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.
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