Hello again!
Vermont kicked off the recruiting cycle by making a splash on the transfer market. The Cats received a commitment from Tomas Murphy a 6-8 forward from Wakefield, RI. He chose Northeastern over Butler, Pittsburgh, and Georgia and he was rated as a 3 or 4 star recruit. His family has an impressive basketball lineage as his dad played at Boston College and then the NBA and his brothers played at Florida and Duke. He is immediately eligible because he missed all but four games this past season due to a serious ankle injury. He also most likely has two seasons of eligibility left as he will get a medical waiver for the lost season. Murphy prepped at Northfield Mount Hermon where Vermont has many connections. Feels like a home run for the coaching staff as Murphy had an effective first two seasons and looked to be making a jump early this season prior to injury. Murphy has an old school post game full of up and unders and soft hooks. Smooth under the hoop with an ability to keep defenders honest from the perimeter. He will give the Cats another option to help replace all the minutes that they are losing in the post. After the disappointment of the impact of last seasons transfers there is going to be some hesitation when projecting his success this season. As I said in my previous post getting up to speed in the Vermont defensive system takes time (especially for post players) and it will be that end of the floor that defines Murphy's impact. I think Murphy can be immediately impactful on the offensive end giving the Cats an experienced back to the basket scorer. Unlike the transfers that joined the team last season Murphy has already made an impact in the college game and has scored 504 career points. It is pretty mouthwatering to think of he and Ryan Davis teaming up to give the Cats a 1-2 punch in the post. It still feels too soon to be looking to next season but as that is all we have right now it is time to dive in headfirst. Vermont is positioning itself to continue this run of dominance.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
A look back at the 2019-2020 season
Before I begin, I hope everyone is staying safe out there. I started to write this post so many times and couldn't finish it because life has been coming at everyone so fast. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every layer of everyday life and my heart goes out to everyone at this difficult time. I want to thank everyone who reads my posts and talks to me about the Cats. It is a welcome distraction from everything else going on right now.
What a season it was and what a season it could have been. The season started with incredible expectations and ended with so many unanswered questions. Before looking back and taking stock of this season lets look into the crystal ball and see how the games might have played out.
Vermont vs Hartford for the title:
The atmosphere would have been electric as Vermont looked to punch their ticket to the dance. The game would have played out like many of the battles that these two teams have had over the years. Hard-nosed physical defense from both teams. I believe Vermont would have emerged victorious due to a few factors. Hartford's defense is predicated on stopping the three. They actually finished as the best team in the country against the three, holding teams to 27% shooting. Vermont won many a games this year when shooting poorly from the three. Vermont is finished top five in the country in defending inside the arc and Hartford's offense is focused on the mid-range and in. Hartford really struggled to find consistency on offense this season. Additionally Vermont was significantly better on the boards this season. The last and possibly most significant factor is the difference in depth. Vermont had consistent production from the bench while Hartford did not. While Hartford defended Anthony Lamb better than anyone this season, I think the third time would have been the charm and he would have found a way to be more effective. All in all I think it would have been a very back and forth game with the score finishing around 64-56.
NCAA tournament:
This is where predictions get crazy as trying to guess match-ups at this point is nearly impossible. If Vermont had punched their ticket, I believe they would have been a 13 seed once again. The loss to UMBC killed their chances for a 12 seed barring some of the teams around their seed line getting upset in their conference tournament. Several of the mock brackets had them playing Louisville. That would have been a tough match up as they have a lot of length and three point shooting which are two things that make any upset difficult. Also they played Louisville last season so the Cats would lose some of the surprise factor. There are several Big Ten teams on the 4-5 line and some of those match ups would have been more favorable. A match up against Illinois or Wisconsin would have a little more upset buzz because both of those teams have some weakness that Vermont could exploit and they play at a slow tempo just like the Cats. As I have stated many times in the past, upsets are completely match up dependent. The last two Vermont teams were more than capable of the big upset but ended up with brutal match ups. This years 4-5 line would have been more ripe for upsets so I would say that I really think they would have had their best chance to pull off the first round upset. Predicting anything more than that is tough but I do think it would be very tough to win two games against the 4-5 line. If the other half of their pod also had a big upset than maybe but beating a 4 and then a 5 would have been unlikely.
It was another great season in Catamount Country. Vermont got the big upset they had been looking for in the non-conference and once again dominated the America East. They pushed through the weight of expectation and became a complete team down the stretch. Becker always talks about the program "continuing to move forward" and I believe that Vermont did that this season. They competed at a high level in big games and dominated a league that was better than in years past. They continue to get players to step up when their number is called and make progress year to year. Seeing Bailey Patella and Ben Shungu progress into such crucial roles is exactly why the Vermont program has been able to win with such consistency. Most programs can get the big time player now and then but what sets Vermont apart is the progress their players make during their careers. The run that Everett Duncan went on to complete his career is another example. Both Shungu and Everett used a redshirt year to mold themselves into effective college basketball players. In the case of Shungu all the way to defensive player of the year. It is easy to forget that Shungu missed basically the entire non-conference schedule due to injury. If he had been healthy I believe they would have won a few of the games they dropped. Ryan Davis and Stef Smith also made huge leaps this season. If Davis can stay healthy he has all the makings of a cornerstone player. Stef Smith took his shooting ability to a new level and led the league in three point accuracy. All of those jumps made up for the fact that Anthony Lamb really struggled with his shot-making. In every other aspect of Lamb's game I thought he matured and progressed. He provided tremendous leadership as he finished up one of the finest careers in Vermont history. He placed himself in the Coppenrath/Sorrentine pantheon. Aaron Deloney's progress throughout the year was impressive and he looked like a future star toward the end of the season. It was so devastating to see the end of the season get yanked out from under all these players but how many guys get to win their last college game? Everett went out after the best game of his college career. That is a special silver lining.
Now that is not to say that everything came up roses. The transfer additions did not give the Cats the boost they were looking for. Daniel Giddens struggled to get comfortable in the Cats system and never really found any consistency. He had some nice moments but didn't provide the post dominance they were looking for. Duncan Demuth struggled to stay healthy and also looked as though he needed more time to get comfortable with the system. The ripple effect was that the coaching staff wanted to redshirt Isaiah Powell. That decision was retracted mid season as they desperately needed another post player who was comfortable in the defensive system. That is the third season in a row where redshirting/player development was disrupted by injury and need. Some things are hard to plan for but it is something that the Vermont coaching staff has had to grapple with in recent seasons. What this season really demonstrated was that having an immediate impact as a transfer without the redshirt year to get ready is a lot to ask. It speaks to both how complicated the system is and how well Vermont does at using the redshirt year to prepare players.
The future is bright despite losing so much experience and production. There is no replacing Lamb and Everett brought so many different things to the team. The most significant thing to address will be outside shooting. The Cats struggled this season from the perimeter and are losing 2 of their top 3 three point shooters. I would expect to see the coaching staff try to address this with some of their available scholarships. Davis will be the key to the season. They have depth at the guard position and Smith is ready to become the go to scorer. Davis becoming a go to guy in the post will be what defines the Cats success. Justin Mazzulla will join the team as a transfer and Georges Lefebvre is the only freshman currently in the 2020 recruiting class. Lefebvre is oozing with talent but big men in the Vermont system often struggle to get up to speed with the defensive system in their first year. He might need some time, but he is going to be an impact player before long. I am also interested in Nick Fiorillo's development. He showed some flashes in the preseason scrimmages and he is another player who could make an impact maybe not next season but in seasons to come. I will reference what said earlier about Vermont's success with using the redshirt season. Next season might be the last one in Patrick gym which will give it another layer of emotion. The buzz around the program will still be there as the progress on the Tarrant Center begins to take shape.
The offseason will be very different as recruiting has also been shut down and the coaching carousel will likely be quieter as schools will be more hesitant to move on after a strange end to the season. With sporting events shut down for the foreseeable future the recruiting season is going to be shortened and coaching staffs are going to be scrambling to make up for lost time. As I am finally finishing up this post Vermont received a commitment from an immediately eligible transfer from Northeastern. I will be writing another post directly after this one. Enjoy the offseason and stay safe.
What a season it was and what a season it could have been. The season started with incredible expectations and ended with so many unanswered questions. Before looking back and taking stock of this season lets look into the crystal ball and see how the games might have played out.
Vermont vs Hartford for the title:
The atmosphere would have been electric as Vermont looked to punch their ticket to the dance. The game would have played out like many of the battles that these two teams have had over the years. Hard-nosed physical defense from both teams. I believe Vermont would have emerged victorious due to a few factors. Hartford's defense is predicated on stopping the three. They actually finished as the best team in the country against the three, holding teams to 27% shooting. Vermont won many a games this year when shooting poorly from the three. Vermont is finished top five in the country in defending inside the arc and Hartford's offense is focused on the mid-range and in. Hartford really struggled to find consistency on offense this season. Additionally Vermont was significantly better on the boards this season. The last and possibly most significant factor is the difference in depth. Vermont had consistent production from the bench while Hartford did not. While Hartford defended Anthony Lamb better than anyone this season, I think the third time would have been the charm and he would have found a way to be more effective. All in all I think it would have been a very back and forth game with the score finishing around 64-56.
NCAA tournament:
This is where predictions get crazy as trying to guess match-ups at this point is nearly impossible. If Vermont had punched their ticket, I believe they would have been a 13 seed once again. The loss to UMBC killed their chances for a 12 seed barring some of the teams around their seed line getting upset in their conference tournament. Several of the mock brackets had them playing Louisville. That would have been a tough match up as they have a lot of length and three point shooting which are two things that make any upset difficult. Also they played Louisville last season so the Cats would lose some of the surprise factor. There are several Big Ten teams on the 4-5 line and some of those match ups would have been more favorable. A match up against Illinois or Wisconsin would have a little more upset buzz because both of those teams have some weakness that Vermont could exploit and they play at a slow tempo just like the Cats. As I have stated many times in the past, upsets are completely match up dependent. The last two Vermont teams were more than capable of the big upset but ended up with brutal match ups. This years 4-5 line would have been more ripe for upsets so I would say that I really think they would have had their best chance to pull off the first round upset. Predicting anything more than that is tough but I do think it would be very tough to win two games against the 4-5 line. If the other half of their pod also had a big upset than maybe but beating a 4 and then a 5 would have been unlikely.
It was another great season in Catamount Country. Vermont got the big upset they had been looking for in the non-conference and once again dominated the America East. They pushed through the weight of expectation and became a complete team down the stretch. Becker always talks about the program "continuing to move forward" and I believe that Vermont did that this season. They competed at a high level in big games and dominated a league that was better than in years past. They continue to get players to step up when their number is called and make progress year to year. Seeing Bailey Patella and Ben Shungu progress into such crucial roles is exactly why the Vermont program has been able to win with such consistency. Most programs can get the big time player now and then but what sets Vermont apart is the progress their players make during their careers. The run that Everett Duncan went on to complete his career is another example. Both Shungu and Everett used a redshirt year to mold themselves into effective college basketball players. In the case of Shungu all the way to defensive player of the year. It is easy to forget that Shungu missed basically the entire non-conference schedule due to injury. If he had been healthy I believe they would have won a few of the games they dropped. Ryan Davis and Stef Smith also made huge leaps this season. If Davis can stay healthy he has all the makings of a cornerstone player. Stef Smith took his shooting ability to a new level and led the league in three point accuracy. All of those jumps made up for the fact that Anthony Lamb really struggled with his shot-making. In every other aspect of Lamb's game I thought he matured and progressed. He provided tremendous leadership as he finished up one of the finest careers in Vermont history. He placed himself in the Coppenrath/Sorrentine pantheon. Aaron Deloney's progress throughout the year was impressive and he looked like a future star toward the end of the season. It was so devastating to see the end of the season get yanked out from under all these players but how many guys get to win their last college game? Everett went out after the best game of his college career. That is a special silver lining.
Now that is not to say that everything came up roses. The transfer additions did not give the Cats the boost they were looking for. Daniel Giddens struggled to get comfortable in the Cats system and never really found any consistency. He had some nice moments but didn't provide the post dominance they were looking for. Duncan Demuth struggled to stay healthy and also looked as though he needed more time to get comfortable with the system. The ripple effect was that the coaching staff wanted to redshirt Isaiah Powell. That decision was retracted mid season as they desperately needed another post player who was comfortable in the defensive system. That is the third season in a row where redshirting/player development was disrupted by injury and need. Some things are hard to plan for but it is something that the Vermont coaching staff has had to grapple with in recent seasons. What this season really demonstrated was that having an immediate impact as a transfer without the redshirt year to get ready is a lot to ask. It speaks to both how complicated the system is and how well Vermont does at using the redshirt year to prepare players.
The future is bright despite losing so much experience and production. There is no replacing Lamb and Everett brought so many different things to the team. The most significant thing to address will be outside shooting. The Cats struggled this season from the perimeter and are losing 2 of their top 3 three point shooters. I would expect to see the coaching staff try to address this with some of their available scholarships. Davis will be the key to the season. They have depth at the guard position and Smith is ready to become the go to scorer. Davis becoming a go to guy in the post will be what defines the Cats success. Justin Mazzulla will join the team as a transfer and Georges Lefebvre is the only freshman currently in the 2020 recruiting class. Lefebvre is oozing with talent but big men in the Vermont system often struggle to get up to speed with the defensive system in their first year. He might need some time, but he is going to be an impact player before long. I am also interested in Nick Fiorillo's development. He showed some flashes in the preseason scrimmages and he is another player who could make an impact maybe not next season but in seasons to come. I will reference what said earlier about Vermont's success with using the redshirt season. Next season might be the last one in Patrick gym which will give it another layer of emotion. The buzz around the program will still be there as the progress on the Tarrant Center begins to take shape.
The offseason will be very different as recruiting has also been shut down and the coaching carousel will likely be quieter as schools will be more hesitant to move on after a strange end to the season. With sporting events shut down for the foreseeable future the recruiting season is going to be shortened and coaching staffs are going to be scrambling to make up for lost time. As I am finally finishing up this post Vermont received a commitment from an immediately eligible transfer from Northeastern. I will be writing another post directly after this one. Enjoy the offseason and stay safe.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
The end of the season, the end of an era
When I envisioned my 300th blog post never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be during a time when the sports world as we know it came to a standstill. Yet here we are at a moment in history. It has been a roller coaster of emotions over the last 48 hours for fans, players, coaches, and other personnel involved with making game days happen. I certainly have felt sad, angry, frustrated, scared, disappointed and so much more since the dominoes began to fall yesterday. It still doesn't seem real to be living in a time without so many of the group activities that we hold so near and dear. My heart goes out to all those involved and to those who are affected by the decision. It is never easy to get something you love taken away but as we have found out many times this season, some things are bigger than sports. Life throws curveballs when you least expect it. Though difficult this is the right decision to stop the spread of a virus that could take away so much more than a few games. What can't be taken away are the games that were already played and in time we all will be able to reflect on this season. I am going to take a few days to process everything that has happened since that incredible game on Tuesday night before I begin to reflect on the season. Everett, Anthony, Daniel, and Josh will always be champions in our hearts.
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
America East Semifinal: UMBC at Vermont 3/10/20
Vermont 81 UMBC 74
EVERETT DUNCAN.
Everett Duncan put the Cats on his back and carried them to the finals. Everett continued his hot streak, setting a new career high with 26 points. Down the stretch it seemed like he got every big rebound, and made every big play. What a performance. With the rest of the Cats struggling from the perimeter, Everett knocked down 4-7 from three. He also drove hard to the hole and elevated his game to a different level in tonight. A Senior seizing his moment. In another great game in the rivalry with UMBC, the Cats had an answer for every run by the Retrievers. Even though they gave up 74 points their defense was engaged and forced UMBC into a lot of tough shots. Anthony Lamb led the charge with physicality on the defense end. Lamb had an edge to his game and worked hard at the rim all night. He finished with 19 points and set the tone with his focus and energy. Stef Smith shook off another tough night from the perimeter and finished with 20 points and 8 rebounds. He made some incredible drives to the rim and blew the top off of Patrick with a fastbreak dunk. The big three carried Vermont offensively but Ben Shungu, Bailey Patella, and Daniel Giddens provided toughness on the defensive end. The crowd was as engaged and loud as they have been all season. Late in the second half the crowd was absolutely deafening as the Cats forced a shot clock violation. Also the power outage during the game was pretty surreal. Now onto the championship game against Hartford. The Cats will be playing in their 5th straight final and are hungry to go dancing. Hartford plays tough defense and has held Lamb to single digits in both games. It is going to be a battle. Hopefully Ryan Davis will be available for that game as he battles a leg injury. He brings a whole different dimension to the Cats offense and provides them with so much flexibility off the bench. Two down. One to go.
Saturday, March 7, 2020
America East Quarterfinal: Maine at Vermont 3/7/20
Vermont 61 Maine 50
Everett Duncan saves the day.
Survive and advance.
Vermont shook off a sluggish second half and defeated Maine to advance to the America East semifinal on Tuesday versus UMBC. In the first half Maine came out hot, starting 4/4 from three. Vermont weathered the storm thanks to a strong first half from Anthony Lamb. To start the second half the wheels kinda fell off Vermont's offense and Maine was able to climb back into the game. Ryan Davis hit a clutch three to give the Cats some breathing room before Everett Duncan's late game heroics. Everett finished with 19 points (4-8 from three), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. He came up with big play after big play and made an impact all over the floor. Lamb finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds on the strength of the big first half. Ryan Davis was big on the boards and finished with 8 points and 8 rebounds. He really struggled to finish at the rim against Maine's interior defense. The rest of the team really struggled on offense especially Stef Smith and Ben Shungu. Smith finished 4-15 from the field and Shungu didn't score at all and looked out of sorts on offense. On the defensive side of the ball Shungu was great and the Vermont defense locked in when they needed it. They really played Maine tough down the stretch. The offensive struggles were concerning considering the situation. There were times where they just couldn't generate open shots. Vermont finished shooting only 36% from the field. Considering the offensive struggles the Cats had the last time they played UMBC, they are going to have to spend some time over the next few days working out the kinks. Survive and advance is the tournament tagline and that is exactly what Vermont did. The Cats definitely want another shot at UMBC so they will be fired up for that one. Tuesday night is gonna be rocking.
Everett Duncan saves the day.
Survive and advance.
Vermont shook off a sluggish second half and defeated Maine to advance to the America East semifinal on Tuesday versus UMBC. In the first half Maine came out hot, starting 4/4 from three. Vermont weathered the storm thanks to a strong first half from Anthony Lamb. To start the second half the wheels kinda fell off Vermont's offense and Maine was able to climb back into the game. Ryan Davis hit a clutch three to give the Cats some breathing room before Everett Duncan's late game heroics. Everett finished with 19 points (4-8 from three), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals. He came up with big play after big play and made an impact all over the floor. Lamb finished with 19 points and 6 rebounds on the strength of the big first half. Ryan Davis was big on the boards and finished with 8 points and 8 rebounds. He really struggled to finish at the rim against Maine's interior defense. The rest of the team really struggled on offense especially Stef Smith and Ben Shungu. Smith finished 4-15 from the field and Shungu didn't score at all and looked out of sorts on offense. On the defensive side of the ball Shungu was great and the Vermont defense locked in when they needed it. They really played Maine tough down the stretch. The offensive struggles were concerning considering the situation. There were times where they just couldn't generate open shots. Vermont finished shooting only 36% from the field. Considering the offensive struggles the Cats had the last time they played UMBC, they are going to have to spend some time over the next few days working out the kinks. Survive and advance is the tournament tagline and that is exactly what Vermont did. The Cats definitely want another shot at UMBC so they will be fired up for that one. Tuesday night is gonna be rocking.
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
A special night at Patrick Gym
Vermont 85 Albany 62
What a special night at Patrick Gym.
The senior class locked up their record 107th win with incredible performance. Josh Speidel scored the first bucket of the game and of his career to a lengthy standing ovation. What a journey he has had and the perseverance and hard work that it took to get to stepping on the court for that shot was unbelievable. Josh has inspired so many during his time at Vermont and will continue to inspire as he steps into the next chapter in his life. Another wonderful bigger than basketball moment and one of the best moments in Vermont history. Not to be outdone, the other seniors all stepped up and seized their moment as well. Anthony Lamb spent the first half making sure that everyone else got their moment. These are the games when you are reminded how special of a player Lamb is and how much he cares for his teammates. Then in the second half he made sure to make his senior night special. Lamb sliced and diced the Albany defense on his way to 15 points. He only needs 5 more to hit the 1900 point plateau. Daniel Giddens came out ready to rock and threw down three big time dunks and added a massive block for good measure. Everett was not be to outdone by his longtime friend Josh and shook off a wave of emotions to start the game, pouring in a career high 22 points including a perfect 6-6 from three. Everett got to assist on Josh Speidel’s hoop in a wonderful moment for two longtime teammates. It is rare that every senior gets to have their moment but tonight it felt like the seniors had every moment. The most impressive non-senior performance was Aaron Deloney. He has come alive in the two games without Robin Duncan and seized control of the point guard position. Deloney was in complete control running the offense and finished with 10 points and 8 assists. He is fearless at the rim had some creative finishes. His court vision and play-making ability are at a very high level for a freshman and it was on full display tonight. Stef Smith rounded out the double digit scorers with 14 points and 7 rebounds. A great win to finish out the regular season. Another night of upsets in the America East to lead into what will be the most wide open playoffs that I can remember. But that is for the future. Tonight is all about the seniors and about reaching goals. Five years ago it seemed like this moment was out of reach for Josh. Through hard work and belief he was able to start in a college basketball game. What a moment.
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Vermont at UMass Lowell 2/29/20
Vermont 94 UMass Lowell 77
Vermont used a hot shooting first half to complete the road portion of the conference slate undefeated. It is actually the third time in the last four seasons that Vermont has been undefeated on the road in conference play. All told their conference road record over the last four seasons is 31-1. That is an incredible testament how the program as a whole prepares for and executes to overcome gameday adversity. This game was all about the bench mob. With Robin Duncan sitting out, Aaron Deloney stepped in and led the way. Deloney was electric, knocking down perimeter shots, finishing creatively around the rim, and displaying excellent court vision as a playmaker. He finished with a career high 17 points and looked completely in control on the court. Ryan Davis added 16 points and Bailey Patella chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds. With several players in foul trouble and down an important rotation player, it was as impressive of a bench performance as Vermont has had this season. The bench is THE key for Vermont as their depth is what sets them apart from the rest of the league. As for the starters, Anthony Lamb led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds while passing Marqus Blakely on the all time scoring list. Lamb now sits 20 points away from 1900 for his career. Stef Smith scored the first 11 points of the game and finished with 17 points of his own. It was a nice bounce back performance by the Cats. Senior night on Tuesday is going to be a special affair. Honoring one of the best to ever put on the Vermont uniform, honoring Everett and all he has brought to this program, and the extra special moment honoring Josh Speidel. The journey that Josh has made is nothing short of miraculous and it is going to be an incredible moment to see him step on the court.
Vermont used a hot shooting first half to complete the road portion of the conference slate undefeated. It is actually the third time in the last four seasons that Vermont has been undefeated on the road in conference play. All told their conference road record over the last four seasons is 31-1. That is an incredible testament how the program as a whole prepares for and executes to overcome gameday adversity. This game was all about the bench mob. With Robin Duncan sitting out, Aaron Deloney stepped in and led the way. Deloney was electric, knocking down perimeter shots, finishing creatively around the rim, and displaying excellent court vision as a playmaker. He finished with a career high 17 points and looked completely in control on the court. Ryan Davis added 16 points and Bailey Patella chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds. With several players in foul trouble and down an important rotation player, it was as impressive of a bench performance as Vermont has had this season. The bench is THE key for Vermont as their depth is what sets them apart from the rest of the league. As for the starters, Anthony Lamb led the way with 20 points and 11 rebounds while passing Marqus Blakely on the all time scoring list. Lamb now sits 20 points away from 1900 for his career. Stef Smith scored the first 11 points of the game and finished with 17 points of his own. It was a nice bounce back performance by the Cats. Senior night on Tuesday is going to be a special affair. Honoring one of the best to ever put on the Vermont uniform, honoring Everett and all he has brought to this program, and the extra special moment honoring Josh Speidel. The journey that Josh has made is nothing short of miraculous and it is going to be an incredible moment to see him step on the court.
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