Season Wrap

It was another tremendous season in Catamount country. This group of seniors was special and I am not sure if we will ever see a run of success like the one Vermont just had. For a state with only one Division I university and and team with out of date facilities and a minuscule budget, this program was on the map as a top mid-major program for two years. A dream that seemed far off when Becker took the reins of this program 7 years ago. This season did not end the way everyone wanted to and that was very difficult. However, I think some of the Vermont fanbase has been spoiled by all of the success that this team has had over the years. Having each teams success judged solely by winning a championship is honestly an unreasonable expectation. Enjoying the entire season, its ups and downs, and getting to watch great basketball right in our own backyard is incredible. The young people in this state seeing that working hard no matter the hurdles is important. These are the things that make this Vermont program so special. There are very few programs that can maintain the type of momentum that Vermont has built. The fact that they are doing it solely based on the actual basketball product itself is an even greater success. If we as fans look to far ahead we will miss what is right in front of us. Blink and this success could be gone in a flash. We as a fanbase cannot be so arrogant as to assume that this type of success is garunteed.

I will miss these seniors so much. Trae Bell-Haynes, Drew Urquhart, Cam Ward, Payton Henson, Nate Rohrer, and David Urso all left Catamount country a better place. Trae Bell-Haynes developed into one of the best players in Vermont history. Drew Urquhart and Cam Ward worked hard, overcame difficulties, and proved that all of that pays off in the end. Payton Henson found a home to finish his basketball career and get to the NCAA tournament. Nate Rohrer saved Vermont in a season when they needed him and was always ready to play when his number was called. David Urso pushed the guys in practice every year. All of them represented themselves as ambassadors of not only the Vermont program but the university at large. Great basketball players, even better people. That is the type of player that the Vermont program is founded on and the type of player that will continue to bring success.

I am very excited about next season but I am holding back until the coaching searches finish up. Becker's name always comes up this time of year and this year there are some jobs that I think he would consider. The one that scares me the most is if Danny Hurley leaves Rhode Island, I have to think he would be on their shortlist. I know Becker wants to be at Vermont but as I said last year, the new arena needs to happen. There has been some progress but with no concrete plan in place Vermont is rolling the dice. At some point the money that other schools can offer is going to be too much to turn down. If Becker stays Vermont is once again set up to be in the title hunt. It will not be the dominant run of the past few season and there will be many more ups and downs, but the pieces are going to be there. The current 2018 recruits (Isaiah Moll, Ryan Davis, Robin Duncan) are a incredible class. I believe that each of them has the potential to be future all league caliber players. Combine that with the returning Duncans, a healthy Lamb, and some exciting young players, and Vermont has the pieces to be a dangerous team by the end of the season. Roster continuity is the key for any mid-major to maintain success but this off season it is even more crucial because of what Vermont is already replacing due to graduation. The next few weeks will go a long way to understanding what next year will bring.