I was able to watch the Merrimack game after the fact and thought I would share a few observations. Finn Sullivan looked rejuvenated after his one game absence. He looked more confident and was an absolute menace on the defensive side of the ball. He had a smile on his face and looked like he was having fun for maybe the first time all season. That is huge for the Cats as he is their spark plug. With the injury to Nick Fiorillo and Kam Gibson on the sidelines, Becker really had to go with the young guys in this game. TJ Hurley was a huge beneficiary and as I mentioned after the Lyndon game, he has to get more minutes. He is a sniper from downtown and can also break down the defense off the dribble. Vermont needs another scoring threat and Hurley is a perfect fit. When he is able to stay on the floor he often makes an impact. He has three straight games in double figures and has shot 9/19 (47%) from three over that same stretch. The breakout is on. Sam Alamutu has seen his role his grow the most due to Fiorillo's injury. Alamutu has been rebounding at a high rate, playing tough defense, and even knocked down his first career three pointer. His shot is still a work in progress but he has looked better each game. Jorge Ochoa has looked good in his first game action of the season. Pressed into duty after Fiorillo's injury he has popped in a few buckets and has a chance to seize this opportunity and earn more minutes. Overall the defense was strong in the Merrimack game and the offense had spurts of effectiveness. Without a strong post presence, the Cats are going to need to be a strong perimeter shooting team and the pieces are there despite the rough start. With these young players emerging, each game becomes an exciting opportunity to see who continues their rise.
