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.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
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!!!!
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!!!!
Sunday, November 22, 2015
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.
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.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
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.
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.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
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.
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.
Friday, November 13, 2015
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.
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.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
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.
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.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
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.
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.
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.
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!!
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!!
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