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.
Shungu is still nursing that hammy and I hear the walk-on from
ReplyDeleteMaine may also be red-shirting.
Yeah the plan from the get go was to walk on and redshirt which is exactly what Shungu did his freshman year.
DeleteWhat's up with the short minutes for Giddens? I thought he supposed to be a big contributor this year. What happened?
ReplyDeleteGetting him as a grad transfer was always going to be a gamble. The Vermont defensive system is very complicated and takes a while to get right. He is getting lost on the rotations. Big contributor might have been overhyped. He was going to provide 15-18 minutes of defense, rebounding, and dunks. That is really his ceiling or he would be playing at a higher level. I think he can get there but it is going to take some time.
DeleteAnother underwhelming performance by Giddens. I think it's getting used to the system partly but concerned about his lack of shooting touch which I hope coaching can help but this is after 3 yrs. Do you think he just has stone hands as somebody phrased it?
ReplyDeleteOffense was never going to be what he brought beyond dunking. He is certainly not smooth. I think they will get better at getting him the ball in a position where he can throw it down as he gets used to the system. But Davis making a huge jump has changed his role anyway.
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