100th post!! (Siena at Vermont) 12/29/15

It is cool to have reached the 100th post mark and I want to thank everyone who reads the blog. Each time I see the number of page views go up it feeds my motivation to keep going. It has been a busy holiday for me and as a result I did not write up the Northeastern game or any reaction to the Dre Wills situation. Here are a few quick thoughts. Northeastern is a very good team and even though there were some concerning things about that game, I think it was a step in the right direction. Vermont only played 7 guys and still hung around for 75% percent of a tough road match up. If (and this is a big if) Vermont does have a full squad at some point, they will execute better on the court and thus win more games. Speaking of not having a full squad, eight games for selling books? That is complete garbage. Wills should have known better but it is not like it was a criminal act. A poor college kid trying to make a few extra bucks, oh no!!! The integrity of the game is at risk. Coaches who breaks rules for years and years get lesser or equal suspensions. Eight games is a ludicrous number. He should have received somewhere in the 2-4 range and learned his lesson. Anyway, I cant wait to have him back.  That is all the ranting for today....now on to the game...

Vermont 73 Siena 64

Vermont continued their recent dominance over Siena winning their sixth straight over the Saints. The Cats struggled in the first half letting Siena push them around and getting crushed on the boards. Then after a back and forth beginning to the second half, Trae Bell-Haynes took over. Bell-Haynes scored 7 straight points to stretch the Vermont lead and ultimately put the game away. He finished with 19 points and 5 assists  while running the Cats offense efficiently and effectively. Vermont made timely shots in the second half and cashed in at the free throw line. Siena struggled from the free throw line throughout the game and it allowed Vermont to hang around. The Saints were without their best player Marquis Wright, who may be out for the season with a foot injury. There were times when it was apparent that the Saints were lacking a go to scorer on the offensive end. This made it even more important for Vermont to take advantage, get the win, and push their record to 7-7. Ethan O'Day played tough and gritty in this one and it was nice to see him assert himself on the defensive end. O'Day struggled to score but finished with 8 rebounds and 5 blocks. Those are the type of contributions Vermont needs from him night in and night out. Kurt Steidl scored an efficient 15 points by shooting 4-5 from the field (3-4 from three) and 4-4 from the free throw line. He really has been the steady hand for Vermont this year. Don't look know but Drew Urquhart has put together quite a nice string of games. He has scored in double figures in three straight and here are his numbers over the last 5 games: 27 mpg, 48% shooting, 9.6 ppg, and 6.4 rpg. Those are big contributions and he may have finally worked himself out of Becker's doghouse. This is the Drew U that Vermont saw down the stretch last year. If Vermont can continue to get that type of production from him, their frontcourt will get a little bit tougher. A great win and a total team effort. One more road contest before conference play at Harvard on Sunday. It would be great to get a road win before diving into conference play. Vermont has struggled mightily on the road and predicting their performance up to this point has been a difficult task. Harvard is always a tough match up and Vermont will have to bottle up some of the toughness and grit they showed in the win today and take it down the highway. I wish everyone a Happy New Year and again, thanks for reading. 

Fisher at Vermont 12/19/15

Vermont 84 Fisher 37

In a game where the result was never in doubt, it is how Vermont played that matters. In the past I have personally watched Vermont teams slog through these match ups with no energy and poor play. In today's game the Cats did several positive things and played with energy. In a season where they have faced a fair amount of adversity it is important to feel some success. For players who are struggling it is important to see some shots fall through the net and start to build momentum. It is also an opportunity for Becker to evaluate every player. Already this season Vermont has been forced to juggle lineups due to injury (and a suspension). As the season wears on there are going to be times where some of the other guys on the bench need to be ready to play minutes. Today Dylan Sinnickson certainly was able to showcase what he can bring to the Cats. It was no coincidence that with the lower level of opponent, Dylan was able to log more successful minutes. However, if he can learn the offense and some of the finer points of the game, he could find some positive minutes later in the season. Dylan is an exceptional athlete and a very strong rebounder. Those are two aspects of his game that can definitely get him on the court. He also showcased a very nice shooting touch and I think most importantly showed that in the right situation he could be valuable. I am by no means saying he is going to start playing every game, but in a pinch due to foul trouble or injury he may be able to contribute. Either way what a great game for him to get a double double (11 points, 12 rebounds)  for the Cats. I will also say that during this stretch of tough games and turmoil, Cam Ward has quietly been Vermont's most consistent player. He has scored in double figures in seven of the last eight games and still has a knack for hitting big shots. He is the young player this year who seems to be stepping up and becoming a bit of a leader on the team. Now it is off to Northeastern which will be a very tough game on the road. Hopefully Vermont can use some of the positive momentum to put together a full effort away from Patrick Gym.

UCSB at Vermont 12/16/15

Vermont 75 UCSB 68

It wasn't pretty but it was a win.

Vermont clawed their way to a much needed victory over UCSB. The game was marred by fouls and poor execution from both teams. During pregame it was announced that Dre Wills was suspended indefinitely due to a violation of the student-athlete conduct code. This is a serious blow to the Vermont team and in warm ups it looked like the team was reeling from the effects of the news. This negative energy continued throughout the first part of the game as Vermont tossed up air balls and struggled to execute. Whatever happens with Wills is going to have a tremendous effect on the Vermont program. This could be a small violation or a big one and it will be a difficult time for the team. Regardless, the Cats were able to overcome the sluggish start and began to knock down shots. No one shot particularly well overall but several people made big shots when Vermont needed a bucket. The balanced scoring was on full display as everyone contributed to the win. On defense, the Cats got physical underneath and made it difficult for UCSB to finish around the rim. This physicality was something that Vermont has been lacking and it paid off as UCSB struggled to cash in their opportunities at the free throw line. On the reverse side Vermont was effective at the free throw line and it was the difference in the game. Kurt Steidl played hard and hit big shots. This was a big win for Vermont as they need to start building some positive energy around the  team. Many of the players are lacking confidence and this next stretch of games is an opportunity to build momentum before the conference schedule. The next game on Saturday is a cupcake against NAIA Fishers College. This is good timing for that game as the team is going to need some time to sort out all of the emotions surrounding the Wills situation. The roller coaster ride continues.

Vermont at St. Bonaventure 12/8/15

St. Bonaventure 80 Vermont 68

Vermont takes another tough loss on the road. The hits keep on coming for the Cats as they struggle to find consistency. Ernie Duncan missed another game which continues to negatively affect Vermont's offense. This game boils down to free throws and threes. Vermont could not stop the Bonnie's perimeter shooting and did not cash in on their own chances at the foul line. I think back to when Vermont was around 4th in the country in free throw percentage just a few games ago. The Cats free throw percentage has fallen off a cliff and it has coincided with Duncan sitting out and Dre Wills returning. For the first part of the season the right players on Vermont were taking the free throws and it definitely inflated the numbers. Free throw shooting is going to continue to be a struggle as Dre Wills, Ethan O' Day, and Drew Urquhart are below average free throw shooters. As far as the perimeter defense, it is becoming a significant concern for Vermont. In years past they have struggled through the non conference with their defense and it has never seemed like it was going to be a season long problem. This year there is something different about their defense and it is going to need to improve by leaps and bounds over the next month in order for the Cats to find success in the conference schedule. The America East is looking like it is going to be significantly better this year and Vermont is going to have to start getting on track soon. Getting healthy will be the first step in the right direction. Since it was announced that Duncan was a game time decision for this game it seems likely he will play in the next game as Vermont has a week off to prepare. Vermont absolutely needs Duncan to be healthy. This week is going to be a time where Ethan O'Day really has to do some soul searching. He is playing very poorly and it is unclear as to why. Vermont needs O'Day to dig deep and find himself again or it is going to be a long season. I am also very interested to see what happens with Urquhart's playing time. He has been on a yo-yo this season and it seems like neither he nor the coaching staff know which Drew is going to show up. He put up a 9 point, 12 rebound performance in tonight's game and it would be a significant boost if he can start to find some of the consistency he began to display at the end of last season. With a week off to mull over the losing streak, this is a critical point in Vermont's season. If the players and coaching staff don't start feeling some positive momentum soon, this season has a chance to slip away. This is one of the stretches where a team finds out what they a really made of and the game next week will be a good indication of which direction Vermont is headed.

Vermont at Yale 12/5/15

Yale 72 Vermont 54

Vermont fell apart in the second half and lost big to Yale. The first half was well played by both teams and it looked like it was going to be another back a forth contest with Yale. The Bulldogs had different ideas and took control of the game early in the second half and did not look back. Yale is a very good team and should be the Ivy representative in the NCAA tournament this year. Justin Sears is a great player and Makai Mason has looked tremendous to start his sophomore season. At the beginning of the year I had this game circled as a loss. When Yale got pounded by Albany a week ago, it did not change my feeling because they were without Sears. He is the type of player that changes the entire dynamic for a team. I did think that Vermont would have a better showing but this was a very motivated Yale team. After losing to Albany, Yale has now won the following two games by a combined 57 points. This game was all about the inability to make shots. Much of that credit goes to Yale's defense. The Bulldogs blocked 9 shots and made it difficult to finish at the rim. Vermont also really misses Ernie Duncan's presence from the perimeter. He has been the Cats best shooter by far this year and when he is not in the lineup, Vermont's offense is going to struggle. If Vermont is going to beat a top flight opponent, they need a full squad to do so. Vermont also struggled with fouls for much of the game which did not help them find any rhythm. It comes down to not letting the game get the best of you as a player. Vermont let Yale push them around and beat them down mentally throughout the game. This is going to be very frustrating to Becker and rightfully so. I think Becker is struggling with how to get consistent effort from this Vermont team. I believe what is causing most of the inconsistency is the lack of defined roles. Due to the continued health issues, there has been no continuity in what each player is being asked to do and as a result Becker can not find a consistent rotation. This creates stretches of games where Vermont is off kilter because the lineups are still not used to playing together. Despite the fact that Vermont returned a large part of their core they are working in several new players and for the first time in several years the Cats have a very thin bench. Injuries are part of the game and I cant help but think back to last year when Vermont dealt with several injuries in the early going. They lost several games and looked similarly discombobulated. When Vermont was at full strength they were able to find a rhythm and had success in the conference schedule. That is what the Cats will look to do this year as well. The game against St. Bonaventure becomes a crucial game for Vermont's confidence. St. Bonaventure is an opponent who Vermont can beat when they are at full strength so it will be a good test of how they respond to letting a game get away from them in such a disappointing fashion.

Vermont at Dartmouth 12/2/15

Vermont 68 Dartmouth 63

When Vermont and Dartmouth play it can be expected that the game will be close, hard fought, and ugly. This game did not buck that trend and Vermont was able to rise from the rubble with a victory. Winning on the road is tough and a rivalry game makes it even tougher. The task became more difficult due to the fact that Vermont was without Ernie Duncan who suffered a concussion during the Marist game. Health continues to be a struggle for Vermont and it is no surprise that without their best shooter from deep, the Cats struggled from the perimeter. This should be the post where Ethan O'Day gets nothing but adulation for posting a 16 point, 8 rebound, 3 block night. He scored tough buckets underneath and played with grit and determination. Unfortunately what really sticks out is the 4-12 shooting from the free throw line. That is a pitiful number and it is made worse by the fact that most of those misses were in crunch time when Vermont was trying to put the game away. Poor O'Day just cant put it all together in the same game. Something always seems to be lacking. Nonetheless, O'Day did what senior captains do on the road and that is set the tone and play tough. Kurt Steidl put together another nice night on the boards and hit some crucial free throws. Trae Bell-Haynes also had a nice game with 15 points. Cam Ward continued his strong play and hit a big shot down the stretch. For Vermont to win a tough game on the road without one of their top players is a step in the right direction. The Cats will have to hope for a healthy Duncan on Saturday for a tough road game against preseason Ivy favorite Yale. They will need all hands on deck in what should be another grinder.

Marist at Vermont 11/29/15

Vermont 86 Marist 60

The Cats returned home and dominated the Marist Red Foxes. Using a significant size advantage, Vermont dominated the paint, crushing Marist on the boards (46-20) and getting easy buckets down low. This is a game the Vermont is supposed to win and they did it in convincing fashion. The return of Dre Wills is a wonderful thing and watching this game it is easy to see how important he is to Vermont. This game would have been very different and that is a testament to how many different ways Dre can affect the game. He shut down Marist's best scorer on the defensive side of the ball and it is no accident that the Cats' best team defensive effort of the year coincided with Dre's return. On the offensive side of the ball Dre stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists. He got to the rim at will and flew all over the glass. He can affect the game in so many ways that he is one of the few players that can change the entire team dynamic. His health the rest of the season will be the biggest factor in Vermont's success. It looked like the week off helped Kurt Steidl as he responded with his best offensive game of the season. What made Steidl's game really special was the addition of the one dribble pull up jumper. Steidl hit about four of those shots and it added a great dimension to his game. His growth as a player has been tremendous and if his health can also improve, Vermont will have the full team they need. Darren Payen continues to look great. He hit shots from all over the floor and hustled after every lose ball and rebound. He is contributing more than was expected and it has given Vermont a potent 1-2 punch underneath. Overall the Cats effort was the best it has looked all season. Many players were diving for lose balls and getting tough rebounds. That is the kind off effort Vermont will need to demonstrate night in and night out to sustain success. Nate Rohrer was impressive again finishing creatively around the rim and hitting from the outside. He is the perfect type of player for Vermont's system and plays hard on every possession. Now it is back on the road to face Dartmouth on Wednesday. It will be a good test to see if the Cats can bring the same intensity they had at home into a road environment. One of the other interesting story lines will be Trae Bell-Haynes adjusting to coming off the bench. He had a very uneven game this afternoon, looking great finishing around the rim but looking lost when trying to pass the ball. It will be a great battle between him and Ernie Duncan for minutes and will most likely be very match-up dependent. This upcoming three game road trip will be a great litmus test now that Vermont is back at full strength.

Vermont at Florida 11/25/15

Florida 86 Vermont 62

And that concludes the most difficult portion of Vermont's non conference schedule.

Vermont hung with Florida for about 70% of the game before succumbing to the heavily favored opponent. For the first part of the game, Vermont held their own on the boards and limited the points off turnovers. Eventually the turnovers became to numerous and the second chance opportunities were converted by Florida. Right when Vermont made a run, the Gators got hot from behind the arc and that was all she wrote. From this point on there are many winnable games and more games in the comforts of Patrick gym. Vermont is  struggling with their team identity so far this season. They have been a great defensive team for a long time and every team that Becker has coached has played tough D. With all of the newfound offensive success, the defensive side of the ball is taking a backseat. It is clear that this bothers Becker based on his postgame comments and he wants the team to get tough and more physical. Vermont needs to find a way to balance the offensive efficiency with the same tenacious defense they have played in the past seasons. This next stretch will be crucial to the development of that mentality. Everett Duncan played well as a replacement for Kurt Steidl (resting his ankle) scoring 8 points and grabbing 8 rebounds. It is great to see him get a few minutes as he may be called upon to play some minutes as the season wears on. Cam Ward put together another solid effort getting a double double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. In the interesting stat department, Cam Ward now has two double digit rebounding games in 40 career games while Ethan O'Day has two double digit rebounding games in 98 career games. That is a sobering look into O'Day's difficulties on the boards and a compliment to Wards abilities. It was great to see Dre Wills back out on the floor and I hope he can stay healthy because the Vermont really needs him. The game against Marist on Sunday should be a good test of where Vermont is in the process of coming together as a team this season.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Vermont vs. Buffalo 11/22/15

Buffalo 77 Vermont 71

The mistakes and turnovers caught up to Vermont in the loss to Buffalo. It was an uneven effort for the Cats. Vermont battled back from several second half deficits and ran some good sets. For most of game however, the Cats were pushed around by Buffalo and turned the ball over in crucial situations. The turnovers were careless and unforced and seemed to happen due to Vermont struggling with Buffalo's size underneath. Buffalo did a great job keeping Vermont from getting to the rim cutting off passing lanes. Vermont looked disjointed and they could not find an effective lineup. Even the coaching staff seemed unsure as some of the defensive switches were unnecessary and the substitutions were not as smooth as the last few games. Buffalo executed down the stretch and never let Vermont get comfortable. To me this game ended up being about the timing of the mistakes that Vermont made. Often they were on crucial possessions or times when they were building momentum and the turnovers often came in bunches. This allowed Buffalo too many chances to reverse the momentum and maintain control of the game. This is a game where the Cats are going to look at the tape and lament their missed opportunities, Ethan O'Day in particular looked awful. He turned the ball over, struggled finishing, and missed free throws. He looked physically over matched and unable to get out of his own way. He needs to cut down on the mistakes as they are detracting from the things he is doing well. Trae Bell-Haynes struggled in the game as well. Coming off such a great game the previous night, it wasn't a surprise to see him force the ball. He tried to do to much and ended up in tough situations which caused him to turn the ball over and miss shots. Unlike the previous games where he had success playing patiently, he was back to playing at one speed and rushing though the Cats offense. On the positive side Vermont did hold their own on the boards and Darren Payen in particular grabbed some tough rebounds. I don't really want to say he looked good as he also got beat on the boards several times, but he is getting tougher rebounds than he did even a few games ago. Hopefully that aspect of his game can continue to improve. Ernie Duncan continues to impress from the three point line as he finished the weekend 8-11 from three and at one point made 7 straight over the two game span. His shooting ability has been better than advertised. I wrote last night how poorly Cam Ward had been playing to start the year and I was hoping he would snap out of the funk. I didn't have to wait very long as Ward played a strong game. He finished with 11 points and finally looked comfortable and confident on the court. A tough loss for Vermont and now it is on the Florida which will be another tough game. Vermont is certainly taking their lumps early, and the hope is that it will serve them well as the season wears on.

Niagara vs. Vermont 11/21/15

Vermont 85 Niagara 67

Trae Bell-Haynes is making the transition from "one speed" to "balanced player" at the speed of light. Becker talked preseason about Bell-Haynes working on his jumper and learning to play at different speeds. In the first game Bell-Haynes looked downright awful and was unable to showcase any of his newfound skills. In each game since, he has looked unstoppable. The new jump shot looks great and he is unafraid to let it fly. As a result teams are closing out on him just a little bit faster. That is all the space Bell-Haynes needs to get to the rim. He has been getting to the rim at will and finishing strong. He is a great foul shooter to boot so even when he doesn't finish, good things happen. Bell-Haynes is becoming a star and he is a very hard working kid so there is really no telling how far he can go. The Vermont coaching staff again found a diamond in the rough when they got Bell-Haynes to sign late without ever even visiting Vermont. The tandem he forms Ernie Duncan is a formidable duo to guard on the perimeter. This was demonstrated in the second half when the two combined for 34 of Vermont's 49 points. Bell-Haynes got to the rim at will and Duncan knocked down 4-5 threes. The balanced offense Vermont has this season is tremendous. They have the great Duncan/Bell-Haynes perimeter duo and Darren Payen and Ethan O'Day are a tough duo to stop underneath, In the first half, the Payen/O'Day duo scored at will. That is two games in a row where those two looked effortless finishing underneath. Becker is right about the potential of this offense and it is going to be fun to watch. The only flaw is the turnovers. Right now most of them are on passes around the perimeter. They are mental mistakes and Vermont has to find a way to maintain a better focus on the court. Aggressive turnovers are one thing, but there have been to many silly turnovers to start this season. Hopefully the kinks will continue to be worked out as the season wears on. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cats really miss Dre Wills. It was encouraging to hear on the broadcast that he is close to a return. Vermont needs him to stop dribble penetration. Duncan is a great player but he has a hard time cutting off driving lanes. Wills return will set up a very interesting battle for minutes as both Bell-Haynes and Duncan look great. It will be interesting to see what kind of rotation Becker uses with those three guards. One combination will give Vermont a better offense and the other will be better on defense. It will be a tough choice for the coaching staff. Also, Don't look now but Kurt Steidl is becoming a tremendous rebounder. Another 9 boards in this one brings his season average to 9 per game.  An impressive number for a player who averaged 2.8 rebounds over the previous two seasons.  A final thought is about Cam Ward. Ward looks lost so far and can't seem to get anything going. His role has certainly changed, and that may be what is affecting him, but he looks completely over matched. Missing shots, turning the ball over, and getting pushed around in each game this season. He is a very good player and it is tough to see him struggle so much. I hope he finds a way to get his confidence back. Tomorrow night at eight o'clock Vermont gets the winner of Buffalo/NC A&T in what should be a good match up no matter who the Cats play. It will again be "televised" on ESPN3.

Quinnipiac at Vermont 11/18/15

Vermont 83 Quinnipiac 70

Welcome to Vermont Nate Rohrer.

In dominating fashion Vermont won their home opener over Quinnipiac. The MVP of the game was Nate Rohrer, the walk on who grew up in Vermont and called to offer to come play for the Catamounts. The coaching staff may have found a diamond in the rough as Rohrer looked tremendous in the win. Rohrer finished with creativity around the rim and did all the little things to help Vermont win. Rohrer hedged beautifully on screens and played tough physical defense underneath. He knows where to be on the floor and has a great nose for the ball. I have been saying all along he would be a contributor but it has happened much more quickly than expected. I will also give my obligatory "Ernie Duncan is amazing" assessment. His ability to pass the ball out on the break is tremendous and he puts the ball right where his teammates need to have an opportunity to score. In the first few games he shot tremendously and carried the offense. Tonight he only took two shots and still made the offense go. Trae Bell-Haynes looked great again, using his tremendous speed to get to the rim. He also showed the new and improved jumper with great results. If he can continue to develop his jumper he will be nearly impossible to stop. Darren Payen started off the game with a flurry and looked silky smooth finishing down low. Ethan O'Day struggled with turnovers but had his way down low, scoring at will. Vermont's offense continues to look very strong and versatile. They can score in so many different ways and it is very hard to stop any one player. They have the ability to score inside, outside, and get to the rim off the dribble. There are still several kinks to work out but the team is starting to shape. When fully healthy Vermont is going to be a very tough opponent. I also have to give a shout to Kurt Steidl. He was clearly hurt and hobbling around, but still played a great game. He continues to impress on the boards with 8 rebounds. He also chipped in 9 points on 7-7 shooting from the free throw line. A tough gritty performance from one of the captains. On to the Hall of Fame tip-off this weekend and hopefully over the next few weeks, the Cats can get healthy. This teams believes in each other and already seems to be creating good chemistry. Can't wait to see what they can do when they have a full squad.

Vermont at Purdue 11/15/15

Purdue 107 Vermont 79

It may be crazy to feel good about a 28 point loss, but Vermont has to feel good about most of their performance in the game against Purdue. Playing a top 25 team is a tall task early in the season. The task is made tougher when the underdog is missing their most important player. Then the task gets even tougher when the top 25 team has a historically good shooting night. To top it all off, one of the underdogs other captains and starters gets hurt and misses the entire second half. All in all, I feel as though Vermont rose to the challenge and gave it their all. Early in the season it is all about playing better than the game before. Vermont made some significant improvements from the opener and looked like a team headed in the right direction (excluding player health). First off, Trae Bell-Haynes rebounded from his worst performance to have one of his best. Trae finished with 17 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds. He looked fast, decisive, and was back to finishing through contact around the rim. He took better care of the ball and looked more confident and sure of himself. That is the way great players respond to a poor performance. There will be a lot of gushing about Ernie Duncan this year and it is easy to see why when watching him play the game of basketball. He has been very impressive and has the chance to really take hold of this team. Ethan O'Day looked good in a tough match-up and Darren Payen is looking like an immediate contributor off his transfer year. Nate Rohrer will play a large role of this team by the time the conference schedule rolls around. He is strong, smart, and leaves it all on the floor. A great guy off the bench. Now I realize losing by 28 is not all sunshine and rainbows but Purdue is a very good team with great interior players. Vermont held their own on the boards and didn't make it easy for Purdue underneath. Purdue shot a record setting 18-36 from three and sometimes you just have to tip your cap to a great performance. Some of the shots were tough shots and some were slow defensive rotations. Either way the final score doesn't tell the whole story. Vermont played hard and looked like they took the opening loss to heart and are ready to make sure they don't waste any more opportunities. On the very negative side of things, if Kurt Steidl has any sort of injury, Vermont could be in some trouble. Already missing Dre Wills, to be down two starters will make it a tall task to win games. Especially considering Steidl and Wills are the two best rebounders on this years team. Injuries are exactly what the Cats can't afford this year with such a short bench. They will be forced into a smaller three guard lineup if Steidl misses any time. The match-up with Quinnipiac is a tough game for Vermont to be without their best rebounding lineup as the Bobcats are always tough on the boards. I am excited to see a game in person and can't wait for the home opener on Wednesday. See you there!!

It was great to see Josh Speidel at the game with the team and I continue to send positive thoughts his way.

Vermont at Eastern Michigan 11/13/15

Eastern Michigan 70 Vermont 50

Now that is opening with a thud.

Vermont opened their season with a dismal performance on the road at Eastern Michigan. Marred by miscues and poor execution, the Cats were blown out in the second half. There were many negatives to look at from this game but the most glaring is the 21 turnovers. Many of them were careless passes. That is an inexcusable amount of turnovers. Trae Bell-Haynes had the worst game of his young career going 0-5 from the field while committing  seven turnovers. He was often out of sorts and trying to force a driving lanes when there were none. This continued a trend for Vermont of struggling to run an effective offense against a good zone defense. The Cats just pass the ball around the perimeter over and over again until they end up with what is typically a tough shot. This turns into too many three pointers and no interior scoring. This is best illustrated by the fact that Vermont only scored 14 points in the paint. This team is at their best when they are driving to the hoop. There were also several similarities to the struggles that Vermont had on the road last year. They struggled to find offensive rhythm and shot poorly from the field when they were away from Patrick gym last year. If this game was any indication that may continue to be an issue this year. They also struggled from the free throw line which was also a significant problem last year. This is a very early wake up call for Vermont and this is going to be a tough weekend as they are likely to lose by a similar margin against Purdue. Eastern Michigan was definitely one of the winnable games on the non conference schedule and the game became more winnable when Eastern Michigan's best player was suspended before the game. This was a missed opportunity for Vermont. This game also illustrated how important Dre Wills is to the Cats. Wills brings fire and energy and is the heart and soul of this team. He can change the game in so many ways. They really missed his energy and Vermont is a different team without him on the floor. There are going to be several hard lessons learned this weekend and Coach Becker is going to have plenty of things to preach in practice before the home opener next Wednesday. As an optimistic person and fan I always like to find the silver lining in these games. Kurt Steidl continued to look like a monster on the boards. His increase in athleticism is both surprising and encouraging.He plays tough defense and has really rounded out his game. Ernie Duncan is going to be a great addition to Vermont as he is an exceptional player. He is going to go through some growing pains as he adjusts to the college game and shakes off the rust from the year off, but is going to be a tremendous contributor as the season goes on. He didn't have many assists tonight but his passing ability is off the charts. He gets his teammates the ball with great timing, especially when they are running the floor. I also still really like Nate Rohrer's minutes. He plays very hard and uses his strength to his advantage. Early in the season there is value in every game and Becker is very skilled at using the low points to motivate his teams to play better. Sundays game will be another difficult test and it will be both interesting and very telling to see how this group is going to respond.

Vermont Season Preview

It is another exciting year in Catamount country and time to get ready for the regular season. For me that means organizing my thoughts and making a few predictions. Without further ado.

Record: 21-10 (11-5) 3rd seed, loss in semi-final to Albany.

Starting five: Tough to predict. Duncan will be starting before long. Wills will be starting when he is healthy. I think the starting 5 that will be used most often will be Duncan, Wills, Steidl, Payen, O'Day.

Leading Scorer: It is going to be another year of balanced scoring. I could see either O'Day or even Payen lead the team at only 11 points per game.

Rebounds: If he is healthy Wills. If not it will be O'Day.

Assists: Again, if healthy, Duncan.

This team is going to be the best scoring team that Vermont has had in a long time. With the rule changes focused on improving offensive output and offensive upgrades at several positions, there will be a sharp scoring increase for the Cats. Adding Duncan to an already strong group of shooters, will give the Cats a tremendous group on the perimeter. Payen gives Vermont a second interior scorer which is also an upgrade from last year. Vermont was good offensively last year without a great passer on the team. Duncan immediately becomes the best passer on the team and will make his teammates better by getting them open looks. The Cats will play an exciting brand of basketball. On the defensive side of the ball, there will be a bit of a step back. Wills health is concerning and it is going to a while before Payen and Duncan get up to speed with the defensive scheme. The ability to get stops down the stretch is going to take time and during the nonconference it is going to be a work in progress. The hope is by conference schedule time the defense will be up to speed.

Keys to Success

Health: Duncan and Wills are the current health concerns but overall health is an even greater concern. With only 9 scholarship players, any injuries will force players into bigger roles and will shorten the bench. This lack of depth is something that Becker has not had to deal with during his tenure. Remaining healthy may be the biggest factor in Vermont's success this year.

New Roles: With Payen coming off a redshirt year, Drew Urquhart playing larger minutes, and either Cam Ward or Trae Bell-Haynes playing less minutes, players will be faced with challenges. Transfers often take time to adjust and a lot is going to be expected of Payen from the get go. Urquhart has a great opportunity to play a big role but continues to draw the ire of Coach Becker. One of the interesting battles will be for playing time at the guard positions. There are only so many minutes to go around and someone is going to end up playing less than they would like to. All of the players accepting their roles and accepting the good with the bad will be important for the team to develop chemistry.

Rebounding: This Vermont team is not going to be a strong rebounding team. Much like last year, they are going to have to make up for it with shooting a high percentage and running an efficient offense. In the games against Albany and Stony Brook, Vermont is going to have to find a way to close the rebounding gap if they are going to make a push for the title.

Foul trouble: It is no secret that O'Day has struggled with foul trouble. Payen looks a bit foul prone as well and with the rule changes there are going to be quite a few more fouls called. Just like with players staying healthy, players staying out of foul trouble will also be important. With a thin bench it will be more difficult replace minutes missed due to foul trouble.

I think Vermont will be a very good team this year. The Ken Pomeroy preseason rankings put Vermont at number 89 (one behind Stony Brook who is at 88). I still think the Albany postseason spell will continue with Peter Hooley in his senior season. Stony Brook is also going to be pretty close to dominant which will make a run at the title somewhat of a gantlet. For the Cats, this year will continue the run of regular season success, but will present some very challenging postseason hurdles. This momentum will build to next season when I think Vermont will again be the favorite to win the league. Adding the two Tulane transfers and heralded freshman Anthony Lamb to the team will solidify the frontcourt and make Vermont a complete team. I am excited to see this years team and hope that they can put it all together and make a run at the title.

Exhibition: St. Michael's at Vermont

Ernie Duncan is back.

Vermont ripped through their last tune up before the regular season with an 85-56 victory over St. Mike's. Catamount fans finally got a look at Ernie Duncan playing a full game and it did not disappoint. Duncan looked tremendous scoring 17 points including 5-11 from three. Calmly running the offense and threading smooth passes to teammates, Duncan looked every bit the top recruit he was billed to be last year. Heath is always something that has to be discussed but, if healthy, Duncan is going to be a tremendous part of the Vermont program. He is one of those players that makes his teammates better and takes what the offense gives him. He led the Cats in scoring without forcing the ball or creating his own shot. Overall the offense looks very sharp. Adding Duncan, and Darren Payen will really open up the floor and give the Cats many scoring options. Payen can really finish around the rim and is going to form a potent 1-2 punch with O'Day. That is of course if they can both stay out of foul trouble. Drew Urquhart also looked much improved. He showed a beautiful touch from the outside and looks quicker and stronger with the ball underneath when rebounding and finishing. With that said, the frontcourt should look good in a game against a team with almost no post players, but the potential is there. I was again impressed by Nate Rohrer as the 10 minutes a game post player. He has a nice shooting touch and knows where to be on the court. He is always cutting to the hoop and crashing the boards. Could turn into a very valuable piece for the Catamounts. Kurt Steidl and O'Day both struggled with foul trouble and general ineffectiveness but the game was out of hand from very early on. Vermont will be a versatile offensive team and again will have balanced scoring. That is crucial to make up for off nights from certain players. That is one quality that has always made Vermont a dangerous team. It is very hard to pinpoint who to stop as it seems like some else always steps up. The defensive side of the ball is a work in progress but Becker's coaching record speaks for itself in his ability to get his teams playing tough defense. The rotations are slow right now and several players are getting lost in the shifts. Vermont will again be pushed around by more physical teams and teams that are strong on the boards. In those games Vermont will have to rely on out shooting the opposition from the perimeter. It was a major downer to see Dre Wills go down with what looked like a significant hamstring pull. That injury is going to linger and there is a real possibility he is going to miss several games. He is so important to the Cats on both sides of the ball. I am certainly hoping for a speedy recovery. Now it is time to start the regular season. I will have a full preview of Vermont's season posted before Friday's opener so be ready!

P.S. I love the gray uniforms so much.

America east preview

It is that time when predictions are made and typically proved very wrong. The regular season is often somewhat of an enigma in the America East. The preseason pick to win the league rarely finishes first and the regular season champ also struggles to win in the tournament. Albany was able to complete the sweep last season for the first time since 2009 but they were not picked to win the league in the preseason last year. Predictions are still fun to make and that one time you hit the nail on the head erases all of the things you got wrong. Without further ado here is how I think they will finish and a few thoughts about each team.

1. Stony Brook 

    This is the year that Stony Brook has to cash in and win a title. They have had the most dominant player in the league for the last 3 years and have come up short each time. That is a tremendous amount of pressure and in Stony Brook's recent history they have struggled to overcome high pressure situations. This year however they are well equipped to not just dominate the America East, but be a top mid major team across the country. Carson Puriefoy and Jameel Warney are the big names and they have carried this team without a consistent supporting cast over the last three years. This year will be the best surrounding talent that Stony Brook has had in the Warney/Puriefoy era. Adding Lucas Woodhouse, a transfer from Longwood will give them another strong point guard to take the pressure off Puriefoy. They also bring back Ahmad Walker after a year at a junior college who will give them a tenacious defender and rebounder. There is no excuse for Stony Brook not to win the title this year, they are the best team in the conference. 

2. Albany

    A four year sweep is what Peter Hooley and the Great Danes are looking for this season. That would be an unbelievable accomplishment and you know that Albany is always ready to step up to and overcome any challenge. Replacing Sam Rowley is going to be tough as he was the engine that drove Albany for the past four years. They still have the heart of their team in Hooley who always steps up when the team is in need of a hero. Bringing back the rest of their backcourt with Evan Singletary and Ray Sanders will keep them at the top of the league. Replacing someone like Rowley will take a team effort and Albany has a few big men joining the team who are aiming to do just that. No matter what, come playoff time Albany will be locked and loaded for another title run.

3. Vermont

     The Catamounts always find a way to compete for a title. The consistency of the program is exceptional and as such they will be looking for their 8th consecutive 20 win season. This year they return most of their team and welcome Ernie Duncan back from injury. If Duncan can perform to the level he showed in limited minutes at the beginning of last season, Vermont will again be competing for a title. Ethan O'Day is looking to go out on top as he wraps up a strong career in a Catamount uniform. The big question mark for Vermont is who will step up alongside O'Day in a thin, inexperienced frontcourt. Hofstra transfer Darren Payen is looking to make an immediate impact and Drew Urquhart will be trying to build off a strong finish to last season.

4. New Hampshire

    After a surprising run last year, New Hampshire is poised to be the team that finally splits the triple team at the top of the America East. Returning most of their top contributors the Wildcats are looking to maintain the momentum they built last year. Tanner Leissner leads the team and will look to build off a great rookie year. Daniel Dion, Jacoby Armstong, and Jaleen Smith all enter their junior year as the elder statesmen and look to be the veteran presence for the Wildcats. Matt Miller not being granted an extra year of eligibility was a big blow as he was their best offensive threat at times last season. They will look to have some of their young players step up and fill that void. 

5. Hartford 

    If there was any year that Hartford was going to break through, it was with the 6 returning seniors they had last year. Alas, that group underachieved for 3 years following a strong freshman campaign. It is hard to judge where Hartford will end up this year as they are relying on several transfers to round out their team. Pancake Thomas (yep Pancake) and Jalen Ross have both been hyped as instant impact transfers. It remains to be seen what their impact will be. They do return their best player in Taylor Dyson and because they play tough defense, I actually think this may be addition by subtraction. The group of seniors never seemed to gel and grow as a team. I see this years group as being more competitive because it will give this program a fresh start. Unfortunately that still puts them fighting for the best of the rest spot in the America East.

6. Binghamton 

    The Bearcats finished strong last year and started to live up to the hype that has been surrounding this program since Tommy Dempsey took over. Last year they dealt with several injuries and the untimely departure of Jordan Reed. A fully healthy, fully focused Binghamton squad has a chance to push up the standings and compete with New Hampshire for the home playoff game. So one might wonder why rank them so low? The answer is: I will believe it when I see it. Every time this program begins to become relevant again, some chain of events results in its slide back to mediocrity. Whether it be an injury or a transfer, Binghamton has struggled to maintain programmatic momentum. As a result I am putting them lower in my rankings. However, they have a very talented group pf players and may be the most athletic team in the conference With Willie Rodriguez and Romello Walker leading the way and Dusan Perovic returning from injury, Binghamton has a chance to make the leap this season. But only if they can avoid the pitfalls that have plagued this program.

7. UMBC
    Last year with sometimes only seven players dressing for games, UMBC left it all on the floor and competed night in and night out. The Retrievers were often leading at half time against the upper echelon of the America East before succumbing to fatigue. With most of the team returning, newcomers to lengthen the bench, and Rodney Elliott coming back from injury, UMBC has a chance to increase their win total. They will still be in the lower half of the league, but they may be able to build some momentum and begin the climb out of the basement. Always scrappy and competitive, they will look to be a thorn in the side of the teams competing for the title. 

8. UMass Lowell
    Transitioning to a Division I program is a difficult task and Lowell is still early in the process. Last year they red-shirted several of their freshman in an attempt to maximize their years of eligibility in hopes that they could form a more competitive team several years down the road. Several key injuries, including one to all league performer Jahad Thomas, rendered them helpless down the stretch last season. With Thomas back and a full roster of players, Lowell will begin the process of forming an identity as a program. 

9. Maine
    Ted Woodward left this program in shambles and his ineptitude will unfortunately continue to put Maine at a disadvantage this year. Overhauling a program involves changing the culture while finding players who fit a new and different style of play. Maine has talented players in Kevin Little and Aaron Calixte, but they will struggle to fill out their rotation. Like Lowell, Maine is very young and inexperienced and their goals are far more in the long term. This year will be about teaching the players the right way to play basketball and having the team buy in to the way that Bob Walsh wants them to play.

I hope you enjoyed the league preview and a Vermont specific preview will be coming next week.

Basketball is Back!!

Exhibition: Keiser at Vermont 10/31/15

Happy Halloween!!

As a disclaimer I watched the first half online before heading out trick or treating with the kiddos so my analysis is part watching, part box score, part highlights. The exhibition games are a great way for the team to get their feet wet and work out a few kinks before the season starts. Today's game was no different. I felt as though Keiser was a strong exhibition opponent and certainly better than Concordia or St. Michael's (save for last year). I especially liked the fact that they had some size to test the frontcourt. Darren Payen continued to impress with his versatile offensive game. He is smooth finishing around the rim and is a creative finisher. His athleticism is top notch and already looks to have a good feel for the offense. He will be a very big contributor on this year's team as he is going to play big minutes and have a major role in the offense. Unfortunately for me as much as he impressed me on the offensive end he disappointed just as much on the defensive end. He looked completely lost on defense and his rotations were extremely slow. A handful of times it was clear he had no idea where he was supposed to rotate to. He also struggled to block out on rebounds and seemed to struggled with timing when going for a rebound. Now this was his first game action in over a year so I may be jumping the gun a bit, but he definitely has to improve on the defensive side of the ball. He will be an important piece on this years team. The other big takeaway was how great a fully healthy Kurt Steidl can be. His looked so much more athletic and aggressive in this game. Finishing with a double double of 13 points and 10 rebounds and looking confident. He is the best rebounder on the team(except Wills) and seems to have found some extra bounce to his game. I was very impressed by the improvement from last year and he is pushing himself into another level. Cant wait to see what he can do this year. It was interesting to see Nate Rohrer off the bench so quickly and then he played productive minutes. He certainly has the opportunity to carve out a role on this team. Everyone else did their thing and looked like the players they need to be. Except Ernie Duncan. He walked off the bench with a injury and did not return to the game. I am crossing my fingers that it is not his back and hope that it is nothing serious. Also I found it odd that Dylan Sinnickson did not play at all. It seemed like he would be able to carve out a few minutes but at least initially those minutes may be going to Rohrer. My one complaint was that Vermont is still unable to run an effective out of bounds play. Seems like something they should be able to execute with more effectiveness. Also the same narrative as last year is going to be true: Vermont is going to struggle to rebound the ball. They compensated in a few different ways last year and they will have to continue to do so this year to win games.  Overall the team looked solid and on track to be where they should be at this point in the season. I am so excited to get back into Patrick for the St. Mike's game next week. I will be posting an America East preview later this week so keep an eye out.

Open Practice 10/24/15

It felt really good to be back at Patrick. The chance to see the team practice and get a feel for this group was a great opportunity. One thing is for sure, The two transfers from Tulane (Patyon Henson and Josh Hearlihy) are going to make a significant impact as transfers next season. They both looked very good. Hearlihy has a very smooth shot and can put the ball on the floor. Henson is big, strong, and has a nice feel the game. It is obviously a small sample but they looked like they will have an immediate impact next season. As great as it is to look into the future, it is all about this year's team. Adding Ernie Duncan to last year's backcourt is going to make this team very good offensively. Duncan has a nice feel for the game and is a tremendous passer. He looked healthy and is playing without limitations. You could tell his conditioning is still a little behind but he is going to immediately be the best passer on the team and will give Vermont another perimeter threat. The Cats definitely have an embarrassment of riches at the point guard position. There are many mid major college teams that would feel good having one of the three point guards that Vermont has. What a luxury it is to have three starting caliber point guards to mix and match. Cam Ward and Trae Bell-Haynes looked very focused and confident. Dre Wills rode the bike for the entire hour and is still being held out as a precaution due to a nagging foot injury. It sounds like he played through it for most of last year. That is tough to hear because it seems as though it is an injury that is not going away anytime soon and one that he has to play through. The perimeter shooting will be even better this year as both Duncan's are very strong shooters. Everett Duncan has some work to do to get up to speed and get physically ready to play, but he has a very smooth shot. Much like last year, this team is going to rely heavily on outside shooting and dribble penetration to be effective. They are still going struggle to rebound the ball and defend strong, back to the basket post players. The most impressive player at practice was Darren Payen, the transfer from Hofstra who is eligible this year. He scored in a variety of ways in the post and showed strong athleticism. He looked like he will make an impact this year and will have a large role on the team. Drew Urquhart looked slimmer and faster but still struggled with his motor. Becker talked to him several times about getting his head in the game and running hard. The talent is there for Drew U, but his consistency will be a major story line this year. Kurt Steidl looked strong and it looks like some of his athleticism is returning after a few seasons of nagging leg injuries. If he can add another dimension to his offensive game it will really help him be a consistent scoring threat. Dylan Sinnickson and Nate Rohrer are the other newcomers to this years team. Sinnickson is very physical and will help them defensively and on the boards in whatever minutes he will play. Rohrer is a step slower that the rest of the team but plays hard and is also physically strong. He will push his teammates in practice and may develop down the road. Rohrer did have one of the highlights of the practice when he stuffed a Steidl dunk attempt quite spectacularly. Becker has this team focused and bought in to the the Vermont way. I am very excited to see what this team can do this year in what will be a very difficult, top heavy America East.

Anthony Lamb commits to Vermont

Vermont made some noise on the recruiting trail today by landing 6-5 F Anthony Lamb. Lamb will be a senior at Greece Athens High School in Rochester, NY during the upcoming season and will join the Cats in the fall of 2016. This commitment came out of nowhere as there was no online trail of Vermont offering Lamb. In researching this commitment, this is a big get for Vermont. All of the scouting experts reactions on twitter say the same thing: Lamb is a steal for the Cats. Looks like due to being a bit undersized, Lamb has flown under the radar of higher level conferences. Mid-Majors have been heavily recruiting him as he had 8 offers listed on verbal commits (among them Stony Brook, St. Joseph's, Iona, Charlotte). Scouts take is that he has a well developed post game, active on the boards, active defensively, and plays very hard. One scout compared him to Bonzie Colson whom Vermont recruited and now plays at Notre Dame. After watching his highlight video I am equally excited. My first reaction is that he reminds me a lot of Marqus Blakely, which is very high praise. He is one of those players with a long wingspan that negates a lack of height. Lamb is a very good shot blocker and rebounder and looks like a player with a knack for getting the ball at its highest point.  He has nice footwork underneath and can put the ball on the deck. Very little outside game, but makes up for it in hustle and effort. The top rebounders of the last ten years in the America East (except for Warney) have all be undersized (Blakely, Brenton, Voelkel, Reed). Lamb has the skill set to be a very good player for Vermont. He fits the system very well and I would guess that Coach Tibbs had a hand in landing this recruit as he coached for the Albany City Rocks AAU program, for which Lamb played. What a great was to jump start the 2016 squad. I know there is a season in between but the league will be up for grabs in the 2016-2017 season with many decorated AE players entering their final season this year (Warney, Puriefoy, Hooley, Singletary). Provided there are no surprise departures or injuries, the 16-17 Catamounts will be a very strong team. The recruiting momentum that Becker and his staff have built  is continuing to move in the right direction. They are swinging for a higher level of player and are continuing to get strong commitments. The season is fast approaching and the excitement just keeps building.

Brandon Hatton transfers from Vermont

In a last minute decision, Brandon Hatton has left the Vermont basketball team and will continue his basketball career elsewhere. Before the conspiracy theorists start whispering about chemistry issues or coaching mistakes, lets take a look at this years team. While this leaves Vermont short on bodies, the on court product is going to look no different. All last season I felt that Hatton was destined to transfer and waited for it all spring. I am not surprised at all by this decision because Hatton's playing time on a healthy Vermont team was going to be zero. Last year Hatton showed some flashes of knock down shooting, but ultimately left a lot to be desired on the court. His defense was poor and his shooting was wildly inconsistent. Outside of the Stony Brook game where he single-handedly led the team to victory, he struggled to stay on the court and consistently contribute. This year with a healthy Ernie Duncan, Hatton's minutes were gone. He would have been fighting Duncan, Bell-Haynes, Ward, Wills, Steidl, and Everett Duncan for minutes. I can't speak for the younger Duncan but the rest of that group has far superior talent. Hatton suffered the fate of many high school players who's physical build causes them to be a tweener at the next level. Hatton was too short to be a forward and too slow to be a guard. I wish him luck at his next school and I hope he finds a place where there are minutes available. He is not a bad player, just a player without a spot on this team. This does leave Vermont in the lurch and there is little that they can do at this point. Unless they have someone waiting in the wings, it will be hard to add a player for the upcoming season. It is very rare for a team to enter the season with multiple unused scholarships so it will be interesting to see what the coaching staff does. If by some miracle Vermont is able to stay healthy all year, the team will be in good shape. If there are any injuries the team will have a very hard time remaining competitive. This has been a very wild off-season for the Cats and it only builds the anticipation for the upcoming season. Two months from today!!!!!!

A Vermont native walks on to a basketball team...

Another walk-on joins the Catamounts as the coaching staff continues to get creative and find low risk high reward players to fill out their roster. Vermont dipped into the junior college (JUCO) ranks for the first time since I have been a fan and grabbed 6’7” forward Nate Rohrer from West Valley College in California. The interesting twist is that Rohrer actually lived in Jericho, Vermont until 2009. He seems excited about the homecoming and it could be a nice fit for the Cats. JUCO players do not have to sit out a year when they transfer so he will be eligible for this season with 3 years remaining. He has the opportunity to help shore up a frontcourt that was left very thin by Zach McRoberts' unexpected departure. In watching Rohrer’s highlight video, he looks like he could be a great fit for Vermont. In fact he reminded me quite a bit of the aforementioned McRoberts. Rohrer looked very springy and finished well around the rim. He showed good timing both in rebounding and blocking shots. His footwork and post moves looked solid and he also had a nice touch from the outside. There were also several highlights of him getting steals and diving on the floor for loose balls. Seems like the type of player that maximizes his abilities and plays hard. This is another great find by the coaching staff and if Rohrer can get up to speed with his teammates and get ready physically for Division One basketball, he should be able to contribute right away. However, the impact of JUCO players is notoriously hard to predict. Albany has been recruiting JUCO players for several years and some have come right in and been great (Evans, Singletary, Sanders) and some have been awful (Shengalia, Haas). It is very hard to judge the level of competition they are playing against and how they fit into a D1 program. Some people look down on the practice of recruiting junior college players and make assumptions about the type of player that attends a JUCO. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a player attending a junior college in order to provide them with their best chance at playing Division One basketball. Any avenue that allows a player with a dream of playing basketball who may need to take a different route to get there is fine by me. I think Rohrer looks like a great fit and having him possibly be a member of the team for three years is a bonus. Getting a guy who wants to be on the team and who is working to earn a scholarship is a great situation for a team. I have a feeling that Rohrer is coming to Vermont to work very hard in an attempt to earn a scholarship. I would rather have a player who will be around for several years instead of trying to find a graduate transfer to fill a scholarship that will only be around for one. There is more investment from players and coaches when they know they are in it for the long haul. It seems like once again the coaching staff took their time and found a player who they feel fits their program. The fact the he is from Vermont already makes him a good fit in my book! I can’t wait for this season as this summer has felt like an eternity. October can’t come soon enough.

Zach McRoberts leaves Vermont

In a surprising and disappointing move, Zach McRoberts has left the Vermont basketball program. He has decided to enroll at Indiana University and take time off from the game of basketball. This is a big blow for Vermont, particularly for the upcoming season. The team was already thin and using a walk on graduate transfer from Middlebury to fill out its eligible roster. This puts Vermont at 10 scholarship players who are eligible for the upcoming season. That leaves any college program in a predicament when it comes to dealing with injuries. When you throw in that one of those scholarship players is Ernie Duncan, who is coming off what seems like a chronic back issue, and the season is going to require some luck to reach the heights that this program is accustomed to. In no way does this mean that McRoberts should make a different decision. He has to do what is best for him in his life and if basketball is no longer making him happy, he should pursue whatever will make him happy. The timing of his decision puts a huge burden on the coaching staff. It is going to be very hard to find a player who is available for the upcoming season. It is going to be even harder to find a player who is ready to contribute right away. On top of all that, Becker values fit and attitude (as well he should) more than anything and any player that is added this late in the game is a risky proposition. There is no limit to how one player can disrupt the chemistry of an entire team and sometimes when forced to make a quick decision, mistakes can be made. This situation reminds me of when Four McGlynn announced very late that he was going to leave Vermont. The coaching staff scrambled and found Trey Blue. On the court he was a decent contributor. I felt (and this is purely my opinion) that Trey really seemed to hurt the chemistry of the team and there were times where you could tell that the rest of the team was very frustrated with the way Trey played. Who knows how true that perception is but my point is most of the guys that are still available are available for a reason. The coaching staff certainly has their work cut out for them and it will be very interesting to see how they fill this scholarship.

Vermont lands Middlebury transfer Dylan Sinnickson

Just before summer practices start Vermont was able to finalize their roster for the upcoming season. Dylan Sinnickson a 6-5/195 small forward who has been playing his college ball down the road at Middlebury will join the team as a walk on. As a graduate transfer Sinnickson will be able to play in the upcoming season. By using the open scholarships on transfers who will be eligible starting in the 2016-2017 season, Vermont was left with a thin roster. As demonstrated with the glut of injuries at the beginning of last season, having depth is very important. With no scholarships to fill that last spot on the roster, the coaching staff had to get creative. This move is a clear home run in my book (I had to work in a baseball reference as Sinnickson was  also a star baseball player at Middlebury). This move is the epitome of low-risk, high reward. Getting a walk on who has already played several years at any level of college basketball is a huge plus. Throw in that Sinnickson is very good and an exceptional athlete who played two college sports, and Vermont has themselves a solid insurance plan. At minimum, Sinnickson will be able to push the young guys hard in practice. If called upon due to injury he should give those valuable 6 to 8 minutes and at best he becomes a solid back end rotation player. The only possible downside would be that he steals some minutes from a few of the young guys and they get frustrated with a lack of playing time. What it boils down to is that this late in the game getting a player with this much experience and potential without having to use a scholarship is an impressive move by the coaching staff. As far as possible on the court impact, Sinnickson is a very tough, gritty player who is an exceptional rebounder. He will have to adjust to being undersized but he is a max effort player who will still have an impact on the glass. He is also a decent enough shooter that he can't be left open. I watched several Middlebury games this past season where he demonstrated a relentless motor and a nose for the ball. If he does see the court I could see some parts of his game translating purely due to the fact that he outworks everyone on the court. This off season is going to be difficult as November seems so far away.......

Another Tulane transfer commits to Vermont

Vermont landed a 6-8 transfer from Tulane....stop me if you have heard this before.

In a somewhat surprising move Payton Henson a 6-8 215 pound forward committed to the Vermont basketball team as a transfer. I say it is surprising because I think it is somewhat rare for two players from the same school transfer together to another school. It seems even more unlikely that those two players would also play the same position. This certainly helps to further solidify the frontcourt after Ethan O'Day graduates. As for a impact, time will tell. I stated in my last post that judging a transfer's ability to contribute is nearly impossible. Henson actually played the 5th most minutes on the Tulane team last year despite coming off the bench in every game. He posted modest averages of 6.2 points and 3.9 rebounds in 18 mpg. If you believe in advanced statistical projections, that puts him at 13/8 per 40 minutes. So he was a productive member of the team and a regular rotation player. As of right now all that means is that he has significant game experience. After watching his high school highlights he looks to have decent skills. He handles the ball fairly well and finishes around the rim. Looks to have a serviceable outside shot and plays with his head up. At Tulane he really struggled to shoot the ball and it seems like that limited his minutes. He looked a little slow and methodical in the highlights and that was against high school competition. This does again look like the type of player that could find success in the America East. This makes the 2016-2017 team makeup very interesting. The frontcourt goes from looking very thin to having several bodies battling for playing time. Time will tell if this will lead to a winning team on the court. 

Vermont lands transfer Josh Hearlihy

Finally some news!!! First off I would like to apologize for my poor blogging at the end of the season. My schedule was very out of whack and as a result I did not blog to my fullest potential. Now on to some news.

I have been waiting and obsessively searching the web for recruiting news ever since Brendan Kilpatrick's scholarship opened up. I wish good luck to Brendan and hope that he will find a way to stay healthy. The long and arduous wait has finally come to a close today with Vermont landing 6-8 forward Josh Hearlihy, a transfer from Tulane. Josh will have two years of eligibility left when he joins the team for the 2016-2017 season. Josh's basketball story is quite unique. Before his senior season of high school basketball in California, he committed to play basketball for Utah in the Pac-12. During his senior season he was dealing with health issues stemming from a rapid growth spurt. His health issues combined with a very poor season for Utah caused the Utes to reconsider their scholarship offer. This resulted in Utah asking Josh to release THEM from their scholarship obligation. I have never heard of this happening and I sure hope it doesn't happen very often. What a terrible thing to do. So he decides to prep at Northfield Mount Hermon before attending Tulane. While at Tulane he barely played and scored a whopping 43 points in two years. Now he comes to Vermont to try and solidify a patchwork frontcourt that will be replacing Ethan O'Day. In watching his highlights from NMH, he handles the ball very well for a big man. He showed some good court presence and a nice lefty jumper. He seems like like the type of smart, tough player that finds success at Vermont. He is not very athletic and a little on the thin side but his game is very reminiscent of Matt Glass. I have stopped really trying to judge a transfer's impact as it seems like a futile endeavor. Until they step on the court and play in meaningful games, judging their team fit is impossible. Ryan Pierson put up decent numbers at Northeastern and never produced for Vermont. So what does this mean for Vermont? Becker is clearly comfortable with the team he is going to have for this season. A few weeks ago when asked about recruiting, Becker said he wanted kids he "loved" not just liked. I completely agree with this line of thinking and this move tells me that there were very few 2015 big men available late that Becker felt would fit. More than many other college coaches, Becker focuses on the players fit on the team as a whole. He believes chemistry on and off the court is important and wants every player to contribute to the "family atmosphere" Becker emphasizes. This does however put some significant pressure on Drew Urquhart and Darren Payen. Drew U looked very good at the end of last season and if he can build on that success it will go a long way to solidifying the frontcourt. The wildcard in all this is Darren Payen, the 6-8 transfer from Hofstra who sat out this past season. If he can make an immediate impact the frontcourt may even be stronger than last year. Payen is the key to next years team. Accepting this transfer signals to me that Becker feels that Payen can make an impact. It is going to be a very long wait for the upcoming season. At least Vermont offered several prospects for 2016 and beyond this week to jumpstart the recruit watch all over again.

CBI first round: Vermont at Hofstra 3/18/15

Vermont 85 Hofstra 81

Sorry for the long layoff. I never got around to recapping the Stony Brook game but I am back!

Vermont played tough on the road against a very good Hofstra team and got a win in the first round of the CBI. No matter what level of postseason play, it is a great experience for this young team to be playing this time of year. To win the way that Vermont won is even more impressive. Vermont led the entire game and each time Hofstra made it close, Vermont was able to respond. They forced Hofstra to take contested threes all night and had their way on the offensive end. Vermont again struggled at the free throw line which made it interesting down the stretch, but they were able to come up with enough plays to win. Becker played this game to win but at the same time let the young guys play more minutes and tinkered with some different lineups. The bench mob stepped up in a big way and looked confident on the court. Drew Urquhart continues to improve and I believe he will be the player that makes a significant sophomore jump next season. Zach McRoberts also played a very good game, setting a new career high with 13 points. It is tough to remain focused after a week off and Vermont came out strong from the opening tip. The most impressive aspect of the game for Vermont was the quick and decisive ball movement. I don't know if it was a product of Hofstra's poor defense or the 30 second shot clock (or both), but it was the best I have seen the Cats move the ball all year. Vermont passed the ball efficiently and seemed to be in attack mode for the full 40 minutes. They didn't settle for threes and really pounded the ball inside.  Now they await their next opponent and there is a chance that they might host the game. It would be great to see them make a bit of a run in this tournament because it would give them a great boost going into next season.

America East Quarterfinals vs UMBC

Vermont 66 UMBC 39

Vermont took care of business by systematically demolishing UMBC. On the defensive side of the ball, Vermont extended their defense 30 feet from the hoop and made UMBC scramble on every possession. That type of defensive intensity is a must during the tournament. On the offensive side of the ball Hector Harold broke out of a shooting slump and knocked down 4/5 threes. It is key for Harold to hit his first shot as it lifts his confidence and he is more willing to take shots for the rest of the game. He needed a confidence booster as Vermont will need his shooting against Stony Brook on Sunday. The other take away from the UMBC game is the strong late season play of Drew Urquhart. He has now played double digit minutes in three consecutive games. During his minutes he has looked more confident and is avoiding making the glaring metal mistakes that resulted in him getting buried on the bench every game. Drew U has a wealth of talent and he is peaking at the right time.

The Stony Brook game will be a tough, hard fought playoff game. It is very difficult to beat a team three times in a season and the Seawolves are going to be very motivated to exact some revenge. Vermont has to stay focused on executing each possession and maintaining the even keeled approach that has served them well this year. The keys to the game will be rebounding and the three point line. Vermont has to hold their own on the boards and knock down open perimeter looks. Vermont has also done a very good job at not letting the role players beat them in either Stony Brook game. This is important because it allows Jameel Warney to "get his" without it affecting the overall defensive strategy. Coming out with energy and going on that first run in important against a good team at home.

Vermont at Albany 2/28/15

Albany 79 Vermont 73

With the seeds all locked up this game was going to be a walk through for both teams right?

(laugh track)

When rivals meet there is always something on the line. The two most dominant programs of the last 15 years played another hard fought physical game with Albany coming out the victor. It was a good game and even though Vermont's defense was sub-par it was nice to see a game where both teams put points on the board. The game was back a forth throughout with the free throw line emerging as the deciding factor. Albany made 29-38 free throws while Vermont struggled to a 15-27 effort. The free throw line continues to cause difficulties for the Cats as it seems like the free throw shooting is contagious. When Vermont is shooting well, it seems to lift everyone above their percentages. When the shots aren't falling even the good free throw shooters miss a few. Albany shot lights out, particularly in the second half where they shot 5/6 from three. Vermont fell apart in the second half committing 11 turnovers. They definitely looked like the more inexperienced team. Even with all of the struggles, Vermont hung around and there were many positive takeaways that can only help Vermont if they end up playing at Albany in the finals. After struggling mightily on offense in the first meeting, Vermont was able to find driving lanes and get to the rim. Ethan O'Day shook off a slow start and ended up with 19 points and 8 rebounds. Dre Wills had several nice finishes around the rim and Kurt Steidl also looked good, particularly on the glass. Vermont as a team dominated Albany on the glass 39-26 including 18-5 on the offensive glass. That is an encouraging sign against a very good rebounding Albany team. Drew Urquhart was given extended minutes and looked as good as he has all year. If he is able to give Vermont ten good minutes per game it will be a huge lift. The most concerning thing for this Vermont team is Hector Harold's lackluster play. He is in a stretch right now where he is averaging only 16 minutes per game. He has had at least 4 fouls in four straight games and is shooting 8-20 from the field. Many of those misses have been in close and it is clearly starting to affect Harold. His body language has been terrible the last two games and he is playing with zero energy. He has to give Vermont more in the playoffs. For the young players it was good to get their feet wet in an environment they hope to be playing in two weeks from today. Now it is on to the quarterfinals and a matchup with UMBC. It is going to interesting to see how this young team responds to playoff basketball for the first time.

UNH at Vermont 2/25/15

Vermont 64 UNH 49

One play changed the course of the entire game. UNH was pulling away and Vermont was struggling to score on offense. With Dre Wills cramping and Ethan O'Day dealing with foul trouble (again), Becker turned to an all freshman lineup in the biggest moment of the biggest game of the season. What a gutsy move by Becker and it continues to show that he believes in his players and will give them a chance to prove themselves no matter the situation. Drew Urquhart drove to the hoop and put up a tough shot that caromed off the rim. Things were looking bleak, the crowd was quiet, and then Zach McRoberts rose up and threw down a ferocious put back dunk to ignite the crowd and awaken the Cats. Now the dunk should not have counted because McRoberts touched the rim with his off hand before the dunk, resulting in a missed offensive goal-tending call. This missed call (of which there were many) enraged the UNH coach and as a result he received a technical foul. Trae Bell-Haynes calmly knocked down both free throws and what was a three point deficit turned into a one point lead. From that moment on Vermont could not be stopped. Bell-Haynes, or one.man.run as I often refer to him, made it seem like the court was tilted to the home side as he relentlessly drove the ball to the hoop, finishing at the rim, knocking down his free throws, and finding open teammates for dunks. When the dust settled, Bell-Haynes finished with 21 points and Vermont clinched the number two seed in the upcoming conference tournament. Just a tremendous accomplishment for the Vermont program who were supposed to be in a "rebuilding" year and who lost their top freshman recruit early in the season. Overcoming obstacles has been the story of this season for the Vermont program as I can not remember a year when a Vermont team faced more difficulties both in basketball and in life. Regardless of the results from this point on, this team has proved that they will carry the torch of the Vermont program and remain at the top of the conference. The most impressive thing has been the defense. Most prognosticators (me included) were expecting a significant defensive drop off. With young players learning a new system the deck was stacked against Vermont dominating defensively. Then somehow, they are better than last year. They have been an absolute force on the defensive end and their entire defensive identity was on display in the second half of the game. UNH didn't make a shot after the 14:57 point in the second half. Holding a team from making a shot for 15 minutes of game time is quite a feat. Time and time again this year they have shown the ability to completely lock teams up. With Wills and O'Day as rim protectors and the active hands of McRoberts, Vermont makes teams take tough contested shots on nearly every possession. They are flirting with being top 10 nationally in points allowed. Just amazing stuff. During the crucial part of the game Drew Urquhart played his best minutes in a long time. Vermont had been getting pushed around at the start of the second half and Urquhart came in with the tenacity that was needed. He got tough rebounds, attacked the rim, and didn't give anything easy underneath. For Drew U to remain focused through the struggles he has had this year is a testament to his resolve. It was nice to see him play well as he has loads of potential. Now the Cats can go into the Albany game and play free and easy. It will be a good test game to get some experience playing in a tough environment. Great day to be a fan of the Vermont program.

Binghamton Recap/New Hampshire Preview

Binghamton 57 Vermont 55

Another trip to Binghamton ends in disappointment. Vermont struggled to execute down the stretch and Binghamton made the plays they needed to pull out the victory. Vermont went up by 10 in the second half and you could almost see the players take their foot off the gas. I believe that the thought of a number one seed crept into the players minds and they lost focus on finishing the game. I give all the credit to Binghamton as they never quit and executed a perfect game plan. They pressed the entire game and switched defenses throughout, which confused the young Vermont players and forced them into making more impulsive decisions. On offense, Binghamton took care of the ball and almost exclusively went one on one, exploiting whatever match-up problem they had created. This was the first Vermont game all year where Becker could not find an effective combination of players. If not for Jordan Reed's transfer and several key injuries, I believe Binghamton would have been very competitive this year. They are the most athletic team in the conference and Tommy Dempsey's style is very different than any other team in the America East. Binghamton is definitely putting the pieces together to be competitive in this league in the coming years. Hopefully this game serves to refocus Vermont and they will hold serve at home against UNH.

The game on Wednesday night now becomes the most important game of the regular season. With a win the Binghamton loss is forgotten and Vermont clinches the two seed. This is the seed I would prefer the Cats to have for several reasons. The first is a superstitious one. Vermont's playoff success has most often come as the two seed and the America East Championship in general has favored the underdogs. The second reason is I don't want too much too quickly for this group. They have far exceeded expectations and being the number one seed would place undue pressure on them to win it all or be left disappointed. The last reason is I would rather they were the underdogs in the championship game (if they make it that far). Seeing the last group fold under pressure makes me want to be rooting for an underdog, especially considering they will be expected to be very good next year and wont be able to play the underdog card again for a while. The UNH game is definitely a pressure situation and Senior night always adds another element to the game. This is the opportunity they have been working for all year and I feel like they will have learned form the Binghamton game and come our with renewed passion.

As a final note three years ago when Vermont won the America East Championship, they lost late in the season to a winless Binghamton squad by an eerily similar score of 57-53. Serendipity? I guess time will tell.

UMBC at Vermont 2/14/15

Vermont 74 UMBC 51

Vermont felt the love in Patrick Gym on Valentine's day and came away with another dominating win. In the early going, UMBC was knocking down shots and getting whatever they wanted at the offensive end. Becker took a time out when the score was 19-13 and whatever he said energized the Cats and they came out and got back to playing their trademark lockdown defense. From that point on the result was what you would expect in a game where the talent and depth disparity between the two teams is that significant. Ethan O'Day is on an absolute tear. He is in the zone and all aspects of his game are clicking. O'Day is hitting the boards and making quick aggressive decisions with the ball. Over the last 3 games he stayed out of foul trouble (finally) and has shot 26-35 (74%) from the field. His rebounding numbers have also been steadily on the rise as his game is peaking at the right time. Dre Wills changed the game when he attacked the basket relentlessly and finished strong at the rim. Cam Ward continues to improve and impress game after game. He is the best playmaker on the team because he has a rare combination of control and aggressiveness. Over his last three games he has 14 assists and only 1 turnover in 24 minutes per game. In fact, Ward has had multiple turnovers in only 4 games this season.  For a freshman point guard that is quite an accomplishment. Throw in the fact that he is shooting 43% percent from three and you have a very valuable player. His emergence has been key for when Trae Bell-Haynes starts to turn to ball over. Becker can quickly make the switch and calm the offense down.  The Vermont offense looks smooth and efficient right now. During the stretch of the conference schedule where they struggled to hit shots, everyone looked like they were rushing and their body language when they missed was as if each shot was the game winner. The Cats now look confident and are playing far more free and easy. The game at Binghamton makes me wary because the last group always struggled to play well there. I am hoping that this group can change that mojo and take care of business. A win would make senior night a very intriguing game as Vermont will try to get revenge against UNH and clinch at least a second place finish. This Tuesday is one of the few chances for Albany to slip up as they host Stony Brook. If they were to lose that game and Vermont wins their next two, the last game of the season at Albany could be for first place in the conference. There will be a lot of shuffling at the top as the teams march toward the America East championship.

UMass Lowell at Vermont 2/11/15

Vermont 96 UMass Lowell 53

Wow.

It is not very often that i am left speechless, but this game was one of those times. I have never seen a team shoot the ball the way Vermont did in this game. For a team that has had its fair share of shooting woes this year, the Cats sure put it all together in one record setting game. Lowell was down several of their best players and struggled to put a division one lineup out on the floor. In years past and earlier this season, Vermont struggled and often played down to their opponents level. It was encouraging to see the Cats come out with purpose and drive from the opening tip and flat out dominate a game. No matter the level of competition the shooting display was one of historic levels. Seven different players hit a three pointer en route to a 16-21 night from the three point line. The 16 makes were one off the Vermont record for threes in a game and the 76% shooting from three is a new single game record. Only one of the threes (Hector Harold's bank shot) hit anything other than net. Vermont is brimming with confidence after their huge comeback win over Stony Brook and when this team is playing with confidence they are very dangerous. Coming anywhere near to repeating this performance is near impossible but it does showcase what this team can do when they are hitting shots. The defense has been there night in and night out and has put them in a position to compete for a title. If the shooting comes around at the right time, Vermont is going to be tough to beat. Cam Ward continues to impress as he had a perfect shooting night. Ward was 4-4 (all from three) and 2-2 from the line for a remarkably efficient 14 points. He also dished out 5 assists and created numerous other scoring opportunities with his heady, fearless style. The one two punch of him and Trae Bell-Haynes is a luxury that any team in the country would love to have. Speaking of Bell- Haynes, he is now 8-15 for the year from three. Maybe he should take a few more from the outside. Brandon Hatton had his second strong game in a row and is looking more and more confident on the court, Zach McRoberts continues to do the little things with his hustle and nose for the ball. Even in a blowout he was playing hard and diving all over the floor. I would also like to give a big shout out to walk on David Urso who scored his first collegiate points on (what else) a beautiful three pointer in transition. This team looks to be improving at the right time and has everything out in front of them to clinch a second place finish. The important piece is to take care of business against UMBC and Binghamton. Then the home game against UNH on February 25th becomes the clincher for second place. If Albany drops a game between now and then the last game of the season could be a battle for the top spot. There is a lot of basketball to play and Vermont is looking like a team heading in the right direction as the playoffs approach.

Vermont at Stony Brook 2/7/15

Vermont 57 Stony Brook 48

In a week where the Vermont program has been on an emotional roller coaster the Cats rode that roller coaster to an incredible comeback victory against Stony Brook. The first half was easily the work half of basketball a John Becker coached team has ever had. Even the most optimistic fan would have been tempted to shut off the television. Vermont then opened the second half and promptly went down by 17 points. Things were looking bleak and it was easy to think that the weight of the week had finally caught up to the Cats. Then all of a sudden little by little Vermont began to find their offense. With the defense forcing turnovers and keeping Stony Brook off the offensive glass, Vermont was finally able to find some driving lanes and get to the hoop. My rule when making a comeback is as long as the number of points a team is down is equal to or less than the number of minutes left in a game, that team is still in the game. Shots finally started to fall and Vermont dug deep. Cam Ward hit the first three of the game and cut the deficit to single digits. He always seems to be the guy that hit shots when no one else is. From that point on it was the Brandon Hatton and Ethan O'Day show. They scored 20 of Vermont's last 23 points. Brandon Hatton broke out of a long slump and he did it by putting the ball on the floor and getting to the hoop. This was a savvy move by him and is the hallmark of an experienced basketball player. Hatton's three point shooting has not been consistent and he needed to find a different way to jump start his scoring. Putting the ball on the floor has been something he had shown in flashes throughout the year. In this game he was decisive and looking to score every time he touched the ball. Ethan O'Day was also more assertive than I have seen him this year and played like a man possessed in the second half. When he touched the ball he was looking to attack and most of his points came off drives to the rim and perimeter jumpers. He relentlessly went after Jameel Warney and used his quickness to create space to score. This Vermont team has tremendous guts and never quits. No matter how they are playing or what the situation, they believe they have a chance to win and find the strength to overcome whatever they are struggling with. This win is HUGE. This gives them a two game separation from Stony Brook and they finally got over the hump and won a game where they were down big. Vermont is now firmly in the drivers seat for the second seed in the conference. With Josh Speidel in their hearts and home playoff games on their minds, Vermont is poised to overcome any obstacle that comes their way down the final stretch of the season.

#joshstrong game

Vermont 68 Maine 49

There are moments as a fan that make you take a step back and realize that basketball is just a game. On Sunday Vermont recruit Josh Speidel was involved in a car accident that has put him in critical condition with a head injury. Having followed Josh's senior season very closely and watched several of his games online, he is already part of the Catamount family. That is what this Vermont program is all about, family. When tragedy strikes a family, the community around them rises up and supports the family and each other. The overwhelming response from his own community and his future Catamount community shows all of the good that there is in the world. It is always hard to understand why the world works in the way it does and it is nice to see so many people support a young man going through the most difficult moment in his life. If you would like to contribute to the fundraising efforts for the Speidel family here is the link #joshstrong. I hope that everyone keeps Josh in their thoughts and prayers and wishes him a speedy recovery.

Vermont at Hartford 1/31/15

Vermont 65 Hartford 46

Vermont went on the road and bounced back after a tough loss at home to Albany by dominating Hartford in the second half. For much of the first 30 minutes of the game, it looked like the struggles were going to continue. Vermont was playing great defense but was still struggling to make shots on the offensive end. Then all of a sudden the shots started to fall. Kurt Steidl finally found his rhythm and led Vermont with 16 points. It must have felt good for him to see a few shots go down because he has been in quite a slump. Even better for him to do it in front of friends and family. Vermont forced Hartford into tough contested shots for much of the game and Hartford struggled to get their footing after their top player Mark Nwakamma went down with an knee injury early in the game. Vermont is definitely still trying to rediscover their mojo on offense but their defense is locked in. They have allowed 50, 47, and 46 points respectively, in their last three games. That is elite level defense. Besides the great game from Steidl the other two standout players were Cam Ward and Zach McRoberts. Ward carried the offense in the first half and was all over the defensive glass. The smallest player on Vermont's roster finished with 13 rebounds. Pure grit and effort from Ward who provided a calming presence to Vermont and has been a great floor leader all season. McRoberts continues to provide a huge boost off the bench and is becoming a great offensive rebounder. His fingerprints were all over this game as he posted a 11 pt, 6rb, 3ast night. His basketball IQ is tremendous and he is one of those players who sees things before they happen. I will say it again that he will be the difference for Vermont down the stretch. What I hope Vermont can take away from this game is the feeling of relief. When the shots started to fall in the second half you could see the weight being lifted off the Cats shoulders. At the end of the Catamount TV highlights, Dre Wills humorously interviews Ward about his newfound rebounding prowess. It is a nice lighthearted moment and there needs to be more of that for Vermont to be successful. If the Cats can take this feeling with them and take care of business against Maine, I hope they can go into the Stony Brook game loose and play like they did against them at home. They were pumped up and seemed to relish the underdog role in that game. A good win on the road today and the first step in the Cats refocusing and taking the season one game at a time.