Vermont 71 Richmond 65
Good teams win even when they are not at their best.
Vermont shook off an uncharacteristically sloppy game and executed down the stretch for a nice win against Richmond. It is their first win over an A10 opponent since 2008 and their first road win over an A10 opponent since 1976. Another example of the current trajectory of this team and the Vermont program. The early injury to Trae Bell-Haynes seemed to take the life out of the Cats. Bell-Haynes ended up playing the rest of the game with a sleeve on his knee but looked hobbled and a step slow. He gutted it out because he is a fierce competitor and I hope that he is okay. These next two games are very tough and his health with have a significant impact on the Cats game plan. Bell-Haynes and Payton Henson struggled in this one but kept fighting and never got down on themselves. Bell-Haynes fought through the injury and committing 6 turnovers to knock down two crucial free throws. Henson struggled to score but pulled down a team high 8 rebounds. Ernie Duncan was the star of this game. He knocked down big shots all night en route to 21 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. He was 5/8 from three and hit a layup to beat the shot clock buzzer down the stretch to squash the Spiders comeback bid. His willingness to go to the rim and shoot off the dribble more this season is making him a more dangerous scorer. No longer can teams just treat him as a shooter and close him out hard at the three point line. Anthony Lamb also had a strong game finishing with 14 points and 6 rebounds. He has clearly been working on how to make quick decisions when a double team is coming as that area has improved since his early season struggles. Both Cam Ward and Everett Duncan hit big threes in the second half. It was nice to see Ward get one to go down. Overall it was a very inconsistent game for the Cats. Several times it looked like they were poised to take control of the game, only to let Richmond crawl back in. Some poor shot selection and bad live ball turnovers really disrupted the flow of Vermont's offense. They are going to need a much tighter more complete effort on Saturday night against Bucknell. That will be a marquee mid-major matchup between two of the top mid-major programs in the country. Catamount fans should take a moment and reflect on what Vermont has accomplished thus far this season. To be 6-1 with the schedule they have played is impressive. They have played one of the most difficult schedules in the country up until this point and keep finding ways to win. An incredible start to the season and a great opportunity against another top notch opponent on Saturday night.
Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Saturday, November 25, 2017
Vermont at Yale 11/25/17
Vermont 79 Yale 73
Vermont kicked off their 5 game road trip with a nice win over Yale. Anthony Lamb led the way with 22 points and 7 rebounds. He took advantage of Yale's lack of size and dominated on the inside. He threw in a couple of blocks on the defensive end controlling the game at both ends of the floor. Payton Henson was right their with him scoring 19 points of his own including 3-5 from three. Henson looks quicker and more athletic this year. He has been particularly strong on the offensive glass grabbing three more offensive rebounds in this game. Ernie Duncan threw in 12 points and continues to improve on the defensive end. Always stays in front, takes charges, and is a general bother to opposing players. He gets into passing lanes when he is off the ball and cuts off drives very effectively when he is on the ball. Everett Duncan continues his strong rebounding as he was second on the team with 5 including what seemed like all the big ones down the stretch. Trae Bell-Haynes struggled throughout the game but hit a big shot late and dished out 10 assists for the second time in his career. He got the ball to guys in great spots in this game and played tough despite his struggles. In four career games against Yale, Bell-Haynes struggled to only a 6 points per game average. They are certainly one of the few teams who was consistently able to bother him throughout his career. Now it is off to Richmond to face the Spiders. Always a tough place to play against a very strong Atlantic 10 program. The Cats passed test number one and are ready for whats next. As a final thought, I know comparing game scores in not a very sound way of assessing performance at all but Albany beat Yale by an almost identical score of 80-72. The Albany/Vermont battles are going to be epic this season.
Vermont kicked off their 5 game road trip with a nice win over Yale. Anthony Lamb led the way with 22 points and 7 rebounds. He took advantage of Yale's lack of size and dominated on the inside. He threw in a couple of blocks on the defensive end controlling the game at both ends of the floor. Payton Henson was right their with him scoring 19 points of his own including 3-5 from three. Henson looks quicker and more athletic this year. He has been particularly strong on the offensive glass grabbing three more offensive rebounds in this game. Ernie Duncan threw in 12 points and continues to improve on the defensive end. Always stays in front, takes charges, and is a general bother to opposing players. He gets into passing lanes when he is off the ball and cuts off drives very effectively when he is on the ball. Everett Duncan continues his strong rebounding as he was second on the team with 5 including what seemed like all the big ones down the stretch. Trae Bell-Haynes struggled throughout the game but hit a big shot late and dished out 10 assists for the second time in his career. He got the ball to guys in great spots in this game and played tough despite his struggles. In four career games against Yale, Bell-Haynes struggled to only a 6 points per game average. They are certainly one of the few teams who was consistently able to bother him throughout his career. Now it is off to Richmond to face the Spiders. Always a tough place to play against a very strong Atlantic 10 program. The Cats passed test number one and are ready for whats next. As a final thought, I know comparing game scores in not a very sound way of assessing performance at all but Albany beat Yale by an almost identical score of 80-72. The Albany/Vermont battles are going to be epic this season.
Thursday, November 23, 2017
Maine-Fort Kent wrap-up/Road trip preview
Vermont 90 Maine-Fort Kent 54
The starters got some much needed rest and the bench got a chance to show their stuff in Vermont's win over Maine-Fort Kent. The sub division one game on the schedule is always a tough one to gauge. The challenges of getting home games means that this game is going to continue to be part of the schedule. Some years they are tough to watch, and some years they serve a good purpose. This year was the latter as the Cats were coming off a tough weekend tournament and are about to embark on a 5 game road trip. This Vermont team also needs time to develop a bench and what better way to get the bench some playing time than in a game that is clearly in hand. The bench development is very much a work in progress and this game cemented that the starters are going to be playing big minutes this year. As long as guys stay healthy that is not necessarily a negative as having the best players on the court as much as possible is a good thing. It is just a big shift from how Vermont teams have been typically constructed over the past few years. This game was much like an audition for minutes and I though Ben Shungu looked really good in his first real game action. He is strong and a good finisher around the rim. He used his year off to work on his shot and it does look much improved. The battle between him and Stef Smith for minutes is going to be a interesting thing to follow as the season wears on. They each bring a different skill set and both have the ability to contribute. Samuel Dingba got his first game action as a Catamount and worked off some of his rust. On the one hand he has a ridiculous wingspan which makes him both a threat on the glass and as a shot blocker. On the other hand he is wild and struggles to gather the ball. He has the chance to work his way into minutes as a defensive specialist due to the lack of frontcourt depth. Dingba has a long way to go before he gets there as he tries to get up to speed after the year off. Cam Ward as of right now looks like the odd man out. He struggled to contribute last season and so far it has carried over to this season. He is struggling to make shots and is not playing with confidence. He has shown in the past he can be a big time contributor and I hope before the end of the season he finds his way again. Now the Cats gets to enjoy a nice Thanksgiving before heading off on a grueling five game road trip. None of the games are going to be a cakewalk and Bucknell/Marquette is a particularly difficult two game stretch. This makes the Yale game to kick it off very important. Yale has lost two major contributors to injuries but is still a very talented team. Road games are tough to win no matter what and Vermont is going to have to find a way to get off to better starts than they have thus far this season. Falling behind on the road can be a particularly difficult thing to overcome. As far as the chance for big wins and having a good non conference record goes, this is the stretch. Each of these games is a real test and this is their best opportunity for some strong wins. They have been close to getting that signature non conference win over the past few seasons and this is the opportunity to get over the hump. On this holiday I am thankful that there are people out there who actually enjoy reading this rambling blog. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
The starters got some much needed rest and the bench got a chance to show their stuff in Vermont's win over Maine-Fort Kent. The sub division one game on the schedule is always a tough one to gauge. The challenges of getting home games means that this game is going to continue to be part of the schedule. Some years they are tough to watch, and some years they serve a good purpose. This year was the latter as the Cats were coming off a tough weekend tournament and are about to embark on a 5 game road trip. This Vermont team also needs time to develop a bench and what better way to get the bench some playing time than in a game that is clearly in hand. The bench development is very much a work in progress and this game cemented that the starters are going to be playing big minutes this year. As long as guys stay healthy that is not necessarily a negative as having the best players on the court as much as possible is a good thing. It is just a big shift from how Vermont teams have been typically constructed over the past few years. This game was much like an audition for minutes and I though Ben Shungu looked really good in his first real game action. He is strong and a good finisher around the rim. He used his year off to work on his shot and it does look much improved. The battle between him and Stef Smith for minutes is going to be a interesting thing to follow as the season wears on. They each bring a different skill set and both have the ability to contribute. Samuel Dingba got his first game action as a Catamount and worked off some of his rust. On the one hand he has a ridiculous wingspan which makes him both a threat on the glass and as a shot blocker. On the other hand he is wild and struggles to gather the ball. He has the chance to work his way into minutes as a defensive specialist due to the lack of frontcourt depth. Dingba has a long way to go before he gets there as he tries to get up to speed after the year off. Cam Ward as of right now looks like the odd man out. He struggled to contribute last season and so far it has carried over to this season. He is struggling to make shots and is not playing with confidence. He has shown in the past he can be a big time contributor and I hope before the end of the season he finds his way again. Now the Cats gets to enjoy a nice Thanksgiving before heading off on a grueling five game road trip. None of the games are going to be a cakewalk and Bucknell/Marquette is a particularly difficult two game stretch. This makes the Yale game to kick it off very important. Yale has lost two major contributors to injuries but is still a very talented team. Road games are tough to win no matter what and Vermont is going to have to find a way to get off to better starts than they have thus far this season. Falling behind on the road can be a particularly difficult thing to overcome. As far as the chance for big wins and having a good non conference record goes, this is the stretch. Each of these games is a real test and this is their best opportunity for some strong wins. They have been close to getting that signature non conference win over the past few seasons and this is the opportunity to get over the hump. On this holiday I am thankful that there are people out there who actually enjoy reading this rambling blog. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Sunday, November 19, 2017
Vermont wins the inaugural Islands of the Bahamas Showcase
Vermont 66 Northern Kentucky 64
Trophy time.
Vermont overcame a 13 point second half deficit to take the championship game of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. An incredible win. I admit I was starting to lose faith when they got down 59-46. I was beginning to think about how tired the Cats looked and that the heavy minutes the starters played were catching up to them. However this team proves time and time again that mentally, they are a different beast. The way in which they are able to will themselves back into games is incredible. They believe so strongly that they can win no matter the situation. I have never seen anything like it. It is the most incredible thing about this group. They take every challenge head on and never stop fighting. I was one game off on the Anthony Lamb comeback, but boy what a comeback it was. Northern Kentucky made the mistake of not doubling him and they payed dearly. It was clear after this game that the double teams were throwing Lamb off and he needed to get a few shots to fall in order to give him some momentum. Once he sensed that he could get his shots up, he was quite the force. Lamb was all over the court finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Several times he emerged out of a group of rebounders with the ball and willed his way to the basket. Just a incredible performance in a big game. Trae Bell-Haynes took the baton from Lamb and exploded in the second half. During the 20-5 run the Cats went on to finish the game, Bell-Haynes got to the rim at will both finishing for himself and dishing to open teammates. The court looked like it tilted in the direction of the Cats. Bell-Haynes finished with 19 points and hit the game winning floater with 2 seconds left. An incredible run by the senior leader. Payton Henson struggled most of the night but came up with some key buckets down the stretch, His 4 point play gave the Cats life and he hit the go ahead shot at 64-62 to give Vermont their first lead since early in the game. A tremendous example of mental toughness as he looked exhausted for most of the game. Drew Urquhart had a quiet game but did continue his dunk streak with an incredible one handed putback slam. I am going to continue to put a plug in for Everett Duncan as he is doing all the little things to help this team win. Tonight it was his continued strength on the boards as he finished with 7 rebounds. He got some big boards down the stretch and has a calming presence on the court. A ton of credit goes to the starters who played some serious minutes in this tournament. It has been a while since there has been a Vermont team where the starters play so many minutes. This is a great win as not only was it for a championship, but Northern Kentucky is a very strong team. They sped Vermont up for the most of the game and forced them into a ton of first half turnovers. It wasn't until that late game run that the Cats were able to slow the game down and play at their pace. What an incredible trip for the Cats. They can rest easy and enjoy this one for a few days, but with this team they probably won't. These Cats are ready to get right back to work as they have their sights set on even loftier goals.
Trophy time.
Vermont overcame a 13 point second half deficit to take the championship game of the Islands of the Bahamas Showcase. An incredible win. I admit I was starting to lose faith when they got down 59-46. I was beginning to think about how tired the Cats looked and that the heavy minutes the starters played were catching up to them. However this team proves time and time again that mentally, they are a different beast. The way in which they are able to will themselves back into games is incredible. They believe so strongly that they can win no matter the situation. I have never seen anything like it. It is the most incredible thing about this group. They take every challenge head on and never stop fighting. I was one game off on the Anthony Lamb comeback, but boy what a comeback it was. Northern Kentucky made the mistake of not doubling him and they payed dearly. It was clear after this game that the double teams were throwing Lamb off and he needed to get a few shots to fall in order to give him some momentum. Once he sensed that he could get his shots up, he was quite the force. Lamb was all over the court finishing with 26 points and 14 rebounds. Several times he emerged out of a group of rebounders with the ball and willed his way to the basket. Just a incredible performance in a big game. Trae Bell-Haynes took the baton from Lamb and exploded in the second half. During the 20-5 run the Cats went on to finish the game, Bell-Haynes got to the rim at will both finishing for himself and dishing to open teammates. The court looked like it tilted in the direction of the Cats. Bell-Haynes finished with 19 points and hit the game winning floater with 2 seconds left. An incredible run by the senior leader. Payton Henson struggled most of the night but came up with some key buckets down the stretch, His 4 point play gave the Cats life and he hit the go ahead shot at 64-62 to give Vermont their first lead since early in the game. A tremendous example of mental toughness as he looked exhausted for most of the game. Drew Urquhart had a quiet game but did continue his dunk streak with an incredible one handed putback slam. I am going to continue to put a plug in for Everett Duncan as he is doing all the little things to help this team win. Tonight it was his continued strength on the boards as he finished with 7 rebounds. He got some big boards down the stretch and has a calming presence on the court. A ton of credit goes to the starters who played some serious minutes in this tournament. It has been a while since there has been a Vermont team where the starters play so many minutes. This is a great win as not only was it for a championship, but Northern Kentucky is a very strong team. They sped Vermont up for the most of the game and forced them into a ton of first half turnovers. It wasn't until that late game run that the Cats were able to slow the game down and play at their pace. What an incredible trip for the Cats. They can rest easy and enjoy this one for a few days, but with this team they probably won't. These Cats are ready to get right back to work as they have their sights set on even loftier goals.
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Islands of the Bahamas Showcase: Vermont vs Coastal Carolina
Vermont 80 Coastal Carolina 67
Vermont overcame another sluggish first half by ratcheting up their defense and Ernie Duncan put Coastal Carolina away with a big second half run. Duncan was incredible down the stretch and finished with 19 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. He drove hard to the rim and had some beautiful finishes and dump offs to teammates. It was great to see him use the fear of his three point shot to get by defenders and get to the rim. Drew Urquhart turned in another incredible performance setting a new career high with 15 points. He is attacking the rim with authority and looking to dunk the ball every chance he can. He also pulled down 5 rebounds and has improved his ability to battle for the ball in traffic. What a great start to his senior year. Trae Bell-Haynes finished with 15 points as well and made 6 out of 9 from the free thrown line to get himself headed in the right direction. He also dished out 5 assists as Vermont assisted on 17 of their 25 made shots. Everett Duncan knocked down a couple threes and did a lot of little things to help the Cats win. I really like the court sense he possesses. Payton Henson continued to be his consistently good self. Henson hit some big shots and has looked even better on the boards thus far this season. Becker went with his "no mistakes lineup" down the stretch after the freshman let Coastal Carolina back into the game with some bad turnovers. Anthony Lamb also did not play much down the stretch, as for the second straight game he looked lost out on the court. It is so strange to see him struggle so much. He is definitely not playing with confidence right now. Opposing teams are throwing a lot of different looks at him, especially immediate double teams and he is having a hard time adjusting. He is the focal point of opposing defenses and there is going to be an adjustment period for him. So far in every game this season Vermont has been better in the second half, particularly on defense. They are making good half time adjustments but tomorrow night they are going to have to get off to a better start. Because I love patterns I am going to continue to reference how similar this tournament is unfolding when compared to last years tournament. In the second game of the tournament last year Vermont found their offense and won by double digits with, you guessed it again, Ernie Duncan as their leading scorer. Totally irrelevant but fun. It will be a battle tomorrow night for the championship as both Iona and Northern Kentucky will be difficult matchups. The three teams left in this tournament field all made the NCAA tournament last season. Can't wait to see how the Cats some out in tomorrow nights game with a chance to bring home the championship.
Vermont overcame another sluggish first half by ratcheting up their defense and Ernie Duncan put Coastal Carolina away with a big second half run. Duncan was incredible down the stretch and finished with 19 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds. He drove hard to the rim and had some beautiful finishes and dump offs to teammates. It was great to see him use the fear of his three point shot to get by defenders and get to the rim. Drew Urquhart turned in another incredible performance setting a new career high with 15 points. He is attacking the rim with authority and looking to dunk the ball every chance he can. He also pulled down 5 rebounds and has improved his ability to battle for the ball in traffic. What a great start to his senior year. Trae Bell-Haynes finished with 15 points as well and made 6 out of 9 from the free thrown line to get himself headed in the right direction. He also dished out 5 assists as Vermont assisted on 17 of their 25 made shots. Everett Duncan knocked down a couple threes and did a lot of little things to help the Cats win. I really like the court sense he possesses. Payton Henson continued to be his consistently good self. Henson hit some big shots and has looked even better on the boards thus far this season. Becker went with his "no mistakes lineup" down the stretch after the freshman let Coastal Carolina back into the game with some bad turnovers. Anthony Lamb also did not play much down the stretch, as for the second straight game he looked lost out on the court. It is so strange to see him struggle so much. He is definitely not playing with confidence right now. Opposing teams are throwing a lot of different looks at him, especially immediate double teams and he is having a hard time adjusting. He is the focal point of opposing defenses and there is going to be an adjustment period for him. So far in every game this season Vermont has been better in the second half, particularly on defense. They are making good half time adjustments but tomorrow night they are going to have to get off to a better start. Because I love patterns I am going to continue to reference how similar this tournament is unfolding when compared to last years tournament. In the second game of the tournament last year Vermont found their offense and won by double digits with, you guessed it again, Ernie Duncan as their leading scorer. Totally irrelevant but fun. It will be a battle tomorrow night for the championship as both Iona and Northern Kentucky will be difficult matchups. The three teams left in this tournament field all made the NCAA tournament last season. Can't wait to see how the Cats some out in tomorrow nights game with a chance to bring home the championship.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Islands of the Bahamas Showcase: Vermont vs Bradley
Vermont 65 Bradley 64
Nothing but drama to start the season.
Vermont got their first win on the season in a nail biter against Bradley. Trae Bell-Haynes made his first free throw of the season with two seconds left, lifting the Cats to victory. Bell-Haynes continues to struggle at the line furthering a trend which began last season. It is some kind of irony that his first made free throw won the game. It will be interesting to see if Bell-Haynes can right the ship at the line. The story in this game was Stef Smith. He came off the bench and in his first real game action pumped in 14 points including 3-5 from deep. He was really the only Vermont player who was a threat from the perimeter in this game. The hype surrounding Smith from the preseason has carried over and it looks like he will have a major impact this year and beyond. Drew Urquhart looked great once again and is playing with incredible confidence. He looks faster and more decisive on the court. Ernie Duncan is struggling with his shot to start the season and I have to wonder if his preseason injury is to blame. He worked on his back on the sideline every time he sat out and can't seem to get into a rhythm. It will be a situation to monitor for sure. Anthony Lamb picked up two fouls almost immediately, drew the wrath of Becker on the sidelines, and was never able to get back into a rhythm. Some of that credit has to go to Bradley as they ran a strong double team at him every time he had the ball. I expect Lamb to bounce back in a big way for tomorrow's game. This game is almost identical to the way Vermont began the Gulf Coast Showcase last season. They slogged though a poor first half with an 11:00 start time. They never really found their shooting rhythm but fought through it and won 60-59, you guessed it, on a shot from Trae Bell-Haynes. I guess the Cats aren't morning people. Good teams find a way to win even when they don't have their best stuff and Vermont did just that. Bradley was a tough, physical team that played good defense. A good early test and now the Cats can sleep in and get ready for Coastal Carolina. This three games in three days format is such a good barometer for the rest of the season as it really challenges the mental toughness of a team. I though Vermont learned a lot about themselves during the Gulf Coast Showcase last year and I expect they will do the same this year.
Nothing but drama to start the season.
Vermont got their first win on the season in a nail biter against Bradley. Trae Bell-Haynes made his first free throw of the season with two seconds left, lifting the Cats to victory. Bell-Haynes continues to struggle at the line furthering a trend which began last season. It is some kind of irony that his first made free throw won the game. It will be interesting to see if Bell-Haynes can right the ship at the line. The story in this game was Stef Smith. He came off the bench and in his first real game action pumped in 14 points including 3-5 from deep. He was really the only Vermont player who was a threat from the perimeter in this game. The hype surrounding Smith from the preseason has carried over and it looks like he will have a major impact this year and beyond. Drew Urquhart looked great once again and is playing with incredible confidence. He looks faster and more decisive on the court. Ernie Duncan is struggling with his shot to start the season and I have to wonder if his preseason injury is to blame. He worked on his back on the sideline every time he sat out and can't seem to get into a rhythm. It will be a situation to monitor for sure. Anthony Lamb picked up two fouls almost immediately, drew the wrath of Becker on the sidelines, and was never able to get back into a rhythm. Some of that credit has to go to Bradley as they ran a strong double team at him every time he had the ball. I expect Lamb to bounce back in a big way for tomorrow's game. This game is almost identical to the way Vermont began the Gulf Coast Showcase last season. They slogged though a poor first half with an 11:00 start time. They never really found their shooting rhythm but fought through it and won 60-59, you guessed it, on a shot from Trae Bell-Haynes. I guess the Cats aren't morning people. Good teams find a way to win even when they don't have their best stuff and Vermont did just that. Bradley was a tough, physical team that played good defense. A good early test and now the Cats can sleep in and get ready for Coastal Carolina. This three games in three days format is such a good barometer for the rest of the season as it really challenges the mental toughness of a team. I though Vermont learned a lot about themselves during the Gulf Coast Showcase last year and I expect they will do the same this year.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
Vermont at Kentucky 11/12/17
Kentucky 73 Vermont 69
What a way to open the season.
On the road, against a top 5 team, facing a double digit deficit, the Vermont Catamounts railed and gave themselves several chances to take control of the game before falling to the Wildcats. The shots didn't go down at the end but the Cats showed what they are made of. It is rare when a game actually lives up to the hype. Vermont looked liked they belonged and the box score reflects that as well. There is a lot to unpack from this game but the first thing I want to say is a big congratulations to Drew Urquhart. Drew U has gone through some ups and downs in his career and persevered through it all. He has always accepted his role, held his head high, and been ready when called upon. This afternoon he put together the finest game of his career. Drew U finished with 13 points, hit a huge three pointer late in the game, and battled on the defensive end with the giants of Kentucky. What a great game and it always great to see a senior seize the moment. This is the jumping off point for what could be a strong final season. The game itself was great. Vermont struggled to hit shots early in their first regular season half of basketball. Then Trae Bell-Haynes got into foul trouble. Things were trending in the wrong direction. The Cats kept themselves in the game with strong defense. Then early in the second half shots started to fall for both teams and it looked as though Kentucky was ready to pull away. But Vermont hung around and then Bell-Haynes went on one of his one.man.run streaks. He is just such an incredible player and even against elite, future NBA talent he is fast and finishes with strength at the rim. He is set up for another strong year and looks fully healthy from the injury scare. The Cats had some good looks down the stretch but couldn't get them to fall. A great effort against a difficult opponent and now the task is to take the lessons from that game and go out and get the wins they are looking for in their very tough non-conference schedule. You never want to celebrate a loss, but it is hard for the Cats to hang their heads after this one. Anthony Lamb looked strong once again with 15 points and 7 rebounds. The perimeter shot is there as almost all of his points in this game came from his jumper. If that shooting stoke continues the way it was at the end of last season, watch out. Payton Henson hit a big three down the stretch and held his own down on the block. I still am both impressed and intrigued by Everett Duncan's rebounding ability. He has a nose for the ball and held his own on defense. It was nice to see Skyler Nash come in and immediately drain a three. That has got to give him a nice confidence boost going forward. Vermont only turned the ball over 7 times and shot 45% from the field despite the incredible length that Kentucky puts out on the floor (I mean how many times did ESPN put up the wingspan graphic?). The only area where Kentucky had a significant advantage was at the free throw line. Here I was all worried about the defense and it looked good in their first game action. Shows what I know. One of the interesting observations is for the first time in a while it looks like Becker will be giving his starters more minutes. The rotation looks to be smaller and unlike in years past the starters might inch closer to 30 mins per game. That will certainly be an interesting development throughout the season. Also with Ra Kpedi in street clothes the redshirt must be official. I like the move because with a year to get stronger and up to speed, I think he can make an impact. I equate this game to the Houston game last season. It was a game where they competed and had chances to get a signature win but fell short. I actually think not winning that Houston game last season helped keep the Cats grounded and hungry for more. I believe this game will have the same effect. This Vermont team is not going to be satisfied with just competing with Kentucky. Now that they have been so close this Vermont team is going to be ready for the next time this opportunity presents itself and they wont let it pass them by. Now it is on to the Bahamas for a weekend tournament where they are the favorites to win. Anything can happen in a three games in three days format but I expect the Cats to come out hungry.
What a way to open the season.
On the road, against a top 5 team, facing a double digit deficit, the Vermont Catamounts railed and gave themselves several chances to take control of the game before falling to the Wildcats. The shots didn't go down at the end but the Cats showed what they are made of. It is rare when a game actually lives up to the hype. Vermont looked liked they belonged and the box score reflects that as well. There is a lot to unpack from this game but the first thing I want to say is a big congratulations to Drew Urquhart. Drew U has gone through some ups and downs in his career and persevered through it all. He has always accepted his role, held his head high, and been ready when called upon. This afternoon he put together the finest game of his career. Drew U finished with 13 points, hit a huge three pointer late in the game, and battled on the defensive end with the giants of Kentucky. What a great game and it always great to see a senior seize the moment. This is the jumping off point for what could be a strong final season. The game itself was great. Vermont struggled to hit shots early in their first regular season half of basketball. Then Trae Bell-Haynes got into foul trouble. Things were trending in the wrong direction. The Cats kept themselves in the game with strong defense. Then early in the second half shots started to fall for both teams and it looked as though Kentucky was ready to pull away. But Vermont hung around and then Bell-Haynes went on one of his one.man.run streaks. He is just such an incredible player and even against elite, future NBA talent he is fast and finishes with strength at the rim. He is set up for another strong year and looks fully healthy from the injury scare. The Cats had some good looks down the stretch but couldn't get them to fall. A great effort against a difficult opponent and now the task is to take the lessons from that game and go out and get the wins they are looking for in their very tough non-conference schedule. You never want to celebrate a loss, but it is hard for the Cats to hang their heads after this one. Anthony Lamb looked strong once again with 15 points and 7 rebounds. The perimeter shot is there as almost all of his points in this game came from his jumper. If that shooting stoke continues the way it was at the end of last season, watch out. Payton Henson hit a big three down the stretch and held his own down on the block. I still am both impressed and intrigued by Everett Duncan's rebounding ability. He has a nose for the ball and held his own on defense. It was nice to see Skyler Nash come in and immediately drain a three. That has got to give him a nice confidence boost going forward. Vermont only turned the ball over 7 times and shot 45% from the field despite the incredible length that Kentucky puts out on the floor (I mean how many times did ESPN put up the wingspan graphic?). The only area where Kentucky had a significant advantage was at the free throw line. Here I was all worried about the defense and it looked good in their first game action. Shows what I know. One of the interesting observations is for the first time in a while it looks like Becker will be giving his starters more minutes. The rotation looks to be smaller and unlike in years past the starters might inch closer to 30 mins per game. That will certainly be an interesting development throughout the season. Also with Ra Kpedi in street clothes the redshirt must be official. I like the move because with a year to get stronger and up to speed, I think he can make an impact. I equate this game to the Houston game last season. It was a game where they competed and had chances to get a signature win but fell short. I actually think not winning that Houston game last season helped keep the Cats grounded and hungry for more. I believe this game will have the same effect. This Vermont team is not going to be satisfied with just competing with Kentucky. Now that they have been so close this Vermont team is going to be ready for the next time this opportunity presents itself and they wont let it pass them by. Now it is on to the Bahamas for a weekend tournament where they are the favorites to win. Anything can happen in a three games in three days format but I expect the Cats to come out hungry.
Thursday, November 9, 2017
Vermont Season Preview 2017-2018
It is time to begin another season in Catamount country. The hype and expectations surrounding this group are massive. The Vermont program is getting national attention and all eyes will be on this team throughout the season. After finally reaching the NCAA tournament this group comes in with a different set of challenges than the ones they faced a year ago. Instead of playing with a chip on their shoulder or revenge on their mind, they are the hunted. Bringing back the core of last years team and the potential for improvement is the foundation on which all of this hype has been built. Anthony Lamb, Trae Bell-Haynes, Payton Henson, and Ernie Duncan are ready to build on last years exceptional play and lead Vermont back to the NCAA tournament. Cam Ward, Drew Urquhart and Nate Rohrer also return to give the Catamounts some experienced depth off the bench. This team has the potential to again be very special and here is how I see the season playing out.
Record: 25-6 (15-1) 1 seed, Win in the championship game against Albany.
Starters: Trae Bell-Haynes
Ernie Duncan
Everett Duncan
Anthony Lamb
Payton Henson
It goes without saying that this team is going to very similar to last years team. Efficient offensively and with the ability to blow games wide open with their relentless ability to attack the basket. This team has so many weapons on the offensive end that is is hard for an opposing defense to pick out a player that they are going to stop. On any given night, any one of the starters could put up 20 points. This ability to score in bunches from anywhere is what wore teams down last year, particularly in the conference portion of the schedule. Last year Becker proved that he could teach his defensive scheme and have it be effective with offensively minded players. The defense will be the question mark to begin the season. Kurt Steidl and Dre Wills were not just good defenders. They were elite defenders. No one on this years team is ready as of right now to reach the defensive levels those two players had achieved, particularly on the ball. Vermont had the luxury of being able to lock down or at least make life difficult for most of the perimeter scorers they encountered. It is going to take a strong team effort to bring the defense along and have it be humming by the time the conference schedule rolls around.
Keys to success:
Depth: Last year the Cats were able to mix and match lineups based on the game, who was hot, who was struggling, or to deal with foul trouble. This depth gave them a huge advantage as most teams were unable to make the same level of adjustments during the game. That depth is going to be tested this season. With so many newcomers, it is going to take some time for roles to be defined. It is going to be especially crucial on the defensive end as Coach Becker's defensive scheme is not easy to pick up. Even Anthony Lamb went through a significant period of struggle as he was trying to figure out his role on the team and learn the defensive rotations. It also means that Vermont my not be able to adapt as easily to the flow of the game or if they get into foul trouble. By the conference schedule the depth could be a strength as the young players get up to speed but it will be one of the big early season story lines.
The new faces: After the exhibition games two things were clear: The new additions have an incredible amount of potential and like all freshman, they are going to be inconsistent. Stef Smith is going to be spark plug off the bench and will be able to bring instant offense. Everett Duncan is going to be another threat from the perimeter. Skyler Nash, Bailey Patella, Ben Shungu, and Ra Kpedi all showed flashes of what they can bring to the table as they get used to the college game. Samuel Dingba had a poor exhibition showing and it will be interesting to see what he has to offer down the road. It all comes down to how quickly can they learn to play within themselves and the team while limiting mistakes.
Staying Hungry: After last year I have no doubts about the mental toughness and resolve of this team. Throughout last season the were able to meet each challenge head on and proved to be an incredibly focused team. However, finally reaching your goal and being talked up so much in the preseason can have a completely different effect. The challenge now is not to "believe the hype" and be satisfied with just getting to the NCAA tournament. This team has the potential to compete with the big boys if they can bring that focus and mental toughness with them this season as well.
Worse......but better? How do you improve on an undefeated conference season? This is the challenge facing the Cats. They played an entire year without really playing a bad game or having an off night. They won 21 games in a row and set all sorts of records. What happens when they lose? How will they and the fans handle it? These are all fair questions. Eventually you would think that the ball wont bounce their way and they will lose a conference game. This to me is going to be the biggest challenge this season. It sounds weird but they can still be a better team this season even if they have a worse record. Their non-conference is incredibly challenging and Albany is going to be much improved and hungry this season.
Schedule: Coach Becker talked at length about how hard it was to put a schedule together this offseason. As a result Vermont is on the road against very difficult opponents. The Cats face 5 teams that were picked first or second in their conference preseason poll. Becker has called it the most challenging schedule they have put together. That can take a toll. Night in and night out against tough competition can make you tougher come March, but it can also sap your confidence going into the conference schedule. Keeping the focus on getting better everyday and the ultimate goal will be key early in the season.
New Arena/The Future: One of the last things I want to mention is how the new arena proposal plays out this year. Becker has said he wants to see this thing through and be a part of the program as long as it is moving forward. He made it very clear that the new arena was a big part of that. As Vermont continues to build momentum and garner national attention, capitalizing on this success and getting that new arena built is the single important most factor in the future success of the Vermont program.
I believe that this team has the opportunity to break through and get some big non-conference wins. The versatility of the team and the offensive firepower is going to surprise some teams. The newcomers have a tremendous amount of potential. The speed and scoring ability that has been added to this year's team is only going to make the Cats even more difficult to guard. I think the league as a whole will be similar to where it was last season. While there is a lot of returning talent, most teams are replacing a significant part of their rotation. Albany is going to be improved and once again they are ready to be Vermont's biggest challenger. That rivalry is going to be at a high level this season. I am incredibly excited to see what this team can accomplish this year and expect them to steal a game or two in the non-conference schedule. 3:30 on Sunday can't come soon enough.
Record: 25-6 (15-1) 1 seed, Win in the championship game against Albany.
Starters: Trae Bell-Haynes
Ernie Duncan
Everett Duncan
Anthony Lamb
Payton Henson
It goes without saying that this team is going to very similar to last years team. Efficient offensively and with the ability to blow games wide open with their relentless ability to attack the basket. This team has so many weapons on the offensive end that is is hard for an opposing defense to pick out a player that they are going to stop. On any given night, any one of the starters could put up 20 points. This ability to score in bunches from anywhere is what wore teams down last year, particularly in the conference portion of the schedule. Last year Becker proved that he could teach his defensive scheme and have it be effective with offensively minded players. The defense will be the question mark to begin the season. Kurt Steidl and Dre Wills were not just good defenders. They were elite defenders. No one on this years team is ready as of right now to reach the defensive levels those two players had achieved, particularly on the ball. Vermont had the luxury of being able to lock down or at least make life difficult for most of the perimeter scorers they encountered. It is going to take a strong team effort to bring the defense along and have it be humming by the time the conference schedule rolls around.
Keys to success:
Depth: Last year the Cats were able to mix and match lineups based on the game, who was hot, who was struggling, or to deal with foul trouble. This depth gave them a huge advantage as most teams were unable to make the same level of adjustments during the game. That depth is going to be tested this season. With so many newcomers, it is going to take some time for roles to be defined. It is going to be especially crucial on the defensive end as Coach Becker's defensive scheme is not easy to pick up. Even Anthony Lamb went through a significant period of struggle as he was trying to figure out his role on the team and learn the defensive rotations. It also means that Vermont my not be able to adapt as easily to the flow of the game or if they get into foul trouble. By the conference schedule the depth could be a strength as the young players get up to speed but it will be one of the big early season story lines.
The new faces: After the exhibition games two things were clear: The new additions have an incredible amount of potential and like all freshman, they are going to be inconsistent. Stef Smith is going to be spark plug off the bench and will be able to bring instant offense. Everett Duncan is going to be another threat from the perimeter. Skyler Nash, Bailey Patella, Ben Shungu, and Ra Kpedi all showed flashes of what they can bring to the table as they get used to the college game. Samuel Dingba had a poor exhibition showing and it will be interesting to see what he has to offer down the road. It all comes down to how quickly can they learn to play within themselves and the team while limiting mistakes.
Staying Hungry: After last year I have no doubts about the mental toughness and resolve of this team. Throughout last season the were able to meet each challenge head on and proved to be an incredibly focused team. However, finally reaching your goal and being talked up so much in the preseason can have a completely different effect. The challenge now is not to "believe the hype" and be satisfied with just getting to the NCAA tournament. This team has the potential to compete with the big boys if they can bring that focus and mental toughness with them this season as well.
Worse......but better? How do you improve on an undefeated conference season? This is the challenge facing the Cats. They played an entire year without really playing a bad game or having an off night. They won 21 games in a row and set all sorts of records. What happens when they lose? How will they and the fans handle it? These are all fair questions. Eventually you would think that the ball wont bounce their way and they will lose a conference game. This to me is going to be the biggest challenge this season. It sounds weird but they can still be a better team this season even if they have a worse record. Their non-conference is incredibly challenging and Albany is going to be much improved and hungry this season.
Schedule: Coach Becker talked at length about how hard it was to put a schedule together this offseason. As a result Vermont is on the road against very difficult opponents. The Cats face 5 teams that were picked first or second in their conference preseason poll. Becker has called it the most challenging schedule they have put together. That can take a toll. Night in and night out against tough competition can make you tougher come March, but it can also sap your confidence going into the conference schedule. Keeping the focus on getting better everyday and the ultimate goal will be key early in the season.
New Arena/The Future: One of the last things I want to mention is how the new arena proposal plays out this year. Becker has said he wants to see this thing through and be a part of the program as long as it is moving forward. He made it very clear that the new arena was a big part of that. As Vermont continues to build momentum and garner national attention, capitalizing on this success and getting that new arena built is the single important most factor in the future success of the Vermont program.
I believe that this team has the opportunity to break through and get some big non-conference wins. The versatility of the team and the offensive firepower is going to surprise some teams. The newcomers have a tremendous amount of potential. The speed and scoring ability that has been added to this year's team is only going to make the Cats even more difficult to guard. I think the league as a whole will be similar to where it was last season. While there is a lot of returning talent, most teams are replacing a significant part of their rotation. Albany is going to be improved and once again they are ready to be Vermont's biggest challenger. That rivalry is going to be at a high level this season. I am incredibly excited to see what this team can accomplish this year and expect them to steal a game or two in the non-conference schedule. 3:30 on Sunday can't come soon enough.
Ryan Davis commits to Vermont
Vermont received a commitment from the post player they were looking for last night. Ryan Davis, a 6-8 270 lb forward from Hoffman Estates, Illinois gave his verbal commitment to the Catamounts. I have been closely following Davis all summer. From the time of his offer in May I thought he was a player that fit really well in the Vermont program. He has great footwork both driving from the perimeter and with his back to the basket. I thought he would be one of those players Vermont offers before the AAU circuit who blows up after the July recruiting period. He certainly blew up at the mid-major level fielding many offers including Bucknell, Toledo, and South Dakota. I then happened to be on church street and saw him on a visit toward the end of the summer. Full disclosure, I have been obsessively searching Twitter for information ever since. During this search I saw that he was drawing strong interest from Wisconsin who went to see his open gym several times. I was a little discouraged in thinking that the he might slip through Vermont's fingers. His commitment is great because he fits so well into the group that will be carrying on the tradition. I think Davis has a chance to be an all league performer. He is comfortable with both his back to basket and facing up on the perimeter. He has great size and a college ready body which he uses effectively to finish around the rim. His jump shot looks good and being able to be a stretch big in today's game is huge. It is great to get a post player who can face up and stretch the floor but is also comfortable with his back to the basket. That versatility is going to be very valuable. I am very excited about this commitment and this recruiting class. With Robin Duncan and Isaiah Moll signing their national letters of intent, this recruiting class is looking like another good one. I believe Moll has all league potential as well and is also ready to contribute right away. Duncan has tremendous potential as a floor leader and team leader as he has the same strong basketball sense as his brothers. Another strong Vermont recruiting class that is still unfinished. I have to think the next player in this class will be a small forward to round out some depth for next season. The recruiting momentum continues!
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Exhibition: St. Michael's at Vermont 11/4/17
Vermont 102 St. Michael's 53
Time for the real thing.
Vermont overwhelmed St. Michael's to finish out the exhibition portion of their schedule with another win. With Trae Bell-Haynes and Ernie Duncan sitting, the young guys got a chance to showcase what they can bring to the table. Coach Becker said that the two starters were being held out as a precaution and that they would both be ready to go. I am glad to hear that they are both okay. Even thought there was a clear disparity between the two teams this game was a great opportunity for the guys fighting for roles to have an opportunity to play through mistakes and build some confidence. Drew Urquhart made a few nice plays and it will be crucial for him to have some positive energy as he is going to be a key player for this team. Samuel Dingba has a ways to go before he is ready to contribute after his year off and Urquhart has to be the one to provide depth in the frontcourt. Sticking in the frontcourt, Ra Kpedi still would benefit from a redshirt year and maybe I am still higher on him than most, but he is going to be a good player for Vermont. With the way his minutes went in the preseason I have a feeling that the coaching staff wants to redshirt him this season. If he gets stronger and is able to learn the system, I think he makes a big impact down the road. In the battle for minutes in the backcourt, Ben Shungu made some strides. He is a very strong finisher around the rim and his outside jumper has improved since last year. I like his physicality and he is player who could have a role on this years team. Stef Smith made some more great plays but showed a little bit of inexperience in this game. His shot selection was not great and he played too fast, resulting in too many turnovers. He has a very strong ability to score the ball but needs to work on his passing and feel for the offense. In the battle for minutes at the small forward position vacated by Kurt Steidl, there are still a lot of questions. Everett Duncan and Skyler Nash have been the early favorites but both of them are having a tough time of the defensive side of the ball. Duncan again impressed with his rebounding ability grabbing 6 boards in 16 minutes. He will get the first crack at minutes but he has far to go to get up to speed defensively. Nash looked more comfortable and got a few shots to fall and that will help him build confidence. Bailey Patella had some nice moments and he has a lot of potential as he gets stronger. There are going to be some intense playing time battles all year in practice and it will be interesting to see as the season progresses how the minutes play out. The progression during the non-conference schedule will be a great story line as there are a lot of minutes available for the second unit and there are still a lot of roles up in the air after the exhibition schedule. Next Sunday is going to a daunting task but I think it is a great way to start the season. My Vermont season preview will be out sometime before the game on Sunday.
P.S.
I feel the need to address the comments from the crowd while the players from St. Michael's were kneeling during the anthem. It was embarrassing as a Vermonter to hear some of the comments that were directed at the protesters. If respect for America is what you are after than respect for your fellow American has to be there first. That is what this protest is all about. Equality and fair treatment for everyone. I hope we as Vermonters can show that we are forward thinking, fairminded, supportive, and thoughtful human beings as I am very sure we will continue to see these protests throughout the season.
Time for the real thing.
Vermont overwhelmed St. Michael's to finish out the exhibition portion of their schedule with another win. With Trae Bell-Haynes and Ernie Duncan sitting, the young guys got a chance to showcase what they can bring to the table. Coach Becker said that the two starters were being held out as a precaution and that they would both be ready to go. I am glad to hear that they are both okay. Even thought there was a clear disparity between the two teams this game was a great opportunity for the guys fighting for roles to have an opportunity to play through mistakes and build some confidence. Drew Urquhart made a few nice plays and it will be crucial for him to have some positive energy as he is going to be a key player for this team. Samuel Dingba has a ways to go before he is ready to contribute after his year off and Urquhart has to be the one to provide depth in the frontcourt. Sticking in the frontcourt, Ra Kpedi still would benefit from a redshirt year and maybe I am still higher on him than most, but he is going to be a good player for Vermont. With the way his minutes went in the preseason I have a feeling that the coaching staff wants to redshirt him this season. If he gets stronger and is able to learn the system, I think he makes a big impact down the road. In the battle for minutes in the backcourt, Ben Shungu made some strides. He is a very strong finisher around the rim and his outside jumper has improved since last year. I like his physicality and he is player who could have a role on this years team. Stef Smith made some more great plays but showed a little bit of inexperience in this game. His shot selection was not great and he played too fast, resulting in too many turnovers. He has a very strong ability to score the ball but needs to work on his passing and feel for the offense. In the battle for minutes at the small forward position vacated by Kurt Steidl, there are still a lot of questions. Everett Duncan and Skyler Nash have been the early favorites but both of them are having a tough time of the defensive side of the ball. Duncan again impressed with his rebounding ability grabbing 6 boards in 16 minutes. He will get the first crack at minutes but he has far to go to get up to speed defensively. Nash looked more comfortable and got a few shots to fall and that will help him build confidence. Bailey Patella had some nice moments and he has a lot of potential as he gets stronger. There are going to be some intense playing time battles all year in practice and it will be interesting to see as the season progresses how the minutes play out. The progression during the non-conference schedule will be a great story line as there are a lot of minutes available for the second unit and there are still a lot of roles up in the air after the exhibition schedule. Next Sunday is going to a daunting task but I think it is a great way to start the season. My Vermont season preview will be out sometime before the game on Sunday.
P.S.
I feel the need to address the comments from the crowd while the players from St. Michael's were kneeling during the anthem. It was embarrassing as a Vermonter to hear some of the comments that were directed at the protesters. If respect for America is what you are after than respect for your fellow American has to be there first. That is what this protest is all about. Equality and fair treatment for everyone. I hope we as Vermonters can show that we are forward thinking, fairminded, supportive, and thoughtful human beings as I am very sure we will continue to see these protests throughout the season.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
America East Preview 2017-2018
It is time to once again make some predictions. Last year the final standings were very different than the preseason polls. Stony Brook and UMBC greatly exceeded expectations while Binghamton suffered through injuries on their way to another tough season. Who will be the surprise team this year? Will Vermont be able to live up to their lofty expectations? Here is how I see the year playing out in the America East.
1. Vermont
All across college basketball, Vermont is getting attention as a top mid major program. Winning the title last year and returning the core of their team has rocketed them into a different stratosphere. Anthony Lamb is ready to breakout and compete for the conference player of the year. Payton Henson, Trae Bell-Haynes, and Ernie Duncan are locked in to their roles and ready to make another run at the title. However, this years team has more questions marks than the one that cruised through the league last season. Losing Dre Wills, Kurt Steidl, and Darren Payen is more significant than most people think. Vermont is going to rely on young, inexperienced players to fill those roles. Much of what those graduated players brought to the table is tough to replace because it was intangible "beyond the box score" type production. It will be interesting to see how the defensive side of the ball progresses throughout the season. Vermont has some young, intriguing talent and the progression of their roles will be the key to Vermont's success. Last year the Cats motivation was to erase the sting of their postseason disappointments and this year their motivation is to stay on top. Those are two very different mentalities and it will be interesting to see if that has any effect on this Vermont team.
2. Albany
Albany is again poised to push Vermont for the top spot in the league. They too return the core group from last years team including the dynamic duo of Joe Cremo and David Nichols. Travis Charles is going to have an expanded role this year after a very successful year coming off the bench. Albany and Vermont are in very similar situations where they are asking their newcomers to make an immediate impact. The two flagship America East programs seemed destined to clash once again as the top two teams in the conference. The x-factor for Albany will be what they get out of graduate transfer Alex Foster. He is 6-8 forward who began his career at Texas Tech and gives them some much needed frontcourt depth. Will Brown will have his team ready and this year they are the team looking to erase the sting of a postseason disappointment.
3. UMBC
The Retrievers came out of nowhere last year and took the league by storm. In a league of methodical teams, they were the foil. A fast paced high octane system caught many teams off guard and they relentlessly attacked opponents. UMBC returns Jairus Lyles and KJ Maura to lead this undersized unit. They will miss the production of Will Darley who allowed them to use small lineups and spread the floor with his shooting ability. Replacing his production will be key to the Retrievers success.
4. Stony Brook
Stony Brook has the look of a team that is one year away from returning to the top. They have a good young group and Jeff Boals is making some noise on the recruiting trail. Akwasi Yeboah is poised for breakout year and Anthony Ochefu leads a pack of impact freshman. The loss of Lucas Woodhouse is going to make it tough to stay at the top this season. So much of Stony Brook's success last year was dependent on his steady hand at the controls. They are going to be a fun team to watch and they have to chance to push the top teams.
5. New Hampshire
Tanner Leissner is ready for his senior campaign and Jacoby Armstrong returns from a one year absence. Along with Iba Camara, they form one of the leagues most formidable frontcourts. How will they fill the void left by Jaleen Smith and Daniel Dion? The Wildcats were a very inconsistent outside shooting team during those players careers and now face the tall task of finding shot makers to replace their production. Leissner is a tremendous talent but now he is going to face more intense defensive pressure as the main offensive weapon. The Wildcats are going to have to out physical opponents and play tough defense to compete with the top teams.
6. UMass Lowell
Finally eligible for the post season, the River Hawks look to build on flashes of brilliance over the last few years. Jahad Thomas is an incredible talent and the most versatile player in the conference. This team can score and is a very efficient offensive team. Their struggles in recent years have been on the defensive side of the ball. I think that being able to fight for a postseason spot will help this team remain focused and push through for the entire conference schedule. Look for Rinardo Perry to build off a strong freshman campaign.
7. Binghamton
I am going to echo what I say every year. Will the Bearcats make it through the year without an injury, a suspension, or some other controversy that hijacks their season? Last year the injury to JC Show killed their momentum. That was another moment in a long line of difficulties that the Binghamton program has faced. They have a veteran team comprised of mostly junior and seniors and they will be one of the more physical teams in the league. Making a significant jump is dependent on finding consistency.
8. Maine
Maine was again left in shambles after last season with more departures and public embarrassment over a locker room fight that resulted in a broken jaw. With constant roster turnover there is no way to build a program and much like Binghamton, until there is some year to year consistency it is hard to start winning games. Maine has a significant influx of JUCO players this season which may add some life into the program but I am not sure if it is going to transfer into wins.
9. Hartford
The difference between the teams toward the bottom of the league is fairly small. I am picking Hartford last because they did not have much success last year with Jalen Ross and now that he has graduated, they don't have a clear replacement. Jason Dunne will put up some big numbers but Hartford is still too reliant on outside shooting to bring game to game consistency. This might be a make or break year for John Gallagher.
1. Vermont
All across college basketball, Vermont is getting attention as a top mid major program. Winning the title last year and returning the core of their team has rocketed them into a different stratosphere. Anthony Lamb is ready to breakout and compete for the conference player of the year. Payton Henson, Trae Bell-Haynes, and Ernie Duncan are locked in to their roles and ready to make another run at the title. However, this years team has more questions marks than the one that cruised through the league last season. Losing Dre Wills, Kurt Steidl, and Darren Payen is more significant than most people think. Vermont is going to rely on young, inexperienced players to fill those roles. Much of what those graduated players brought to the table is tough to replace because it was intangible "beyond the box score" type production. It will be interesting to see how the defensive side of the ball progresses throughout the season. Vermont has some young, intriguing talent and the progression of their roles will be the key to Vermont's success. Last year the Cats motivation was to erase the sting of their postseason disappointments and this year their motivation is to stay on top. Those are two very different mentalities and it will be interesting to see if that has any effect on this Vermont team.
2. Albany
Albany is again poised to push Vermont for the top spot in the league. They too return the core group from last years team including the dynamic duo of Joe Cremo and David Nichols. Travis Charles is going to have an expanded role this year after a very successful year coming off the bench. Albany and Vermont are in very similar situations where they are asking their newcomers to make an immediate impact. The two flagship America East programs seemed destined to clash once again as the top two teams in the conference. The x-factor for Albany will be what they get out of graduate transfer Alex Foster. He is 6-8 forward who began his career at Texas Tech and gives them some much needed frontcourt depth. Will Brown will have his team ready and this year they are the team looking to erase the sting of a postseason disappointment.
3. UMBC
The Retrievers came out of nowhere last year and took the league by storm. In a league of methodical teams, they were the foil. A fast paced high octane system caught many teams off guard and they relentlessly attacked opponents. UMBC returns Jairus Lyles and KJ Maura to lead this undersized unit. They will miss the production of Will Darley who allowed them to use small lineups and spread the floor with his shooting ability. Replacing his production will be key to the Retrievers success.
4. Stony Brook
Stony Brook has the look of a team that is one year away from returning to the top. They have a good young group and Jeff Boals is making some noise on the recruiting trail. Akwasi Yeboah is poised for breakout year and Anthony Ochefu leads a pack of impact freshman. The loss of Lucas Woodhouse is going to make it tough to stay at the top this season. So much of Stony Brook's success last year was dependent on his steady hand at the controls. They are going to be a fun team to watch and they have to chance to push the top teams.
5. New Hampshire
Tanner Leissner is ready for his senior campaign and Jacoby Armstrong returns from a one year absence. Along with Iba Camara, they form one of the leagues most formidable frontcourts. How will they fill the void left by Jaleen Smith and Daniel Dion? The Wildcats were a very inconsistent outside shooting team during those players careers and now face the tall task of finding shot makers to replace their production. Leissner is a tremendous talent but now he is going to face more intense defensive pressure as the main offensive weapon. The Wildcats are going to have to out physical opponents and play tough defense to compete with the top teams.
6. UMass Lowell
Finally eligible for the post season, the River Hawks look to build on flashes of brilliance over the last few years. Jahad Thomas is an incredible talent and the most versatile player in the conference. This team can score and is a very efficient offensive team. Their struggles in recent years have been on the defensive side of the ball. I think that being able to fight for a postseason spot will help this team remain focused and push through for the entire conference schedule. Look for Rinardo Perry to build off a strong freshman campaign.
7. Binghamton
I am going to echo what I say every year. Will the Bearcats make it through the year without an injury, a suspension, or some other controversy that hijacks their season? Last year the injury to JC Show killed their momentum. That was another moment in a long line of difficulties that the Binghamton program has faced. They have a veteran team comprised of mostly junior and seniors and they will be one of the more physical teams in the league. Making a significant jump is dependent on finding consistency.
8. Maine
Maine was again left in shambles after last season with more departures and public embarrassment over a locker room fight that resulted in a broken jaw. With constant roster turnover there is no way to build a program and much like Binghamton, until there is some year to year consistency it is hard to start winning games. Maine has a significant influx of JUCO players this season which may add some life into the program but I am not sure if it is going to transfer into wins.
9. Hartford
The difference between the teams toward the bottom of the league is fairly small. I am picking Hartford last because they did not have much success last year with Jalen Ross and now that he has graduated, they don't have a clear replacement. Jason Dunne will put up some big numbers but Hartford is still too reliant on outside shooting to bring game to game consistency. This might be a make or break year for John Gallagher.
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