Every year people have very strong opinions about the practice of playing a lower division team. I understand the debate and I think the easiest answer is it is not always about the game itself. Sometimes it is about opportunity. I thought the game tonight hit all the right notes. What an incredible opportunity for Becker to come full circle and see how far his journey has taken him. What a great opportunity for Gallaudet to come play in a great college basketball atmosphere. They made enough shots for them to enjoy the game and they had a sizable fan contingent that was very enthusiastic. The group picture at the end of the game was a great representation of how college athletics can bring people together. It was a really nice moment before heading into the Thanksgiving holiday. Take time to appreciate all of the wonderful things you have in life and have a Happy Thanksgiving!!
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Monday, November 25, 2019
Vermont snags GW transfer Justin Mazzulla
Surprise recruiting news!!
Today Vermont added Justin Mazzulla, a 6-3 195lb guard transfer from George Washington. Mazulla has actually already played 4 games for George Washington this season, announcing his intent to transfer 4 days ago, making him a mid-season transfer. I am assuming that means he will redshirt this season and join the team after the semester break next year. That would give him a year and a half to see game action in the Vermont program. You have to complete an academic year in residence before you are eligible to play (unless you get a wavier). An academic year would be two complete semesters. That is my best guess as to his future eligibility. This is a great fit for Vermont. He started all 33 games for George Washington as a sophomore and was named a tri-captain. He actually had 10 points and 6 rebounds against Vermont when the two teams played last season. He averaged 8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season. There was a coaching change in the off-season and after starting the first game of this season, his minutes vanished. The timing of the transfer is odd but former Catamount Maurice Joseph was his coach last season and I am sure that Becker and his staff got the low down on the situation. Mazulla is a big guard who can do a little bit of everything and stuff the stat sheet. He is not a great shooter, but a solid all around player. To be named captain as a sophomore he must be a high character player and a natural leader. He is also a strong student who was named to the A-10 all academic team. Another guy that to fits the mold of a player that experiences success in the Vermont program. He has a chance to be a very good player for Vermont. If I have his eligibility right, Mazulla would provide an important bridge in his senior year with Stef Smith and Ben Shungu graduating after next season. It is great to add another experienced player to the program for next season when the Cats lose so much game experience.
Today Vermont added Justin Mazzulla, a 6-3 195lb guard transfer from George Washington. Mazulla has actually already played 4 games for George Washington this season, announcing his intent to transfer 4 days ago, making him a mid-season transfer. I am assuming that means he will redshirt this season and join the team after the semester break next year. That would give him a year and a half to see game action in the Vermont program. You have to complete an academic year in residence before you are eligible to play (unless you get a wavier). An academic year would be two complete semesters. That is my best guess as to his future eligibility. This is a great fit for Vermont. He started all 33 games for George Washington as a sophomore and was named a tri-captain. He actually had 10 points and 6 rebounds against Vermont when the two teams played last season. He averaged 8.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists last season. There was a coaching change in the off-season and after starting the first game of this season, his minutes vanished. The timing of the transfer is odd but former Catamount Maurice Joseph was his coach last season and I am sure that Becker and his staff got the low down on the situation. Mazulla is a big guard who can do a little bit of everything and stuff the stat sheet. He is not a great shooter, but a solid all around player. To be named captain as a sophomore he must be a high character player and a natural leader. He is also a strong student who was named to the A-10 all academic team. Another guy that to fits the mold of a player that experiences success in the Vermont program. He has a chance to be a very good player for Vermont. If I have his eligibility right, Mazulla would provide an important bridge in his senior year with Stef Smith and Ben Shungu graduating after next season. It is great to add another experienced player to the program for next season when the Cats lose so much game experience.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Vermont vs Rider 11/24/19
Rider 72 Vermont 67
Vermont collapsed in the second half and dropped their second game of the season. The Cats played the worst half of basketball I have seen them play in several years. Rider sped them up and made them play at their tempo. As a result the shot selection in the second half was atrocious. Vermont settled for long jumpers or threw up shots from odd angles and were completely out of rhythm. Anthony Lamb struggled mightily and couldn't get anything going. Lamb finished the game 4-19 from the field. That might be the worst I have ever seen him play. He was off balance and bothered by the defensive attention that Rider focused on him. With Lamb struggling mightily no one else was able to step up and fill the void. The poor perimeter shooting was going to lose them a game eventually and this was the game. Particularly outside of Stef Smith and Lamb the rest of the team shot 1-11 from three. The defense also struggled in the second half. In the first half the Cats switched to a zone defense which completely changed the game. I thought that Becker waited to long to go back to it when Rider was making a run in the second half. Rider couldn't miss and Vermont couldn't make and the Cats never recovered. It is so strange to see this team get rattled. They so rarely let the opposing team impose their will and make Vermont play their style. I was also surprised at how few turnovers they were able to force. Rider had really struggled with turnovers this season and Vermont was unable to capitalize. Rider was picked second in the MAAC in the preseason poll so this is a good team that will have success this season. But to play that poorly in a big game is very surprising for Vermont. During the run of success that Vermont has had they have displayed an unnatural ability to show up in just about every game. They just didn't have it in the second half. This will serve as a good wake up call for Vermont. The coaching staff will be able to push them to fix the mistakes a little harder now that they played that poorly. The big area of future concern for me is the perimeter shooting. Knocking down perimeter shots is one of the things that makes the Cats a very dangerous team. Without that, their offense tends to grind to a halt while they force the ball to Lamb. The lone bright spot was that Robin Duncan finally showed some life on offense. He made some tough shots around the rim and finished with 13 points. His shooting continues to be poor but with his size he should be able to finish over smaller defenders. Now Vermont has the sub D-1 game against Gallaudet before going on the road to Yale. Time to refocus and get back on track.
Vermont collapsed in the second half and dropped their second game of the season. The Cats played the worst half of basketball I have seen them play in several years. Rider sped them up and made them play at their tempo. As a result the shot selection in the second half was atrocious. Vermont settled for long jumpers or threw up shots from odd angles and were completely out of rhythm. Anthony Lamb struggled mightily and couldn't get anything going. Lamb finished the game 4-19 from the field. That might be the worst I have ever seen him play. He was off balance and bothered by the defensive attention that Rider focused on him. With Lamb struggling mightily no one else was able to step up and fill the void. The poor perimeter shooting was going to lose them a game eventually and this was the game. Particularly outside of Stef Smith and Lamb the rest of the team shot 1-11 from three. The defense also struggled in the second half. In the first half the Cats switched to a zone defense which completely changed the game. I thought that Becker waited to long to go back to it when Rider was making a run in the second half. Rider couldn't miss and Vermont couldn't make and the Cats never recovered. It is so strange to see this team get rattled. They so rarely let the opposing team impose their will and make Vermont play their style. I was also surprised at how few turnovers they were able to force. Rider had really struggled with turnovers this season and Vermont was unable to capitalize. Rider was picked second in the MAAC in the preseason poll so this is a good team that will have success this season. But to play that poorly in a big game is very surprising for Vermont. During the run of success that Vermont has had they have displayed an unnatural ability to show up in just about every game. They just didn't have it in the second half. This will serve as a good wake up call for Vermont. The coaching staff will be able to push them to fix the mistakes a little harder now that they played that poorly. The big area of future concern for me is the perimeter shooting. Knocking down perimeter shots is one of the things that makes the Cats a very dangerous team. Without that, their offense tends to grind to a halt while they force the ball to Lamb. The lone bright spot was that Robin Duncan finally showed some life on offense. He made some tough shots around the rim and finished with 13 points. His shooting continues to be poor but with his size he should be able to finish over smaller defenders. Now Vermont has the sub D-1 game against Gallaudet before going on the road to Yale. Time to refocus and get back on track.
Vermont vs CCSU
Vermont 81 Central Connecticut State 49
Stef Smith was on fire as Vermont used a dominant second half to get the win over CCSU at Mohegan Sun. Smith finished 9-12 from the field and 5-8 from three to lead the team with 24 points. He also tied for the team lead with 6 rebounds for good measure. Anthony Lamb and Ryan Davis rounded out the Cats in double figures with 15 and 12 points respectively. In the first half Vermont jumped out to a big lead early and then took their foot off the glass which allowed CCSU to hang around. I am sure the team got a talking to at halftime and responded with a monster second half. CCSU is one of the weakest teams in division one and Vermont took care of business. This sets up a very interesting match-up with Rider in tonight's game. After playing Virginia earlier in the week (the slowest paced team in the country) they now play one of the fastest paced teams in the country. Rider is also one of the best rebounding teams in the country. They get up and down the floor and are very good on the offensive glass. This will be an interesting challenge for the Cats as this is a style of team they do not often play. They are going to have to be very focused on the defensive end of the court. That is where this game will be won. It should be a exciting game of contrasting styles.
Stef Smith was on fire as Vermont used a dominant second half to get the win over CCSU at Mohegan Sun. Smith finished 9-12 from the field and 5-8 from three to lead the team with 24 points. He also tied for the team lead with 6 rebounds for good measure. Anthony Lamb and Ryan Davis rounded out the Cats in double figures with 15 and 12 points respectively. In the first half Vermont jumped out to a big lead early and then took their foot off the glass which allowed CCSU to hang around. I am sure the team got a talking to at halftime and responded with a monster second half. CCSU is one of the weakest teams in division one and Vermont took care of business. This sets up a very interesting match-up with Rider in tonight's game. After playing Virginia earlier in the week (the slowest paced team in the country) they now play one of the fastest paced teams in the country. Rider is also one of the best rebounding teams in the country. They get up and down the floor and are very good on the offensive glass. This will be an interesting challenge for the Cats as this is a style of team they do not often play. They are going to have to be very focused on the defensive end of the court. That is where this game will be won. It should be a exciting game of contrasting styles.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Vermont at Virginia 11/19/19
Virginia 61 Vermont 55
The Cats hung tough and battled Virginia thanks to a monster second half from Anthony Lamb. He just keeps getting better and better. Virginia is the best defensive team in the country. They have been the best defensive team since Tony Bennett became their coach. For Lamb to go out and score 25 second half points is nothing short of monumental. He was in the zone. Everything looks effortless when he is feeling it. It reminded me of the St. Bonaventure game last season. 30 points on a career high 7 three pointers. Virginia was giving up 36 points per game until tonight and Lamb almost got there by himself. What a performance. Game in and game out, no matter the opponent, Lamb is the best player on the floor. Stef Smith also played a really tough game finishing with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Daniel Giddens pulled down 7 more rebounds and is finding his footing on the defensive end. Predictably against such a strong defensive team the rest of the Cats struggled to find a rhythm. The Vermont defense looked very strong again as they continue to make teams work for every basket. They really missed Ben Shungu in this game. Especially his physicality both on defense and slashing to the rim. This is a tough loss as they were once again so tantalizingly close. However with the way they played, it is another win for the program. They continue to play tough in these big games and do not look over-matched. They expect to win when they step on the court, no matter the opponent. What makes this game more impressive is that Vermont is able to play this well while definitely still finding themselves as a team. They can and will continue to get better. These are the games that as a fan of this program you just sit back and appreciate how far this program has risen. Even the most optimistic of fans at the turn of the century couldn't have predicted that at some point Vermont would be able to consistently compete with the top teams in the country. What a game. What a team. This is going to be a fun season.
The Cats hung tough and battled Virginia thanks to a monster second half from Anthony Lamb. He just keeps getting better and better. Virginia is the best defensive team in the country. They have been the best defensive team since Tony Bennett became their coach. For Lamb to go out and score 25 second half points is nothing short of monumental. He was in the zone. Everything looks effortless when he is feeling it. It reminded me of the St. Bonaventure game last season. 30 points on a career high 7 three pointers. Virginia was giving up 36 points per game until tonight and Lamb almost got there by himself. What a performance. Game in and game out, no matter the opponent, Lamb is the best player on the floor. Stef Smith also played a really tough game finishing with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Daniel Giddens pulled down 7 more rebounds and is finding his footing on the defensive end. Predictably against such a strong defensive team the rest of the Cats struggled to find a rhythm. The Vermont defense looked very strong again as they continue to make teams work for every basket. They really missed Ben Shungu in this game. Especially his physicality both on defense and slashing to the rim. This is a tough loss as they were once again so tantalizingly close. However with the way they played, it is another win for the program. They continue to play tough in these big games and do not look over-matched. They expect to win when they step on the court, no matter the opponent. What makes this game more impressive is that Vermont is able to play this well while definitely still finding themselves as a team. They can and will continue to get better. These are the games that as a fan of this program you just sit back and appreciate how far this program has risen. Even the most optimistic of fans at the turn of the century couldn't have predicted that at some point Vermont would be able to consistently compete with the top teams in the country. What a game. What a team. This is going to be a fun season.
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Lamb takes down St. John's
Vermont 70 St. John's 68
Anthony Lamb from the elbow!!
Vermont finally got the big non-conference win they have been searching for thanks to a HUGE second half from Anthony Lamb. He was the best player on the floor and it wasn't even close. Scoring from everywhere, fighting through contact, ripping down big rebounds. The St. John's coach challenged his team to stop Lamb and they couldn't even slow him down. 23 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists. Who else was going to take the shot? Once he got to the elbow, you just knew it was going in. He had some incredible finishes around the rim and his awareness under the hoop is on another level. What an incredible performance by an incredible player. Everett Duncan and Stef Smith also stepped up big time. Everett attacked the rim late in the second half and had some nifty finishes around the rim. In a team high 37 minutes he chipped in 17 points and zero turnovers. He has made himself a threat from more than just the three point line. Smith also scored 17 points and finally looked comfortable in the offense. A big time performance from the veterans. Daniel Giddens played a season high 23 minutes, and it wasn't always pretty, but he pulled down 9 rebounds and looked more comfortable in the defensive rotations. Ryan Davis continued his strong start and has been the most consistent perimeter shooter so far this season. Bailey Patella made some big hustle plays during his 8 minutes and hit a big three. He has been a very effective spark off the bench. His athleticism is really showing through. The Vermont defense is playing at such a high level right now. St. John's stayed in the game from the free throw line as the Cats defense was making everything difficult from the field. This is the win that this group wanted. They knew they could compete and they went out and took control of the game in the second half. What continues to be impressive in these big games is that the Cats are competing with the major schools without gimmicks or playing out of their minds. They are competing and have now won the big game without needing to play a perfect game. That says so much about the Vermont program and the character of the players. When they step on the court, they expect to win. Now they are playing with house money. The pressure of winning a big road game against a major conference team is off and they can go out and grind with Virginia. That game will be a fascinating battle between two of the best defensive teams in the country.
Anthony Lamb from the elbow!!
Vermont finally got the big non-conference win they have been searching for thanks to a HUGE second half from Anthony Lamb. He was the best player on the floor and it wasn't even close. Scoring from everywhere, fighting through contact, ripping down big rebounds. The St. John's coach challenged his team to stop Lamb and they couldn't even slow him down. 23 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists. Who else was going to take the shot? Once he got to the elbow, you just knew it was going in. He had some incredible finishes around the rim and his awareness under the hoop is on another level. What an incredible performance by an incredible player. Everett Duncan and Stef Smith also stepped up big time. Everett attacked the rim late in the second half and had some nifty finishes around the rim. In a team high 37 minutes he chipped in 17 points and zero turnovers. He has made himself a threat from more than just the three point line. Smith also scored 17 points and finally looked comfortable in the offense. A big time performance from the veterans. Daniel Giddens played a season high 23 minutes, and it wasn't always pretty, but he pulled down 9 rebounds and looked more comfortable in the defensive rotations. Ryan Davis continued his strong start and has been the most consistent perimeter shooter so far this season. Bailey Patella made some big hustle plays during his 8 minutes and hit a big three. He has been a very effective spark off the bench. His athleticism is really showing through. The Vermont defense is playing at such a high level right now. St. John's stayed in the game from the free throw line as the Cats defense was making everything difficult from the field. This is the win that this group wanted. They knew they could compete and they went out and took control of the game in the second half. What continues to be impressive in these big games is that the Cats are competing with the major schools without gimmicks or playing out of their minds. They are competing and have now won the big game without needing to play a perfect game. That says so much about the Vermont program and the character of the players. When they step on the court, they expect to win. Now they are playing with house money. The pressure of winning a big road game against a major conference team is off and they can go out and grind with Virginia. That game will be a fascinating battle between two of the best defensive teams in the country.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Boston University at Vermont 11/13/19
Vermont 62 BU 47
Vermont used another strong defensive effort to win their home opener against BU. The length, athleticism, and depth of this team is wearing opponents down to open the season. So many players can guard multiple positions. It makes it hard for other teams to find and exploit matchups. That matchup against Virginia next week could be a first to 40 type game. Anthony Lamb was a beast in this one. Bloodied from contact in the first half, he battled underneath and finished with a monster 15 point, 16 rebound double double. He really dictated the game with his physicality and is looking closer and closer to full strength after missing time due to injury. Robin Duncan and Aaron Deloney also reached double figures with 10 each. Both players attacked the basket and Deloney hit a big three at the halftime buzzer. Without Ben Shungu, Deloney played 23 minutes and despite a few ill advised turnovers provided a nice spark. The offense is still a work in progress as the players get used to their roles and they begin to build chemistry. The 3-0 start is great and they are going to be able to rely on their defense to win a lot of games this year. The offense will need to be firing on all cylinders over the next two games against St. Johns and Virginia. In those two games they will need to find a way to knock down a few more perimeter shots. I am very excited for the St. Johns matchup as that is one of those winnable high major games that Vermont has had opportunities at over the last few years.
The other big news of the week is that Isaiah Powell will be redshirting this season due to a lack of playing time. This is a very intriguing situation. If Powell is on board this is a great move by the coaching staff. Someone was going to miss out on minutes this season with such a deep team. Powell could use a redshirt year to improve his shooting and ball handling and step right into a major role next season. It is something that teams should do more often. Vermont has a great track record of successful redshirts. Everett Duncan redshirted his sophomore year and it allowed him to make a tremendous impact during the following season. All Powell has to do is talk to Everett, Ben Shungu, or Ernie Duncan and all of them will tell him that the redshirt year can be very beneficial. Ra Kpedi's development was hurt by the lack of a redshirt year it ultimately led to his transfer. Powell can absolutely maximize his talent by taking this year to refine the flaws in his game. A strong move by the Vermont program to maximize their talent for this season and seasons to come.
Vermont used another strong defensive effort to win their home opener against BU. The length, athleticism, and depth of this team is wearing opponents down to open the season. So many players can guard multiple positions. It makes it hard for other teams to find and exploit matchups. That matchup against Virginia next week could be a first to 40 type game. Anthony Lamb was a beast in this one. Bloodied from contact in the first half, he battled underneath and finished with a monster 15 point, 16 rebound double double. He really dictated the game with his physicality and is looking closer and closer to full strength after missing time due to injury. Robin Duncan and Aaron Deloney also reached double figures with 10 each. Both players attacked the basket and Deloney hit a big three at the halftime buzzer. Without Ben Shungu, Deloney played 23 minutes and despite a few ill advised turnovers provided a nice spark. The offense is still a work in progress as the players get used to their roles and they begin to build chemistry. The 3-0 start is great and they are going to be able to rely on their defense to win a lot of games this year. The offense will need to be firing on all cylinders over the next two games against St. Johns and Virginia. In those two games they will need to find a way to knock down a few more perimeter shots. I am very excited for the St. Johns matchup as that is one of those winnable high major games that Vermont has had opportunities at over the last few years.
The other big news of the week is that Isaiah Powell will be redshirting this season due to a lack of playing time. This is a very intriguing situation. If Powell is on board this is a great move by the coaching staff. Someone was going to miss out on minutes this season with such a deep team. Powell could use a redshirt year to improve his shooting and ball handling and step right into a major role next season. It is something that teams should do more often. Vermont has a great track record of successful redshirts. Everett Duncan redshirted his sophomore year and it allowed him to make a tremendous impact during the following season. All Powell has to do is talk to Everett, Ben Shungu, or Ernie Duncan and all of them will tell him that the redshirt year can be very beneficial. Ra Kpedi's development was hurt by the lack of a redshirt year it ultimately led to his transfer. Powell can absolutely maximize his talent by taking this year to refine the flaws in his game. A strong move by the Vermont program to maximize their talent for this season and seasons to come.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Vermont at Bucknell 11/10/19
Vermont 66 Bucknell 63
Everett Duncan sank four free throws down the stretch to seal the victory on the road at Bucknell. It was another ugly game on both sides featuring a combined 43 fouls and an eerily similar combined 7/47 (15%) from three. Through two games the new three point line is clearly having an effect. The defense is definitely being stretched which is opening up driving lanes. However, players are taking shots from VERY deep. I don't have any actual statistics to back up the average shot distance but players on the perimeter are taking shots that are several feet behind the new three point line. I read an article that across college basketball so far the percentage is around 31% from three which is about three percentage points lower than past seasons. However attempts are actually up. It is going to be very interesting how this plays out as players and teams adjust to the new distance. Anthony Lamb powered through foul trouble scoring 20 points in only 18 minutes. He worked for every point as Bucknell ran several bodies at Lamb every time he touched the ball. Ryan Davis continues to impress and finished with his first career double double (16 points, 10 rebounds). He has really been a revelation so far this season and gives the Cats quite a 1-2 punch underneath. Ben Shungu played an uneven game but finished with a team high 34 minutes. He shot 4-13 from the field and really struggled to finish around the rim. He did pull down 7 rebounds to go with his 10 points and played very tough perimeter defense. Duncan Demuth stepped up big time playing 23 minutes. He didn't do anything spectacular but played tough defense and made a few hustle plays. He was thrust into a bigger roll as Daniel Giddens battled ineffectiveness. Giddens only played 11 minutes and had a couple nice blocks but was lost on several other defensive rotations. Stef Smith's struggles continued as he finished 1-9 from the field. His shot selection had been particularly poor through the first two games. He seems to be struggling the most with his new role after Ernie Duncan's graduation. Despite the struggles this is another huge win. Bucknell had the Cats number the past two seasons and it was nice to get them back. The Bison are picked to finish second in the Patriot league this season so this is a big win against another strong mid-major program. Now time for another Patriot league opponent in the home opener against Boston University on Wednesday night. Patrick will be rocking!
Everett Duncan sank four free throws down the stretch to seal the victory on the road at Bucknell. It was another ugly game on both sides featuring a combined 43 fouls and an eerily similar combined 7/47 (15%) from three. Through two games the new three point line is clearly having an effect. The defense is definitely being stretched which is opening up driving lanes. However, players are taking shots from VERY deep. I don't have any actual statistics to back up the average shot distance but players on the perimeter are taking shots that are several feet behind the new three point line. I read an article that across college basketball so far the percentage is around 31% from three which is about three percentage points lower than past seasons. However attempts are actually up. It is going to be very interesting how this plays out as players and teams adjust to the new distance. Anthony Lamb powered through foul trouble scoring 20 points in only 18 minutes. He worked for every point as Bucknell ran several bodies at Lamb every time he touched the ball. Ryan Davis continues to impress and finished with his first career double double (16 points, 10 rebounds). He has really been a revelation so far this season and gives the Cats quite a 1-2 punch underneath. Ben Shungu played an uneven game but finished with a team high 34 minutes. He shot 4-13 from the field and really struggled to finish around the rim. He did pull down 7 rebounds to go with his 10 points and played very tough perimeter defense. Duncan Demuth stepped up big time playing 23 minutes. He didn't do anything spectacular but played tough defense and made a few hustle plays. He was thrust into a bigger roll as Daniel Giddens battled ineffectiveness. Giddens only played 11 minutes and had a couple nice blocks but was lost on several other defensive rotations. Stef Smith's struggles continued as he finished 1-9 from the field. His shot selection had been particularly poor through the first two games. He seems to be struggling the most with his new role after Ernie Duncan's graduation. Despite the struggles this is another huge win. Bucknell had the Cats number the past two seasons and it was nice to get them back. The Bison are picked to finish second in the Patriot league this season so this is a big win against another strong mid-major program. Now time for another Patriot league opponent in the home opener against Boston University on Wednesday night. Patrick will be rocking!
Saturday, November 9, 2019
Vermont at St. Bonaventure 11/8/19
Vermont 61 St. Bonaventure 59
The first game of the season is in the books and the Cats used a strong defense to pull out the victory versus St. Bonaventure on the road. This three year series produced some tremendous games with the Bonnies winning on a buzzer beater two years ago, Vermont striking back with the thrilling double overtime victory last year and this year's back and forth affair. Coach Becker said in a radio interview this week that with adding the new guys (and missed practice time for a few starters) he expected the early part of the season to be choppy and that the Cats would have to rely on their defense. That proved to be very prophetic as Vermont struggled to find any kind of rhythm on the offensive end. This game was ugly on both sides with the teams combining to shoot 7/47 (15%) from three. Anthony Lamb showed some rust shooting 3-12 from the field and 0-7 from three. He gutted it out, got to the line, and finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. After torching the Bonnies the last two years it was clearly their game plan to make his night difficult. Everett Duncan stepped up and chipped in 14 points of his own. Duncan was very aggressive slashing to the rim which allowed him to get to the line as well. I was very impressed with Ben Shungu coming off his injury. He slid right back into the starting lineup and made some clutch plays. He did a little bit of everything and hit a big three in the second half. The rust was there as he committed a team high 5 turnovers but he finihsed with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Ryan Davis provided a nice spark off the bench finishing with 8 points and 6 rebounds. His footwork is very impressive and he really battled on the boards at the end of the game. This was really a team victory with each player that saw the floor making important plays. The only major concern was that Stef Smith didn't seem right. He really struggled finishing 2-10 form the field with 4 turnovers. He looked like he was laboring and didn't have his normal explosiveness. Getting a road win against an A-10 team to open the season is huge. No matter what it is tough to win games on the road, especially when you don't have your best stuff. It is going to be a quick turnaround for tomorrow's game at Bucknell and it will be interesting to see what adjustments Vermont makes.
The first game of the season is in the books and the Cats used a strong defense to pull out the victory versus St. Bonaventure on the road. This three year series produced some tremendous games with the Bonnies winning on a buzzer beater two years ago, Vermont striking back with the thrilling double overtime victory last year and this year's back and forth affair. Coach Becker said in a radio interview this week that with adding the new guys (and missed practice time for a few starters) he expected the early part of the season to be choppy and that the Cats would have to rely on their defense. That proved to be very prophetic as Vermont struggled to find any kind of rhythm on the offensive end. This game was ugly on both sides with the teams combining to shoot 7/47 (15%) from three. Anthony Lamb showed some rust shooting 3-12 from the field and 0-7 from three. He gutted it out, got to the line, and finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. After torching the Bonnies the last two years it was clearly their game plan to make his night difficult. Everett Duncan stepped up and chipped in 14 points of his own. Duncan was very aggressive slashing to the rim which allowed him to get to the line as well. I was very impressed with Ben Shungu coming off his injury. He slid right back into the starting lineup and made some clutch plays. He did a little bit of everything and hit a big three in the second half. The rust was there as he committed a team high 5 turnovers but he finihsed with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Ryan Davis provided a nice spark off the bench finishing with 8 points and 6 rebounds. His footwork is very impressive and he really battled on the boards at the end of the game. This was really a team victory with each player that saw the floor making important plays. The only major concern was that Stef Smith didn't seem right. He really struggled finishing 2-10 form the field with 4 turnovers. He looked like he was laboring and didn't have his normal explosiveness. Getting a road win against an A-10 team to open the season is huge. No matter what it is tough to win games on the road, especially when you don't have your best stuff. It is going to be a quick turnaround for tomorrow's game at Bucknell and it will be interesting to see what adjustments Vermont makes.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
19-20 Season Preview
After an offseason of unending hype, it is time for the season to begin. This year's Cats have the highest ceiling of any Vermont team in history. Period. They have the star power, depth, athleticism, and leadership to go toe to toe with any team on their schedule.
Here are three keys to this season:
Three point shooting
The Cats most significant loss from last season was the graduation of Ernie Duncan. He is one of the best three point shooters in Vermont history and his consistency will not be easy to replace. Add in the extra layer of the three point line being moved further out and there is going to be an adjustment period. Vermont has many capable three point shooters but consistency can be a problem. Anthony Lamb and Stef Smith tend to run in streaks and they will certainly bear some of the load. The key will be Everett Duncan. Does he regain the form he displayed during his sophomore year when he set the record for single season three point percentage? That is the big question. He had an up and down season a year ago and will need to rediscover his stroke if the Cats are going to rise to the level they are shooting for. Early returns are good as he has been lights out during the preseason. Ryan Davis will also be a key contributor from beyond the arc as he too has shown improvement.
Battle for minutes
With such a deep and talented team there are going to be some intense playing time battles. It is a good problem to have but this season there are going to be some very good players on Vermont's roster that are relegated to the bench. Becker and his coaching staff do as good a job as any in managing playing time but it can be a difficult process. The Vermont staff have built a winning culture where everyone is ready to contribute and makes the most out of the role that they are given. It will be interesting to see if they can continue to manage that as players minutes may vary widely from game to game. Keeping the players focused on the larger goal while getting them ready when their number is called will be a challenge for the coaching staff.
Staying sharp
This years team wants to win a game in the NCAA tournament. That is the goal. As a result the team wants to peak at the right time and be playing their best basketball in March. The bottom half of the America East is again going to be on the weaker end of the spectrum and as a result there are going to be a lot of lopsided conference games. This team is mentally tough and will be able to excel no matter the opponent. The more concerning piece is just the game reps against tough opponents. When you are in a pattern of dominating games night in and night out it can be tough to stay sharp. This is nothing new for this crew as they have been meeting this challenge for several years now. The gap just might be even a little wider this year as the profile of the Vermont program continues to rise.
Final prediction: 26-5 (14-2) America East Champs
This team should once again raise a banner. They are well rounded and have great leadership. They have a bona fide star in Anthony Lamb who is poised to have another tremendous season and cement his Vermont legend status. I would like to predict a NCAA tourney win as this team is more than capable of pulling a big upset. The problem is that winning a tourney game is so match-up dependent. The last two Vermont tourney teams were very much capable of upsets as well. They unfortunately got the most difficult match-ups possible when the bracket was released. So much has to fall right for a team to be in position for an upset. More than anything as fans this is a season to enjoy, appreciate, and savor. Lamb is a once in a generation player. His leadership and dedication on and off the court is the best I have ever seen. He is joy to watch and I am going to appreciate every last game. It is going to be a fun ride and I can't wait to get it started.
Here are three keys to this season:
Three point shooting
The Cats most significant loss from last season was the graduation of Ernie Duncan. He is one of the best three point shooters in Vermont history and his consistency will not be easy to replace. Add in the extra layer of the three point line being moved further out and there is going to be an adjustment period. Vermont has many capable three point shooters but consistency can be a problem. Anthony Lamb and Stef Smith tend to run in streaks and they will certainly bear some of the load. The key will be Everett Duncan. Does he regain the form he displayed during his sophomore year when he set the record for single season three point percentage? That is the big question. He had an up and down season a year ago and will need to rediscover his stroke if the Cats are going to rise to the level they are shooting for. Early returns are good as he has been lights out during the preseason. Ryan Davis will also be a key contributor from beyond the arc as he too has shown improvement.
Battle for minutes
With such a deep and talented team there are going to be some intense playing time battles. It is a good problem to have but this season there are going to be some very good players on Vermont's roster that are relegated to the bench. Becker and his coaching staff do as good a job as any in managing playing time but it can be a difficult process. The Vermont staff have built a winning culture where everyone is ready to contribute and makes the most out of the role that they are given. It will be interesting to see if they can continue to manage that as players minutes may vary widely from game to game. Keeping the players focused on the larger goal while getting them ready when their number is called will be a challenge for the coaching staff.
Staying sharp
This years team wants to win a game in the NCAA tournament. That is the goal. As a result the team wants to peak at the right time and be playing their best basketball in March. The bottom half of the America East is again going to be on the weaker end of the spectrum and as a result there are going to be a lot of lopsided conference games. This team is mentally tough and will be able to excel no matter the opponent. The more concerning piece is just the game reps against tough opponents. When you are in a pattern of dominating games night in and night out it can be tough to stay sharp. This is nothing new for this crew as they have been meeting this challenge for several years now. The gap just might be even a little wider this year as the profile of the Vermont program continues to rise.
Final prediction: 26-5 (14-2) America East Champs
This team should once again raise a banner. They are well rounded and have great leadership. They have a bona fide star in Anthony Lamb who is poised to have another tremendous season and cement his Vermont legend status. I would like to predict a NCAA tourney win as this team is more than capable of pulling a big upset. The problem is that winning a tourney game is so match-up dependent. The last two Vermont tourney teams were very much capable of upsets as well. They unfortunately got the most difficult match-ups possible when the bracket was released. So much has to fall right for a team to be in position for an upset. More than anything as fans this is a season to enjoy, appreciate, and savor. Lamb is a once in a generation player. His leadership and dedication on and off the court is the best I have ever seen. He is joy to watch and I am going to appreciate every last game. It is going to be a fun ride and I can't wait to get it started.
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