday night match up against Siena.
Highlights courtesy of Catamount TV
Ronald Roberts and Langston Galloway each scored 21 points while freshman Deandre Bembry added 11 to lead the Hawks to a 10 point win in the opener for both teams. Clancy Rugg led the Catamounts with 17 points and Candon Rusin added 15. Brian Voelkel pulled down a game high 10 rebounds. Here is the good, the bad, and the future.
The Good: Clancy Rugg played a very tough game inside and looked every bit the Cats returning leading scorer. He drew tough fouls inside and had the highlight of the night on a putback dunk in the second half. After falling behind early and looking tentative and over matched the Cats clamped down on defense and fought their way back into the game. After allowing Galloway and Bembry to get whatever they wanted on the perimeter in the first half, the Cats kept them in check the entire second half. St. Joes actually only made 7 shots from the field in the second half. There was a stretch in the second half where the Cats defense had St. Joes back on their heels. The interior defense in the second half was solid as well. The Cats had several impressive blocks and got physical with the St. Joes big men. Candon Rusin was impressive as well. His perimeter shot still left something to be desired but he attacked the hoop with authority and seemed stronger and more confident with the ball. If he could give the Cats in every game what he did tonight, this team will be tough to beat.
The Bad: The Cats came out flat. Period. This is very concerning as any team should be able to come out in their home opener with energy and gusto. They looked confused and unprepared as St. Joes did whatever they wanted on offense in the first half. It has been something that has happened too often with this group. It is a good thing that they almost always play well in the second half but somehow they need to get in a groove earlier in the game. The perimeter shooting also continues to let this team down. There is just no one that can consistently knock down perimeter shots. This really makes the offense unpredictable and causes scoring droughts. Several times the offense looked slow and inefficient. This has to change in order for the Cats to reach their goals. Luke Apfeld looked very slow and struggled to find a rhythm. This was partly due to foul trouble but it continued a trend that was visible in the preseason games. Maybe those knees have betrayed him again. O'Day couldn't stay out of foul trouble which will be the only thing that holds him back from becoming an elite player. Carissimo uncharacteristically missed two crucial layups, but I would expect this game to be the exception rather than the rule. Voelkel struggled to find passing lanes and seemed too focused on his frustration with the officiating. Due to the new rules, games are going to slow down in the second half and this one was no different. The second half became a free throw contest and the referees seemed inconsistent and confused.
The Future: The bottom line is that in any season opener there are going to be mistakes and struggles as everyone shakes off the rust and the team tries to incorporate new players. As long as this team improves every game they will begin to see results on the scoreboard. They have a quick turnaround for their Tuesday night match up against Siena.
Thursday, November 7, 2013
14-15 UVM Baskeball Recruiting
Today is BIG day for the Catamount program. Drew Urquhart and Zach McRoberts both committed to play for UVM next fall. They become the frontcourt to what is already a strong backcourt recruiting class. With this 5 person class the Cats should be able to reload rather than rebuild as guards Ernie Duncan, Brandon Hatton and Cam Ward previously committed over the summer. Duncan and Hatton are both 3 star recruits and along with Ward will bring great shooting and depth to the Catamounts and the guard position. The only aspect that had been lacking was some big men to add to the group. Here is some information on today's commits.
Drew Urquhart is 6-8 215 SF/PF from Vancouver, Canada. He recently moved to Seattle, Washington and will play for Eastside Catholic High School this year. Urquhart has drawn interest from several high profile programs (Boise State, Santa Clara, Pepperdine, Utah) and had other America East offers from Binghamton and Hartford. He has a very smooth perimeter game and has a strong guard skill set in a 6-8 frame. He is number 14 on the Canadian prospect list and has been getting a lot of buzz as an under the radar prospect. From the highlight videos he has a silky smooth offensive game and can really shoot. He seems to have good basketball instinct and a high basketball IQ. Several of the blocks in the video demonstrate to me some sneaky athleticism. The only real knock I have read is that he is a bit of a tweener without a true position. This is less of a concern in the America East as many of the post players are not true bangers down low. Overall he is a great get for the coaching staff and fills a need for the upcoming recruiting class. This also demonstrates that shooting is the point of emphasis for the Catamounts moving forward.
Here are some highlights
Zach McRoberts is a 6-7 185 PF from Carmel, IN. He is the younger brother of Duke graduate and current Charlotte Bobcat, Josh McRoberts, so he certainly has a basketball pedigree. He plays with high energy and is already a strong defender and rebounder. He is a good athlete and goes all out on every play. His offensive game is raw and he is still growing into his body. He will need to add weight to his frame to be effective at the next level but has the raw tools to make that leap. His high school team begins this season ranked number 23 in the country. As a result he plays at a high level night in and night out and clearly plays with several other good players. Carmel is coming off a championship from the previous season and has a winning culture. Again the coaching staff seems to have found an under the radar recruit who could become a very good player. Recruiting winning players with a strong understanding of basketball is typically a safe bet.
Highlights (He is #22)
As this recruiting class becomes complete and these players progress through their senior seasons I will be providing updates and further analysis. This could be a program changing recruiting class and it should be exciting to follow it as it comes together.
Drew Urquhart is 6-8 215 SF/PF from Vancouver, Canada. He recently moved to Seattle, Washington and will play for Eastside Catholic High School this year. Urquhart has drawn interest from several high profile programs (Boise State, Santa Clara, Pepperdine, Utah) and had other America East offers from Binghamton and Hartford. He has a very smooth perimeter game and has a strong guard skill set in a 6-8 frame. He is number 14 on the Canadian prospect list and has been getting a lot of buzz as an under the radar prospect. From the highlight videos he has a silky smooth offensive game and can really shoot. He seems to have good basketball instinct and a high basketball IQ. Several of the blocks in the video demonstrate to me some sneaky athleticism. The only real knock I have read is that he is a bit of a tweener without a true position. This is less of a concern in the America East as many of the post players are not true bangers down low. Overall he is a great get for the coaching staff and fills a need for the upcoming recruiting class. This also demonstrates that shooting is the point of emphasis for the Catamounts moving forward.
Here are some highlights
Zach McRoberts is a 6-7 185 PF from Carmel, IN. He is the younger brother of Duke graduate and current Charlotte Bobcat, Josh McRoberts, so he certainly has a basketball pedigree. He plays with high energy and is already a strong defender and rebounder. He is a good athlete and goes all out on every play. His offensive game is raw and he is still growing into his body. He will need to add weight to his frame to be effective at the next level but has the raw tools to make that leap. His high school team begins this season ranked number 23 in the country. As a result he plays at a high level night in and night out and clearly plays with several other good players. Carmel is coming off a championship from the previous season and has a winning culture. Again the coaching staff seems to have found an under the radar recruit who could become a very good player. Recruiting winning players with a strong understanding of basketball is typically a safe bet.
Highlights (He is #22)
As this recruiting class becomes complete and these players progress through their senior seasons I will be providing updates and further analysis. This could be a program changing recruiting class and it should be exciting to follow it as it comes together.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Season Preview
The 2013-2014 season should be a special one for the Catamounts.
With 6 seniors and a wealth of postseason experience this team has their sights
on a championship. With that said here are a few observations and thoughts
about the upcoming season.
The seniors: For the most part it is clear what each of
these players bring to the table. Brian Voelkel is one of the most underrated
players in college basketball and anchors this team on both sides of the ball.
Sandro Carissimo is the guy you want with the ball when the game is on the
line and has a knack for making the right play at the right time. Clancy Rugg and Luke Apfeld will battle down low all year and do the little things that make this team go.When Candon Rusin is on he is one of the best shooters in the conference but was plagued by inconsistency last season. Josh Elbaum continues to be a great defender and seems to be a leader on this team. His offensive struggles may cause him to lose minutes to the newcomers Through the two
exhibition games everyone seems to be on track except Rusin continued to
struggle with inconsistency and Apfeld looked a step slow.
The juniors: Ryan Pierson is sidelined until January with a
broken leg so we will have to wait for his Catamount debut. Pepperdine transfer
Hector Harold has a chance to contribute to this team immediately. Harold has a
quick first step and a soft shooting touch, qualities that this team was
missing last year. In the exhibition
games Harold showed some promise but struggled at times with his decision
making. Hopefully he is just shaking off the rust as the team needs his shooting
and athleticism on the floor.
The sophomores: The injury bug hits again as Brendan
Kilpatrick will miss the first part of the season while recovering from foot surgery.
After watching the exhibition games, the most improved player on the Catamounts
is Ethan O’Day. He looks bigger, stronger and more decisive with the
basketball. At times last year when O'Day caught the ball in the post his moves
took too long to develop which hurt his ability to get by his defender. If he stays out of foul trouble he could very well lead the team in scoring.
The freshman: Harrison Taggart red-shirted a year ago and
will see his first action as a Catamount this season. Taggart will never wow
anyone with speed or athleticism but may find a role as a shooter off the
bench. Nas Williams is a walk on point guard from New York City who plays hard
and handles the ball well. He needs to improve his decision making in order to
get minutes on a deep and talented team. The real gems of this freshman class
are Dre Wills and Kurt Steidl. Wills is a lockdown defender on the perimeter
and one of the most athletic players on the team. Wills is offensively raw but
is creative around the hoop and has a nose for the ball. In the exhibition
games he showed a strong rebounding ability and created havoc on the defensive
end. He will get minutes this season. Steidl has a
beautiful jumper and can stretch the floor from the SF position. Shooting was the Catamounts biggest weakness
last year and Steidl can contribute immediately on the offensive end. In the
preseason contests Steidl demonstrated a high basketball IQ and a knack for
putting the ball in the basket. He too should compete for minutes.
Team Strengths: An all-around solid team with a high
basketball IQ, senior leadership, and a deep, talented roster. This team will defend for 35 seconds and
rebound with anyone.
Team Weaknesses: The Catamounts will still struggle to shoot
from the perimeter with consistency and as a result teams will clog the lane on
the defensive end. The greatest concern however, will be the continued difficulties with giving up open shots from three. In the
preseason, the Catamounts still struggled to close out shooters consistently.
Multiple losses last year were a direct result of giving up too
many open three point shots and this must improve for UVM to secure a
championship.
Vermont is poised for a great season and anything less than
a tournament berth would certainly be a disappointment. It is difficult to play
in a season with such high expectations but this senior class has worked too
long and hard to let the pressure get to them. This group will leave everything
out on the court as they close out one of the great senior classes of all time.
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