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.
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Thursday, February 26, 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
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.
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.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
#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.
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.
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