Gulf Coast Showcase: Hofstra vs Vermont

Vermont 87 Hofstra 73

Ernie Duncan poured in a career high 33 points on 7-10 shooting from three leading the Cats to a victory in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase. Duncan was unbelievable in this game. Hitting from all over the court, driving into the lane, and knocking down his free throws. Duncan broke out of his mini-slump in a big way and showed what a difference maker he can be. Just an amazing performance. For the second straight game the Vermont defense looked sharp. The energy from the Cats in the first half was tremendous. They were diving all over the floor and imposing their will on Hofstra.  The rotations are getting sharper and they have really cleaned up the defense around the three point line, forcing Hofstra to shoot 4-19 from deep. Vermont's passing was another bright spot in tonight's game. There were several beautiful pick and rolls and players were really finding cutters in the lane. The Cats only turned the ball over nine times and were really strong with the ball for much of the game. Payton Henson continued to be a workhorse scoring 16 points on 7-9 shooting and leading Vermont with 8 rebounds. He has been so consistent and has such tremendous offensive versatility. This game was a glimpse of how strong Vermont could be this year. They have an efficient offense that is versatile and scoring can come from many different sources. If the defense continues to improve, Vermont is going to be able to make it very tough on their opponents. The balance that they have been searching for the last few seasons is starting to come together. Now it is on to the championship game against the winner of Houston and South Dakota. Houston looks very strong and is a little out of place in this mid-major tournament. It will be great for this team to play for a championship even if it is a small November tourney. The experience and mental preparation in a tournament like this is crucial for the stretch run late in the season. The live feed on YouTube has be great for this tournament and I can't wait for tomorrow nights game. 7:30pm sharp. Go Cats Go!!!!