Gulf Coast Showcase: Vermont vs Evansville 11/23/21

Vermont 58 Evansville 49

Vermont used a smothering defensive effort and timely shot making in the second half to defeat Evansville. After struggling to make shots in the first half (0-8 from three) the Cats knocked down three consecutive three pointers over a three minute stretch in the second half to pull away. Lost in all of the offensive struggles is that the defense is performing at a high level. The players are really locked into their roles and they are getting after it on the boards. This team is playing like some of those teams from the early Becker years that had inconsistent offensive outputs but were extremely stingy on the defensive side of the ball. It is a good thing too because it will continue to give them a chance to win games while the offense sorts itself out. 

Isaiah Powell came off his one game suspension with a bang, leading the Cats with 17 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals in a team high 31 minutes. He continues to impress and has solidified himself as the Cats third scorer. Ben Shungu once again hit big shots when Vermont needed them most and finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Justin Mazzulla continued his strong play and Finn Sullivan continues to impact the game with his defense and rebounding. I jinxed Ryan Davis in my last post by saying that he had been Vermont's most consistent offensive player. Davis really struggled finishing 3-12 from the field, scoring 9 points and grabbing 6 rebounds. Kam Gibson broke the seal with the Cats first three pointer of the game and was able to be more impactful in this one, bouncing back from yesterday's rough outing. 

Winning two out of three in a tournament setting like this is a strong performance. Obviously the initial goal is to win the whole thing. The secondary goal is to bounce back from a loss with the quick turnaround and go out and get the next game. This type of format helps a team learn a lot about themselves win or lose and how Vermont responds tomorrow will be a big indicator of what kind of team this group is. I expect they will be ready for Appalachian State tomorrow at 1:30.