Vermont 70 Towson 64
Vermont picked up another road win with a strong second half against Towson. Ernie Duncan led the Cats, knocking down 6-9 from three on his way to 28 points. Ernie calmly knocked down shots all night and iced the game from the free throw line. Ernie has been on a hot streak over the past four games shooting at a 63% (15-24) clip from three. Isaiah Moll had his breakout game knocking down 3-4 from deep on his way to a career high 20 points. He also led the team with 7 rebounds and is looking more and more comfortable on the court. He is still often out of control and gets himself in bad situations, but the game is definitely starting to slow down. Once he harnesses his aggressiveness on the court he is going to be a force. Other than those two everyone else really struggled as Vermont is still trying to find some consistency. Again tonight the Vermont offense ran in streaks and alternately looked unstoppable and disorganized. Vermont's dependency on the three point shot will be an interesting storyline this season. When they are hitting from the perimeter their whole on court energy is lifted. When the shots are not falling they look lethargic and hesitant. As teams focus more and more on stopping Anthony Lamb, the three point shot is going to be a shot Vermont will be able to consistently get throughout a game. They are going to have to find a balance between taking what the defense gives them and not settling for jumpers. Now on to a much tougher matchup in George Mason on Monday night. Vermont is going to have to put together a full 40 minutes of good basketball to come away with a win.
Friday, November 30, 2018
Wednesday, November 28, 2018
Vermont at George Washington 11/28/18
Vermont 69 George Washington 53
Vermont used strong three point shooting to go on a 16-0 second half run and opened their three game road trip with a win. The three pointers were falling all night as Vermont finished 11-19 from three. The hot shooting came from some unexpected sources as Ben Shungu was 3-3 from deep on his way to a career high 13 points. Considering Shungu was 2-5 from three for his career before this game, I would call his production a nice surprise. Isaiah Moll was shooting 2-18 on the season before he knocked a big shot during that run. It was great to see Everett Duncan get some shots to fall as he had been struggling over the last few games. The big story was some significant lineup changes for this game. Robin Duncan and Ryan Davis started for Vermont and Ben Shungu saw significant minutes throughout the game. The rotations are very fluid at this point as Becker tries to get the most out of these young players. I though Becker again really struggled with substitution patterns when Vermont's offense was stalled out to start the second half. Robin is the key to the Vermont offense running smoothly. As soon as Robin came back into the lineup in the second half, the Cats went on their big run. He led the team with 6 assists and is quickly becoming Vermont's best facilitator. Anthony Lamb hit some big shots and led the Cats with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 more blocks. He is fast becoming quite the rim protector. Stef Smith struggled with decision making in the second half but really got on the boards finishing with 9 rebounds to go along with his 10 points. This continues an encouraging trend of a big improvement in his rebounding this season. Vermont is still trying to find their identity and players are still figuring out what their roles will be. The defense looked better and looked more like Vermont basketball. This game was a great example of how explosive this offense has a chance to be. This group can put points up in a hurry and they can get even better. This was a good win to kick off the road trip but they have a quick turnaround before their game against Towson on Friday. Becker is going to have to continue to find creative ways to motivate and educate these players as they navigate the early part of this season.
Vermont used strong three point shooting to go on a 16-0 second half run and opened their three game road trip with a win. The three pointers were falling all night as Vermont finished 11-19 from three. The hot shooting came from some unexpected sources as Ben Shungu was 3-3 from deep on his way to a career high 13 points. Considering Shungu was 2-5 from three for his career before this game, I would call his production a nice surprise. Isaiah Moll was shooting 2-18 on the season before he knocked a big shot during that run. It was great to see Everett Duncan get some shots to fall as he had been struggling over the last few games. The big story was some significant lineup changes for this game. Robin Duncan and Ryan Davis started for Vermont and Ben Shungu saw significant minutes throughout the game. The rotations are very fluid at this point as Becker tries to get the most out of these young players. I though Becker again really struggled with substitution patterns when Vermont's offense was stalled out to start the second half. Robin is the key to the Vermont offense running smoothly. As soon as Robin came back into the lineup in the second half, the Cats went on their big run. He led the team with 6 assists and is quickly becoming Vermont's best facilitator. Anthony Lamb hit some big shots and led the Cats with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 more blocks. He is fast becoming quite the rim protector. Stef Smith struggled with decision making in the second half but really got on the boards finishing with 9 rebounds to go along with his 10 points. This continues an encouraging trend of a big improvement in his rebounding this season. Vermont is still trying to find their identity and players are still figuring out what their roles will be. The defense looked better and looked more like Vermont basketball. This game was a great example of how explosive this offense has a chance to be. This group can put points up in a hurry and they can get even better. This was a good win to kick off the road trip but they have a quick turnaround before their game against Towson on Friday. Becker is going to have to continue to find creative ways to motivate and educate these players as they navigate the early part of this season.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Bucknell at Vermont 11/25/18
Bucknell 69 Vermont 61
The Cats came out flat in the second half and fell to Bucknell. After an impressive performance against Yale on Wednesday this was a pendulum swing in the other direction. This Vermont team is going to have wild swings to both extremes of effectiveness due to their youth and inexperience. Bucknell did a great job making second half adjustments and Becker really struggled to find the right combination of players. There were several times in the second half where Vermont's offense was stalling and it was partially due to some strange on court combinations and guys not really knowing their role. The team looked hesitant and back on their heels for most of the second half while Bucknell made all the right plays to win the game. Bucknell is another very well coached program with players who are accustomed to winning. They were the team that was able to execute down the stretch. After the best game of his career Anthony Lamb came crashing back down to earth. Lamb struggled mightily in this one shooting 2-14 from the field including not making a field goal in the second half. Combine that with Stef Smith shooting 3-10 and it is not hard to see how Vermont finished the game shooting only 32% from the field including 25% from three. The game was very physical and choppy and Vermont really struggled to get any sort of offensive flow. Ernie Duncan was the lone bright spot as we was able to hit the 20 point mark for the first time this season on 6-9 shooting from the field. With this group relying more on a few scorers rather than the balanced scoring of years past, games where the team leaders are struggling are harder to overcome. Vermont's bench play is a major work in progress and because of the inexperience, Becker is experimenting quite a bit to try and find out which players are going to be most effective in which situations. Now the Cats are on the road for the next three games. You learn a lot more about a team after a loss than you do after a win so it will be interesting to see how this group responds during this road trip.
The Cats came out flat in the second half and fell to Bucknell. After an impressive performance against Yale on Wednesday this was a pendulum swing in the other direction. This Vermont team is going to have wild swings to both extremes of effectiveness due to their youth and inexperience. Bucknell did a great job making second half adjustments and Becker really struggled to find the right combination of players. There were several times in the second half where Vermont's offense was stalling and it was partially due to some strange on court combinations and guys not really knowing their role. The team looked hesitant and back on their heels for most of the second half while Bucknell made all the right plays to win the game. Bucknell is another very well coached program with players who are accustomed to winning. They were the team that was able to execute down the stretch. After the best game of his career Anthony Lamb came crashing back down to earth. Lamb struggled mightily in this one shooting 2-14 from the field including not making a field goal in the second half. Combine that with Stef Smith shooting 3-10 and it is not hard to see how Vermont finished the game shooting only 32% from the field including 25% from three. The game was very physical and choppy and Vermont really struggled to get any sort of offensive flow. Ernie Duncan was the lone bright spot as we was able to hit the 20 point mark for the first time this season on 6-9 shooting from the field. With this group relying more on a few scorers rather than the balanced scoring of years past, games where the team leaders are struggling are harder to overcome. Vermont's bench play is a major work in progress and because of the inexperience, Becker is experimenting quite a bit to try and find out which players are going to be most effective in which situations. Now the Cats are on the road for the next three games. You learn a lot more about a team after a loss than you do after a win so it will be interesting to see how this group responds during this road trip.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Yale at Vermont 11/21/18
Vermont 79 Yale 70
Anthony Lamb exploded for a career high 34 points and led Vermont to a victory over Yale in the real home opener. Lamb was straight up dominant in this one. He did it all for the Cats. He shot 6-11 from three and single-handedly kept Vermont in the game in the first half. He finished with 4 blocks and 7 rebounds, physically dominating the paint in the second half. Vermont fans are seeing something special in Lamb's ascension this season. The other two big time game changers in the second half were Robin Duncan and Samuel Dingba. Dingba had his best minutes as a Catamount forcing a couple steals, two big blocks, and playing tough defense underneath. It was great to finally see Dingba make some positive plays. Becker switched his lineup coming out of half and inserted Robin instead of Everett. Robin responded by masterfully running the offense. He as able to get by Yale defenders and into the lane at will, which really opened up the perimeter during Vermont's big run. His length was on display at both ends of the floor as he bothered entry passes on the defensive end and was able to fit passes into tight windows on the offensive end. There is so much subtlety to his game and it is beautiful to watch. He has solidified his spot in the rotation. Isaiah Moll struggled mightily at the offensive end but it was nice to see him make big contributions in other aspects of the game. He played big minutes in the second half and played hard and was tough on the boards. If he can continue to grow the other parts of his game he will continue to earn big minutes. Stef Smith and Ernie Duncan continued their strong shooting from the perimeter. The shift in the style of Vermont basketball is becoming more evident with each game as Becker is letting the reins loose and allowing some quicker shots and more freedom for his offensive playmakers to create opportunities. What has been most amazing about the increased offensive freedom is that the Cats have been able to do such a great job limiting turnovers. They only committed 6 turnovers and have been valuing the ball nicely to start the season. It is nice to see that the playing well in losses to good teams actually was an indicator that this team is starting to put things together. This group is coming together quickly and still has more room to grow. Sunday afternoon presents another big test with a tough Bucknell squad coming to Patrick. Going to be another fun one. One interesting tidbit is that Jimmy Sotos from Bucknell and Ryan Davis played on the same high school basketball team.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Anthony Lamb exploded for a career high 34 points and led Vermont to a victory over Yale in the real home opener. Lamb was straight up dominant in this one. He did it all for the Cats. He shot 6-11 from three and single-handedly kept Vermont in the game in the first half. He finished with 4 blocks and 7 rebounds, physically dominating the paint in the second half. Vermont fans are seeing something special in Lamb's ascension this season. The other two big time game changers in the second half were Robin Duncan and Samuel Dingba. Dingba had his best minutes as a Catamount forcing a couple steals, two big blocks, and playing tough defense underneath. It was great to finally see Dingba make some positive plays. Becker switched his lineup coming out of half and inserted Robin instead of Everett. Robin responded by masterfully running the offense. He as able to get by Yale defenders and into the lane at will, which really opened up the perimeter during Vermont's big run. His length was on display at both ends of the floor as he bothered entry passes on the defensive end and was able to fit passes into tight windows on the offensive end. There is so much subtlety to his game and it is beautiful to watch. He has solidified his spot in the rotation. Isaiah Moll struggled mightily at the offensive end but it was nice to see him make big contributions in other aspects of the game. He played big minutes in the second half and played hard and was tough on the boards. If he can continue to grow the other parts of his game he will continue to earn big minutes. Stef Smith and Ernie Duncan continued their strong shooting from the perimeter. The shift in the style of Vermont basketball is becoming more evident with each game as Becker is letting the reins loose and allowing some quicker shots and more freedom for his offensive playmakers to create opportunities. What has been most amazing about the increased offensive freedom is that the Cats have been able to do such a great job limiting turnovers. They only committed 6 turnovers and have been valuing the ball nicely to start the season. It is nice to see that the playing well in losses to good teams actually was an indicator that this team is starting to put things together. This group is coming together quickly and still has more room to grow. Sunday afternoon presents another big test with a tough Bucknell squad coming to Patrick. Going to be another fun one. One interesting tidbit is that Jimmy Sotos from Bucknell and Ryan Davis played on the same high school basketball team.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Friday, November 16, 2018
Vermont at Louisville 11/16/18
Louisville 86 Vermont 78
Vermont really struggled coming out of halftime and then got back into the game with a big second half run before falling to Louisville. This game was a perfect encapsulation of the wide variance with which this team can play. It is very jarring for Vermont fans because the teams of the last few years were such a consistent machine that seeing a team who has such large swings in performance is strange to watch. Vermont came out strong and then had some tough luck to end the half. Then they came out flat and got down big as their offense completely stalled with Anthony Lamb in foul trouble. When Lamb came back in at the 8 minute mark everything changed and the Cats were able to make it interesting. Lamb looks better and better every game. He did it all tonight even in his limited minutes. He is noticeably quicker and the work he put in in the offseason is paying off big time. Lamb finished with 25 points on 9-16 shooting. He is showcasing his entire offensive repertoire in the early going this season and is also becoming a strong leadership presence. Stef Smith has been an absolute revelation through the first part of the season. The thought process going into this season was that he would be able to provide another scoring option as a complementary player. Through the first part of the season he has looked like Vermont's' second best player next to Lamb. He has an effortless shooting stroke and has been an assassin from deep. He finished with a career high 24 points, knocking down 4-7 from three. That brings him up to 50% (11-22) from three on the season. He is lightening fast to the rim and has been knocking down his free throws, which was an area of difficulty last season. Everyone else really struggled in this one as there was no one else in double figures. A big part of that is a credit to Louisville's length on defense as they really guarded tight on the perimeter. I liked the mental toughness of not just mailing it in down big in the second half and this young team taking their lumps and getting right back up. Becker played a lot of guys in this one and is trying to let them make their mistakes, talk to them, and get them back out there to try again. They can certainly take away a lot from this game and have a big two game homestand coming up. Yale and Bucknell come to Patrick and both are going to be tough matchups. Now that Vermont has got some big time mid majors to come to Patrick it is time to win these games at home. This will be a crucial week for this young team.
Vermont really struggled coming out of halftime and then got back into the game with a big second half run before falling to Louisville. This game was a perfect encapsulation of the wide variance with which this team can play. It is very jarring for Vermont fans because the teams of the last few years were such a consistent machine that seeing a team who has such large swings in performance is strange to watch. Vermont came out strong and then had some tough luck to end the half. Then they came out flat and got down big as their offense completely stalled with Anthony Lamb in foul trouble. When Lamb came back in at the 8 minute mark everything changed and the Cats were able to make it interesting. Lamb looks better and better every game. He did it all tonight even in his limited minutes. He is noticeably quicker and the work he put in in the offseason is paying off big time. Lamb finished with 25 points on 9-16 shooting. He is showcasing his entire offensive repertoire in the early going this season and is also becoming a strong leadership presence. Stef Smith has been an absolute revelation through the first part of the season. The thought process going into this season was that he would be able to provide another scoring option as a complementary player. Through the first part of the season he has looked like Vermont's' second best player next to Lamb. He has an effortless shooting stroke and has been an assassin from deep. He finished with a career high 24 points, knocking down 4-7 from three. That brings him up to 50% (11-22) from three on the season. He is lightening fast to the rim and has been knocking down his free throws, which was an area of difficulty last season. Everyone else really struggled in this one as there was no one else in double figures. A big part of that is a credit to Louisville's length on defense as they really guarded tight on the perimeter. I liked the mental toughness of not just mailing it in down big in the second half and this young team taking their lumps and getting right back up. Becker played a lot of guys in this one and is trying to let them make their mistakes, talk to them, and get them back out there to try again. They can certainly take away a lot from this game and have a big two game homestand coming up. Yale and Bucknell come to Patrick and both are going to be tough matchups. Now that Vermont has got some big time mid majors to come to Patrick it is time to win these games at home. This will be a crucial week for this young team.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
NVU Lyndon at Vermont 11/14/18
Vermont 122 NVU Lyndon 56
The Catamounts set a new single game scoring record in their home opener. It was nice to see the team stay engaged in the game throughout despite the clear difference in talent level. I have seen all different versions of the lower competition matchups over the years and it was nice to see one where Becker was able to keep the players motivated. The game never really got sloppy and it was fun to see everyone get a chance to play. Every player who saw time on the court scored for Vermont and the scoring record is really a credit to how deep this Vermont team is. It is tough to take away information from these games due to the disparity in level of basketball but there were a few things that stood out. It was nice to see some players get extended court time to work through inexperience and shake off rust. Robin Duncan is going to have to be worked into the rotation as his passing ability could be a huge cog in the Vermont offense. Robin almost recorded a triple double finishing with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. The subtlety to his game is incredible and as he gets more comfortable with the college game he is going to add a lot to this team. It was great to see Everett Duncan come out so aggressive and get engaged in the game early. I was also glad to see Skyler Nash get a chance to shake off the rust and start to work his way back. He has a long way to go as he tries to rediscover his game but it was good to see him get some extended time on the court. Also that Kevin Garrison step back three was sweet. The bigger story was what happened off the court as Ernie Duncan and Ryan Davis both sat out the game. Ernie may have been just getting rest as he has been taking a beating this season but Davis is a different story. He was wearing a walking boot so he is definitely dealing with some kind of injury. Hopefully neither is anything serious as they prepare for Louisville on Friday. That should be an interesting game at the end of a very busy week.
The Catamounts set a new single game scoring record in their home opener. It was nice to see the team stay engaged in the game throughout despite the clear difference in talent level. I have seen all different versions of the lower competition matchups over the years and it was nice to see one where Becker was able to keep the players motivated. The game never really got sloppy and it was fun to see everyone get a chance to play. Every player who saw time on the court scored for Vermont and the scoring record is really a credit to how deep this Vermont team is. It is tough to take away information from these games due to the disparity in level of basketball but there were a few things that stood out. It was nice to see some players get extended court time to work through inexperience and shake off rust. Robin Duncan is going to have to be worked into the rotation as his passing ability could be a huge cog in the Vermont offense. Robin almost recorded a triple double finishing with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 10 assists. The subtlety to his game is incredible and as he gets more comfortable with the college game he is going to add a lot to this team. It was great to see Everett Duncan come out so aggressive and get engaged in the game early. I was also glad to see Skyler Nash get a chance to shake off the rust and start to work his way back. He has a long way to go as he tries to rediscover his game but it was good to see him get some extended time on the court. Also that Kevin Garrison step back three was sweet. The bigger story was what happened off the court as Ernie Duncan and Ryan Davis both sat out the game. Ernie may have been just getting rest as he has been taking a beating this season but Davis is a different story. He was wearing a walking boot so he is definitely dealing with some kind of injury. Hopefully neither is anything serious as they prepare for Louisville on Friday. That should be an interesting game at the end of a very busy week.
Monday, November 12, 2018
Vermont at Kansas 11/12/18
Kansas 84 Vermont 68
Kansas pulled away form Vermont in the second half thanks to a career night from LaGerald Vick. Vermont played a tremendous first half before going cold in the second. However, the game was very well played by Vermont overall. It took a career night from Vick scoring 32 points and shooting 8-8 from three for Kansas to stretch their lead. Vermont played tough and never looked rattled. Another very encouraging effort and a sign that this team is already displaying the poise of a more experienced team. Anthony Lamb is a man on a mission. He made some ridiculous shots tonight and his spin move in the lane is borderline unguardable. Lamb finished with 24 points and is making a statement as the leader of this team. In the big games against the upper tier teams he has a knack for elevating his game. Ernie Duncan was hot in the first half and finished with 17 points. I really like his shift to point guard as he is sneaky good getting to the basket. Stef Smith looked very good again. I especially liked his work on the boards with 8 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. He looks like a different player from a year ago. Smith is playing with more confidence and has matured quite a bit over even that past few months. It is nice to see him recovered from the nagging injury he had been dealing with. Ben Shungu's play is going to continue to earn him playing time. He is showing some serious toughness on the court and gives the Cats a pesky defender off the bench. Shungu has worked hard on his offensive game and he certainly looks far more comfortable on the offensive end. I know Ryan Davis really threw up some clunkers in this game and maybe that will keep him in the doghouse, but I thought he played very tough against one of the toughest post matchups in the country in Udoka Azubuike. The shots will fall as he slows the game down. I think he is getting there ever so slowly. Ra Kpedi was very overmatched in this one and his offensive limitations really hurt the Cats. The battle for playing time between him and Davis will be one of the interesting story lines of the non-conference schedule. I would like to see Everett Duncan get more involved in the offense. He did not even attempt a shot tonight and has looked tentative through the first couple games. The Cats need his shooting to help space the floor. The performance in this game tells me that the Canadian trip really helped this team be a little ahead of schedule in becoming a cohesive team. They have things that they need to work on but the players finding their new roles are maturing rapidly and it is going to give Vermont a chance to steal some of their tough non-conference games against other good mid-majors. Now it is time for the obligatory non-D1 game before heading to Louisville on Friday. It is a busy week in Catamount country.
Kansas pulled away form Vermont in the second half thanks to a career night from LaGerald Vick. Vermont played a tremendous first half before going cold in the second. However, the game was very well played by Vermont overall. It took a career night from Vick scoring 32 points and shooting 8-8 from three for Kansas to stretch their lead. Vermont played tough and never looked rattled. Another very encouraging effort and a sign that this team is already displaying the poise of a more experienced team. Anthony Lamb is a man on a mission. He made some ridiculous shots tonight and his spin move in the lane is borderline unguardable. Lamb finished with 24 points and is making a statement as the leader of this team. In the big games against the upper tier teams he has a knack for elevating his game. Ernie Duncan was hot in the first half and finished with 17 points. I really like his shift to point guard as he is sneaky good getting to the basket. Stef Smith looked very good again. I especially liked his work on the boards with 8 rebounds to go along with his 13 points. He looks like a different player from a year ago. Smith is playing with more confidence and has matured quite a bit over even that past few months. It is nice to see him recovered from the nagging injury he had been dealing with. Ben Shungu's play is going to continue to earn him playing time. He is showing some serious toughness on the court and gives the Cats a pesky defender off the bench. Shungu has worked hard on his offensive game and he certainly looks far more comfortable on the offensive end. I know Ryan Davis really threw up some clunkers in this game and maybe that will keep him in the doghouse, but I thought he played very tough against one of the toughest post matchups in the country in Udoka Azubuike. The shots will fall as he slows the game down. I think he is getting there ever so slowly. Ra Kpedi was very overmatched in this one and his offensive limitations really hurt the Cats. The battle for playing time between him and Davis will be one of the interesting story lines of the non-conference schedule. I would like to see Everett Duncan get more involved in the offense. He did not even attempt a shot tonight and has looked tentative through the first couple games. The Cats need his shooting to help space the floor. The performance in this game tells me that the Canadian trip really helped this team be a little ahead of schedule in becoming a cohesive team. They have things that they need to work on but the players finding their new roles are maturing rapidly and it is going to give Vermont a chance to steal some of their tough non-conference games against other good mid-majors. Now it is time for the obligatory non-D1 game before heading to Louisville on Friday. It is a busy week in Catamount country.
Friday, November 9, 2018
Vermont at Boston University 11/9/18
Vermont 78 BU 72
Vermont rallied back from a 10 point second half deficit to win their season opener in Boston. Big time victory to open the season in a back and forth game. I unfortunately could not watch the game (silly blackout restrictions) but listened to the game on the radio. Anthony Lamb certainly made a statement in leading the Cats to victory. He scored the two big buckets to give Vermont the late lead and came up with a huge block on BU's next possession. This was all part of a dominant 19 point, 14 rebound, 4 block, 3 steal performance. He was not going to let the Cats lose and willed them to victory with tough play down the stretch. Stef Smith shook off an injury plagued exhibition season and exploded with 22 points. He was quick and decisive while committing zero turnovers. What a performance and a statement game by Smith in his second career start. When Vermont needed a spark in the second half, Isaiah Moll was there. Just like he did during both exhibition games, Moll shook of first half nerves and went on a personal 7-0 run during a crucial stretch in the second half. Moll finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds in his collegiate debut. Ernie Duncan provided the perimeter threat and and was the steady hand facilitating the victory. Ernie played a team high 34 minutes, finishing with 18 points and 5 assists. Ra Kpedi had a very up and down 17 minutes. He got some big rebounds and had a crucial put back but also committed some very silly fouls on his way to fouling out. He still has a ways to go but he again showed some flashes. As a team the Cats only committed 7 turnovers and turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, holding BU to 36% shooting. For this young team, this was an absolutely crucial victory. With Kansas and Louisville on deck it was imperative to start off in the win column. To win the game by having to dig deep, overcome a large deficit, and execute at the end gives this group invaluable experience. These are the games where you see what guys are made of. This team showed some tremendous mental toughness in their first game of the season. Other than settling for a few too many three pointers this was a very well played game by Vermont. What a great way to start the season. Now it is off to Kansas for an incredible experience for the players to go up against the number one team in the country.
Vermont rallied back from a 10 point second half deficit to win their season opener in Boston. Big time victory to open the season in a back and forth game. I unfortunately could not watch the game (silly blackout restrictions) but listened to the game on the radio. Anthony Lamb certainly made a statement in leading the Cats to victory. He scored the two big buckets to give Vermont the late lead and came up with a huge block on BU's next possession. This was all part of a dominant 19 point, 14 rebound, 4 block, 3 steal performance. He was not going to let the Cats lose and willed them to victory with tough play down the stretch. Stef Smith shook off an injury plagued exhibition season and exploded with 22 points. He was quick and decisive while committing zero turnovers. What a performance and a statement game by Smith in his second career start. When Vermont needed a spark in the second half, Isaiah Moll was there. Just like he did during both exhibition games, Moll shook of first half nerves and went on a personal 7-0 run during a crucial stretch in the second half. Moll finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds in his collegiate debut. Ernie Duncan provided the perimeter threat and and was the steady hand facilitating the victory. Ernie played a team high 34 minutes, finishing with 18 points and 5 assists. Ra Kpedi had a very up and down 17 minutes. He got some big rebounds and had a crucial put back but also committed some very silly fouls on his way to fouling out. He still has a ways to go but he again showed some flashes. As a team the Cats only committed 7 turnovers and turned up the defensive pressure in the second half, holding BU to 36% shooting. For this young team, this was an absolutely crucial victory. With Kansas and Louisville on deck it was imperative to start off in the win column. To win the game by having to dig deep, overcome a large deficit, and execute at the end gives this group invaluable experience. These are the games where you see what guys are made of. This team showed some tremendous mental toughness in their first game of the season. Other than settling for a few too many three pointers this was a very well played game by Vermont. What a great way to start the season. Now it is off to Kansas for an incredible experience for the players to go up against the number one team in the country.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Vermont season preview 2018-2019
The season is upon us!
Time for some serious prognostication. I have decided not to write a separate America East preview this season. The league is going to be nearly impossible to predict. Every team is replacing significant portions of their rotation. Heck, Albany is even replacing its entire team. In my mind Hartford and Vermont are the clear contenders. They are the two teams returning significant pieces from a successful season. Albany, UMBC, and Stony Brook are going to be the spoilers. If there is any coach that can engineer a complete roster overhaul and still be competitive, it is Will Brown. UMBC and Stony Brook return enough to keep them pushing the top teams. The rest of the league is going to struggle. With so much talent exiting the league and a big influx of young players, game to game consistency is going to be a task for every team. So instead of writing a league preview I will stick to what I know, Vermont basketball. Here are some thoughts on how this season will unfold.
Record: 20-10 (13-3) 1st place finish, NCAA berth.
Despite what will be an up and down season, I think the talent will coalesce come conference schedule time and ultimately this team will be playing their best basketball in March. The talent level on this team remains very high. The three freshman are inexperienced but loaded with potential. They are going to be asked to play a significant role from day one and because of that are going to have the opportunity to work through their growing pains early. Vermont has a very difficult non-conference schedule with four teams picked to win their conference (Kansas, Harvard, Northeastern, Lipscomb) and a fifth in Bucknell that received the most first place votes but was picked to finish second. This makes the process of working out the kinks and creating chemistry even more difficult. When this team is on and playing as a unit they can play with just about anyone. When players are learning their roles and adjusting to the college game, this team is going to struggle. Due to the change in personnel, Becker is making some adjustments to the offensive game plan as well. It has been evident through the scrimmages that they are going to give Anthony Lamb touches on as many possessions as possible. The offense is going to come from inside out much more this season. This also means that for the first time in several years, the Cats will actually have a true leading scorer. Vermont will still have balanced scoring but Lamb is going to be up in the 16-17 ppg range. The Cats haven't had a player average over 15 ppg since Marqus Blakely averaged 17.3 ppg in the 2009-2010 season. That is a long stretch of a very balanced scoring system.
Starting five: Ernie Duncan, Stef Smith, Everett Duncan, Isaiah Moll, Anthony Lamb
I think the starting lineup is going to be a very fluid thing this season and will be very matchup dependent. Stef Smith and Robin Duncan each bring their own specialty and are going to be deployed based on the opponent. I could see Robin's defensive prowess earning him a lot of minutes. Isaiah Moll's scoring ability is going to give the Cats so much offensive versatility. I do see Ra Kpedi and Ryan Davis playing more against teams with true big men. I think Davis is going to have the steepest learning curve of any of the newcomers. It is very hard to step into college basketball and Vermont's system in particular as a big man. The adjustment is different than that of a perimeter player. I think about how long it took Drew Urquhart to develop and how lost Lamb looked at times during the early part of his freshman year. Lamb was experiencing the same struggles that Davis is mired in right now. A step slow on the defensive rotations, getting called for a lot of ticky tack fouls, going for the big play instead of the simple one. I think Davis is going to take his lumps early on but if he can persevere, he will be a big part of the rotation during the conference schedule.
Keys to Success
The season hinges on three things in my mind: turnovers, rebounding, and defense. As with any inexperienced team, valuing the ball is of the utmost importance. Limiting turnovers is so crucial in controlling game flow and closing out opponents. Team chemistry is a significant factor in a team's ability to take care of the ball. However fast the Cats can progress in this area this season will be a huge determinant in their game to game consistency. Rebounding is another key in controlling the game flow as it, much like turnovers, limits the opponents opportunities to score. At its most basic level that is what a defense does. It limits offensive opportunities. Payton Henson and Urquhart were great on the boards last season and rebounding is much more difficult to replace than scoring. Last but not least the defense itself. Becker is excited about the defensive potential of this team with its length and athleticism. The potential is definitely there but the rotations still have a long way to go. The system that Becker runs is complicated and it relies on everyone being where they need to be as opposed to relying on individually strong defenders. The defensive rotations are the place where I see the youth and inexperience the most. If this group works through that inexperience quickly they can be a very good defensive team.
Overall outlook
This group has the potential again play for a championship. They have the talent and the drive to get back to the NCAA tournament. This team has the potential to rise up and steal a few of those tough non conference games, particularly the tough opponents that they get at home. I think they will again be an efficient offensive team that shoots a high percentage. I also see Ernie, Everett, and Lamb making big jumps in their production and really seizing control as the leaders of this team. The tempo that Vermont plays at will probably be a little faster than the last few seasons as they try to take advantage of their athleticism. I expect the team to be fun to watch and they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder from the disappointing end to last season. Friday cant come soon enough.
Time for some serious prognostication. I have decided not to write a separate America East preview this season. The league is going to be nearly impossible to predict. Every team is replacing significant portions of their rotation. Heck, Albany is even replacing its entire team. In my mind Hartford and Vermont are the clear contenders. They are the two teams returning significant pieces from a successful season. Albany, UMBC, and Stony Brook are going to be the spoilers. If there is any coach that can engineer a complete roster overhaul and still be competitive, it is Will Brown. UMBC and Stony Brook return enough to keep them pushing the top teams. The rest of the league is going to struggle. With so much talent exiting the league and a big influx of young players, game to game consistency is going to be a task for every team. So instead of writing a league preview I will stick to what I know, Vermont basketball. Here are some thoughts on how this season will unfold.
Record: 20-10 (13-3) 1st place finish, NCAA berth.
Despite what will be an up and down season, I think the talent will coalesce come conference schedule time and ultimately this team will be playing their best basketball in March. The talent level on this team remains very high. The three freshman are inexperienced but loaded with potential. They are going to be asked to play a significant role from day one and because of that are going to have the opportunity to work through their growing pains early. Vermont has a very difficult non-conference schedule with four teams picked to win their conference (Kansas, Harvard, Northeastern, Lipscomb) and a fifth in Bucknell that received the most first place votes but was picked to finish second. This makes the process of working out the kinks and creating chemistry even more difficult. When this team is on and playing as a unit they can play with just about anyone. When players are learning their roles and adjusting to the college game, this team is going to struggle. Due to the change in personnel, Becker is making some adjustments to the offensive game plan as well. It has been evident through the scrimmages that they are going to give Anthony Lamb touches on as many possessions as possible. The offense is going to come from inside out much more this season. This also means that for the first time in several years, the Cats will actually have a true leading scorer. Vermont will still have balanced scoring but Lamb is going to be up in the 16-17 ppg range. The Cats haven't had a player average over 15 ppg since Marqus Blakely averaged 17.3 ppg in the 2009-2010 season. That is a long stretch of a very balanced scoring system.
Starting five: Ernie Duncan, Stef Smith, Everett Duncan, Isaiah Moll, Anthony Lamb
I think the starting lineup is going to be a very fluid thing this season and will be very matchup dependent. Stef Smith and Robin Duncan each bring their own specialty and are going to be deployed based on the opponent. I could see Robin's defensive prowess earning him a lot of minutes. Isaiah Moll's scoring ability is going to give the Cats so much offensive versatility. I do see Ra Kpedi and Ryan Davis playing more against teams with true big men. I think Davis is going to have the steepest learning curve of any of the newcomers. It is very hard to step into college basketball and Vermont's system in particular as a big man. The adjustment is different than that of a perimeter player. I think about how long it took Drew Urquhart to develop and how lost Lamb looked at times during the early part of his freshman year. Lamb was experiencing the same struggles that Davis is mired in right now. A step slow on the defensive rotations, getting called for a lot of ticky tack fouls, going for the big play instead of the simple one. I think Davis is going to take his lumps early on but if he can persevere, he will be a big part of the rotation during the conference schedule.
Keys to Success
The season hinges on three things in my mind: turnovers, rebounding, and defense. As with any inexperienced team, valuing the ball is of the utmost importance. Limiting turnovers is so crucial in controlling game flow and closing out opponents. Team chemistry is a significant factor in a team's ability to take care of the ball. However fast the Cats can progress in this area this season will be a huge determinant in their game to game consistency. Rebounding is another key in controlling the game flow as it, much like turnovers, limits the opponents opportunities to score. At its most basic level that is what a defense does. It limits offensive opportunities. Payton Henson and Urquhart were great on the boards last season and rebounding is much more difficult to replace than scoring. Last but not least the defense itself. Becker is excited about the defensive potential of this team with its length and athleticism. The potential is definitely there but the rotations still have a long way to go. The system that Becker runs is complicated and it relies on everyone being where they need to be as opposed to relying on individually strong defenders. The defensive rotations are the place where I see the youth and inexperience the most. If this group works through that inexperience quickly they can be a very good defensive team.
Overall outlook
This group has the potential again play for a championship. They have the talent and the drive to get back to the NCAA tournament. This team has the potential to rise up and steal a few of those tough non conference games, particularly the tough opponents that they get at home. I think they will again be an efficient offensive team that shoots a high percentage. I also see Ernie, Everett, and Lamb making big jumps in their production and really seizing control as the leaders of this team. The tempo that Vermont plays at will probably be a little faster than the last few seasons as they try to take advantage of their athleticism. I expect the team to be fun to watch and they will be playing with a chip on their shoulder from the disappointing end to last season. Friday cant come soon enough.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Aaron Deloney commits to Vermont
Vermont gets their second commitment of the week from Aaron Deloney, a 2019 PG from Portland, Oregon. Deloney had several D-I offers from schools like Eastern Washington, Portland State, and Houston Baptist. There was no mention of his recruitment until he visited Vermont this past weekend. After watching some highlights and reading up on Deloney, there is a lot to be excited about. He was named to the 6A Oregon first team after leading his high school to a state championship. He is rated as the #2 class of 2019 prospect in the state of Oregon. Deloney put up some big numbers averaging 25 ppg while showcasing a lightening quick release from three and scoring at all three levels. Looking at his stats from the Nike EYBL circuit over the summer he puts up a lot of shots and can be a streaky shooter. He seems like the type of player that can get hot and carry his team. This is a different type of player than Vermont usually gets. It signals a continued commitment by the coaching staff to become more offensively dynamic. With each new recruiting class, there has been an emphasis on shooting and play making ability. Coach Becker has talked at length about his shift in philosophy when he started to get offensive minded players and teach them to play defense. It is exciting to get such a dynamic player to join the young core at Vermont. The coaching staff continues to expand their recruiting net and push the Vermont program forward.
Sunday, November 4, 2018
Exhibition: St. Michael's vs. Vermont 11/4/18
Vermont 90 St. Michael's 61
Vermont used a strong second half to finish off St. Michael's and the exhibition portion of their season. Now it is time for the real thing. This was a very choppy game and a chippy one too. Tons of fouls. Tons of emotion. Tons of turnovers. This game is a perfect preview of how the early part of this season is going to go for the Cats. In the first half, Vermont struggled to get into the flow and turned the ball over too much. They let St. Michael's dictate the game flow and were only up two points. Lots of freshman mistakes and miscommunications. Then in the second half, Vermont dictated the pace of play, tightened up their defense, and were a more cohesive team. This team is going to be far more volatile than the steady machine like team that Vermont has had over the last two years. They are going to play faster and they are going to make more mistakes. Especially in the non conference portion of the schedule. A great example of this is Isaiah Moll. In both games Moll has been uneven in the first half and absolutely dominant in the second half. He is a special player and is going to put up some big numbers for Vermont this season. Ernie Duncan has come into this year with a completely different mentality and is seizing his moment as the senior leader exactly as Vermont needs him to do. He is ready to be a scoring guard and attack the rim. He is going to be the leader on this team and is poised to showcase just how well rounded his game has become. The caveat to that is he has to be able to stay healthy as he has also been on the floor a ton, including a particularly hard fall in this one. It is time for some real basketball and I will be posting my season preview on Tuesday night. The opener against Boston University on Friday night can not come soon enough.
Vermont used a strong second half to finish off St. Michael's and the exhibition portion of their season. Now it is time for the real thing. This was a very choppy game and a chippy one too. Tons of fouls. Tons of emotion. Tons of turnovers. This game is a perfect preview of how the early part of this season is going to go for the Cats. In the first half, Vermont struggled to get into the flow and turned the ball over too much. They let St. Michael's dictate the game flow and were only up two points. Lots of freshman mistakes and miscommunications. Then in the second half, Vermont dictated the pace of play, tightened up their defense, and were a more cohesive team. This team is going to be far more volatile than the steady machine like team that Vermont has had over the last two years. They are going to play faster and they are going to make more mistakes. Especially in the non conference portion of the schedule. A great example of this is Isaiah Moll. In both games Moll has been uneven in the first half and absolutely dominant in the second half. He is a special player and is going to put up some big numbers for Vermont this season. Ernie Duncan has come into this year with a completely different mentality and is seizing his moment as the senior leader exactly as Vermont needs him to do. He is ready to be a scoring guard and attack the rim. He is going to be the leader on this team and is poised to showcase just how well rounded his game has become. The caveat to that is he has to be able to stay healthy as he has also been on the floor a ton, including a particularly hard fall in this one. It is time for some real basketball and I will be posting my season preview on Tuesday night. The opener against Boston University on Friday night can not come soon enough.
Vermont gets their first 2019 commitment
On Friday night Vermont got their 2019 class started with a commitment from Eric Beckett. Beckett is a 6-5 shooting guard from Ontario who attends the Tilton School in New Hampshire. This is another strong pickup for the Catamounts. While reading up on his game the big thing was consistently said about him is that he is versatile. Beckett is able to play well within the team and consistently makes his teammates better. The type of player that can do all of the little things to hep a team win and does not need to be the focal point to be successful. To get a player like that is perfect for this recruiting class because this team will return a lot of its minutes for the 2019-2020 season. Getting a player who is able to adapt this game to fit whatever role the teams needs is big. He fits into the Kurt Steidl, Everett Duncan mold that has been so successful for Vermont. The coaching staff is clearly making size a priority, even at the guard position. The Cats are going to be able to put big lineups on the floor and really use their length to enhance their defensive rotations. Vermont continues to get high basketball IQ players with strong work ethic to buy into their family atmosphere and winning tradition. With the new arena as a extra chip, these next few years of recruiting are going to be exciting.
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