Have no fear loyal readers, I have not disappeared! For the first time since I started this blog there was no interesting information in the offseason. No Canadian tours, no transfers, and no commitments. I had such a hard time dealing with the lack of information, my life felt so empty. Now it is only two weeks until games return and I finally have some information to post about. Before I get to the preview of how I think the league will finish, I would like to quickly talk about the lack of recruiting info. There has been a lot of grumbling about the lack of movement in getting the 2017 class together. I can understand the frustration as for several years there have been numerous and exciting commitments to Vermont basketball. The reason that recruiting has been so successful over the past few year was due to the immediate playing time that was available. One of the biggest selling points during recruiting has to go something like "You could go to a higher profile program and sit the bench or.......come to Vermont and play right away". That line is not available for this class because the team will be extremely senior heavy in the 2017-2018 season. The 2017 class is more likely to include a transfer or a "project player" rather than an instant impact freshman. The 2018 recruiting class will be the one that is more likely to include some instant impact, more high profile recruits. Another thing to keep in mind is that Ben Shungu and Kian Dalyrimple are also really part of the 2017 class as they as supposed to redshirt this year. Now on to this season and how I think it will play out.
1. Vermont
The Catamounts have all the pieces in place to make a run to the title. They have a deep and experienced roster who are hungry for more after losing tight games to Stony Brook in the tournament the last two years. The team will be well rounded as they will add some frontcourt depth to go along with the already deep backcourt. Vermont checks every box in the title contender survey. The question really becomes how will this team handle being the chased as opposed to the chaser. The pressure is very different when as a team you are the preseason favorite as I believe Vermont will be. Games begin to mean a little more and the chatter from the fans and the media gets a little louder. Vermont has experienced several significant postseason disappointments since their last title and there is a significant amount of pressure on this group to deliver. If the Catamounts continue to handle adversity this season as they have over the last couple seasons, they will give themselves a chance to bring home the trophy.
2. New Hampshire
If Vermont can check all the contender boxes, New Hampshire can check almost all the boxes. The Wildcats also return an experienced and battle tested roster. They have been knocking at the door in recent years and finally look poised to break through and break up the Albany, Stony Brook, Vermont stranglehold at the top. The question will be did they add enough shooting to make that leap possible. Last year their difficulty making shots consistently really put them in tough situations, particularly against the upper echelon teams. If their offense becomes more efficient, they will be fighting for the top spot.
3. Albany
No matter what happens, Will Brown finds a way to put together a contender. Losing the big three from a year ago including the heart and soul of the team Peter Hooley, ushers in change for the Great Danes. Albany's task, as is seems to be every year, will be to integrate a tremendous amount of new players to their system. Will Brown has proved he is the wizard of roster turnover and I have no doubt he will do it once again. As with every year, Albany will be a great unknown when the season starts and by the end of the season will be playing their best basketball.
4. Binghamton
Will this be the year they put it together? I have seen some other lists picking the Bearcats as a sleeper in the league this year. Binghamton played tough defense last year but struggled to score consistently. The buzz is that the new additions to the roster will upgrade the offense and push them into contention. I will say the same thing I said last year: I will believe it when I see it. I know I am picking them fourth but that is more due to the losses that several other borderline teams have experienced. After the top three I believe there will be a significant drop off in consistent performance. Every year Binghamton is picked to break through. Every year they experience an obstacle that prevents them from getting there. Time will tell if this really is the year.
5. UMass-Lowell
UMass-Lowell took a significant step forward last year and looked ready to compete for a title. They shoot the ball at a high level and run a very smooth offense. Their defense still left a lot to be desired but they swept Vermont and played very competitively all season. This is their last year of postseason ineligibility and they look poised to be a legitimate contender in 2017-2018.
6. Stony Brook
I had Stony Brook as the fourth place finisher until the news of Ahmad Walker's suspension and possible dismissal. They already have to replace most of their team and Walker was poised to be a significant part of the new look Seawolves. With his status up in the air, Stony Brook has too many question marks.
7. Hartford
Another team dealing with a significant loss which is a theme for teams in the bottom half. Before Pancake Thomas transferred, Hartford was poised to build off their big upset of Albany in last years quarterfinals. Instead they are looking to replace their best player on team that already struggled with depth and balanced scoring.
8. UMBC
They have Jairus Lyles who is most likely going to lead the league in scoring and after that, many question marks. Many of the other players on the roster have failed to live up to expectations and the Retrievers are replacing their entire starting frontcourt. The top half of the league continues to be strong in the frontcourt and that does not bode well for the Retrievers chances.
9. Maine
Another year, another exodus in Orono. With Kevin Little and Issac Vann transferring, the cupboards are once again bare for the Black Bears. It is very difficult to build a successful program when the most promising players continually leave. Maine is another team that has a very thin frontcourt in a league that will be decided in the paint.
Well there you have it. A few thoughts on the league. I will be writing up each exhibition game and a Vermont specific preview will follow before the start of the non conference. Only two more weeks and then basketball is back. Thank goodness.
No comments:
Post a Comment