I thought I would just write down a few of my reactions and observations now that the Canadian trip is complete. First and foremost I think that this was a great experience and invaluable for this team in particular. This is another case where I believe Becker pushed the right button and continued to demonstrate his knack for player development. To have the opportunity to see these recruits in live action and see how all of the new pieces fit together is going to be necessary to expedite the cohesion of this team. Coach Becker went into the trip with a plan in place and executed it very well. As far as reactions to the play of the team, only time will tell. This tour was mostly about seeing the individual talents of each player and how they play together on a basketball court. It is very hard to make a judgement about the success of the team itself due to the unknown level of competition and inconsistent lineups. As far as the individual talent level on this Vermont team, it seems to be very high. It has been a long time since Vermont has had offensive threats at so many different positions. This Vermont team will be more fast paced and has more shooters that they have ever had at one time. The deciding factor will be how well will they play as a team and how quickly they mature and reduce the freshman mistakes. This team will most certainly take its lumps this season but has the look of a team that will improve as the season goes on.
The players that stood out were Trae Bell-Haynes, Dre Wills, Hector Harold, Kurt Steidl, Zach McRoberts, and Brendan Kilpatrick. Trae looked very strong, fast, and had a nice ability to finish around the rim. His play combined with what everyone thinks Ernie Duncan is going to bring to the table, makes the point guard spot seems like a strength for this team. Even though they are both freshman, they will bring a dynamic presence to this team. Trae turned the ball over a ton on the trip but that is to be expected as he gets used to the college game and his teammates. The player I was most intrigued by is Wills. His offensive game was so poor last year he could not stay on the court for extended periods of time. When he was on the court last year he dominated the game defensively and on the boards. I laughed when I read an article in the Burlington Free Press talking to Becker about the trip and he said that last year Wills was a "6-2 power forward". During the Canadian trip, Wills looked comfortable with the ball in his hands and was slightly more refined on the offensive end. The 16 point 12 rebound performance in the last game demonstrated just how dangerous he can be if he can stay on the court. He is a exceptional rebounder for a guard and can really disrupt play on the defensive end. I am interested to see if he has improved enough offensively to crack the rotation this year. Hector Harold looked more confident and focused on the court. Anyone who watched his good games last year could see the potential. His struggles last year were purely mental and when focused and hungry he was often the best player on the court. Last year he suffered from what will forever be "Candon Rusin syndrome(CRS)". The symptoms of CRS involve inconsistent play due in large part to what results a player's early touches produce. When Harold's first few touches resulted in baskets and positive plays he focused into the game and each positive moment seemed to build momentum. When his first touches resulted in turnovers and bad shots, he withdrew from the game and looked both lost and unfocused. If Harold can overcome his mental demons he can be the best player on this team. My main observation about Steidl is just how much stronger he looked. With the added strength he should be able to finish around the rim and if he is able to add that dimension to his game...watch out. I was very impressed with Zach McRoberts' attitude and poise on the court. He made great decisions with the ball and seemed to be one of those players who often finds themselves in the right place at the right time and does the little things to help his team win. He looks like a winner and a great teammate who will fill whatever role he needs to. Those players are invaluable to a young team. Last but not least was Brendan Kilpatrick. Now, he only played two games because of the injury bug (and that certainly is a major problem), however he looked very good when he was on the floor. He was aggressive and made tough shots while demonstrating the same athleticism and toughness he showed before his foot surgeries. If he can stay healthy, which is clearly a BIG if, he will help this team in all facets of the game.
There are other players and things that I saw but that would involve me writing a thesis length post and that is just to much to digest. The bottom line is Catamount fans can be excited about the upcoming season as this team certainly has the talent to again compete for the top spot in the America East. That is all for now.
Hopefully my next post is about landing Josh Speidel.
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