Exhibition: Vermont vs Catholic 10/28/23

Vermont 85 Catholic 59

Basketball is officially back!

First look at the new team this afternoon at Patrick and it did not disappoint. What a nice full circle moment for Becker coaching against his alma mater. Catholic played hard and certainly made the Cats run all over on the defensive end. Takeaways from these early games against the lower tier competition are always challenging to sort through but there is always a lot of value in seeing the guys during game action and how they respond to differing challenges and how they make adjustments. The first half was electric on both sides of the ball for Vermont. Shamir Bogues was as advertised on the defensive end with a few great steals and is an absolute hawk in the passing lanes. Unfortunately he rolled his ankle at the end of the first half and sat out the entire second half. It didn't look too serious so I will hope for a speedy recovery. His injury really deflated the atmosphere and Vermont came out very flat in the second half which demonstrated his importance to the team. Matt Veretto looked good, knocking down some early threes and getting come nice hoops going to the rim. If he is able to expand his game by adding some more chances at the rim he could really explode this season and get that "final season bump" we have seen from other seniors. Aaron Deloney looked as cool and calm as ever, seamlessly transitioning into the starting lineup and a leadership role. Deloney was knocking down shots with ease and led the Cats with 4 assists, which has been an area of emphasis for him this offseason. The most impressive performance was from Fairfield transfer TJ Long. He led the Cats with 17 points in a team high 24 minutes. Long was 3-8 from three and had some nice finishes at the rim. He is TOUGH and plays with an edge. He is going to be one of those guys that could explode at any minute and can make tough shots when the offense needs a bucket. I could see him sliding in the Deloney role off the bench as the guy that Becker can go to for some offensive punch. TJ Hurley looked good as well and if you blink you could confuse the two TJs. Their games are very similar and they give Becker great interchangeable pieces as shooters who are also big and strong enough to get to the rim if the defense commits to hard on the close out. Ileri Ayo-Faleye lived up to the preseason hype, looking much calmer and more under control. He has a defined role this season as the starter in the middle and looks ready to take advantage. Jackson Skipper looked a little overly hyped up for his first game action but was able to settle down in the second half and make some nice plays. Jace Roquemore really impressed in the second half, stepping in at point guard with Bogues going down. Roquemore has a very calm presence and made good decisions with the ball. He knocked down a three and had a nice dunk on the baseline.  Brenton Mills gives the Cats a nice veteran presence off the bench and knocked down his free throws. Seth Joba and Noah Barnett played sparingly with Barnett demonstrating great hustle and Joba making some nice passes. Overall takeaways are that this team has elite defenders in Bogues and Ayo-Faleye and elite shooters in Deloney, Veretto, Hurley, and Long. Those two strengths are going to win the Cas a lot of games. Concerns from this game are similar to last season with the frontcourt a little thin and inexperienced. Rebounding will be key as they are going to again have to rely on strong team rebounding. Last year Robin Duncan saved them on the boards and someone is going to have emerge from this group to be a leader and set the tone on the boards. I will go more in depth into all things Catamount basketball in my season preview which I will post next weekend before the season opener. So glad to have basketball back!

23-24 America East Conference preview

Exhibition week is nearly upon us and that means it is time for preview season. Predications are a fickle business but fun nonetheless. With so much roster turnover across the league it is increasingly hard to get a gauge on a team's true identity before the season starts. One of the effects the COVID years and the transfer portal has had is that leagues like the America East get old instead of young. Certainly in previous eras it was all about highlighting the contributions of young talent and the development of future stars. With minutes and opportunities for young players continuing to dwindle, reloading rosters with transfer talent is a must, particularly in a mid major league. The rosters of the America East title contenders this season are littered with 5th year college players. This is exciting for the competitiveness of the league as teams looks to use that veteran experience to stabilize these fluid rosters. America East success is almost always defined by teams that have strong, composed, workmanlike execution and the teams that rise to the top this season will be no different. Let's dive in.

1. Vermont

    Another year, another preseason at the top. Vermont is the favorite to win again with a heralded transfer class and a small group of strong returners. The Cats are in a similar situation last year with a combination of known contributors and new faces. The difference this season is that the several of the new faces are experienced college basketball veterans versus the young inexperienced group last season. As a result this team has a completely different feel. The cohesiveness and understanding of what it takes to win is already light years ahead of where the team was last season. Aaron Deloney returning as the unquestioned leader was the defining moment of this offseason. His ability to pass on the knowledge to this next group of Catamounts of what it takes to be a part of the Vermont program is crucial to their success this season and beyond. He is poised for a big year. Matt Veretto was the spark that changed the outlook last season, coming out of nowhere to become an indispensable part of the Cats attack. His continued ascension with a full offseason under his belt will be fun to watch. The transfer group of Brenton Mills, TJ Long, Jace Rocquemore, and Shamir Bogues immediately infuses the roster with a plethora of college game experience. Bogues in particular will be a fan favorite and has all conference potential. With the Nick Fiorillo injury shaking up the frontcourt, Ileri Ayo-Faleye will be tasked with making a big jump, particularly adding a little more offensive impact to his stellar defense. It also gives freshman Seth Joba a chance to make a immediate impact. This team has all the talent to make a run at the title and the major question facing the team is can they put all of the potential into practice when the step on the court. 

2. UMass Lowell

    

    Lowell put together a strong season, falling just short of their goal, losing to Vermont in the title game. Once again this season they will look to challenge the Cats for the top spot. The River Hawks return their strong frontcourt duo of Max Brooks and preseason all conference big man Abdoul Karim Coulibaly. Second season breakout candidate Cam Morris III also returns to give Lowell a powerful post rotation. This group will anchor both their defense and provide the foundation for their efficient offense. Ayinde Hikim and buzzy breakout candidate Brayden O'Conner return to lead the backcourt. Last year what put the River Hawks over the top was a huge jump in three point shooting efficiency from Everette Hammond and Allin Blunt. That duo has graduated and leave behind the biggest question mark for Lowell. Where does the perimeter shooting come from? They have a strong group of candidates to fill that role in returner Yuri Covington and newcomers Andres Fulgencio, Jordan Thompson, and Xzavier Lino. Finding reliable perimeter shooting to make room for their post players to operate will be the deciding factor in the River Hawks season. 

3. Bryant

    Bryant's first season in the America East was a roller coaster as they struggled to adapt to the slower paced more methodical style of play that most teams in the conference are comfortable in. The Bulldogs offseason was thrown into turmoil when their head coach Jared Grasso was placed on leave in what seems to be a strange and messy situation. Coaching turmoil is always challenging for a team to navigate so it will be interesting to see how this situation plays out. The Bulldogs do boast one of the strongest groups of returners including the preseason all conference duo of Sherif Gross-Bullock and Earl Timberlake. Gross-Bullock will make a run a the conference scoring title and Earl Timberlake is a stat stuffing monster. The biggest struggle for Bryant last season was finding consistent production from three, particularly on the road. They will be looking to Tyler Brelsford in a larger role and St, John's transfer Rafael Pinzon to bring some perimeter punch. Kvon Kramer steps in a big role underneath for what will be a slightly undersized Bulldogs team. It will be interesting to see if the coaching staff makes any adjustments in year two to adapt to the America East style of play. Bryant will be tough, physical, relentless, and if they are able to put it all together will be a strong contender. 

4. Binghamton

    The next tier of challengers feel pretty evenly split. There should be a tight middle group and really any of these teams could emerge out of the pack.  Binghamton continues to knock at the door, pushing the top teams with a physical style of play. This season will likely be more of the same with the Bearcats biggest transfer addition being Symir Torrence, a strong leader at the PG position known for his defense. Torrence is the type of lead guard who can raise the level of play for his entire team. Dan Petcash, Armon Harried, and Taveion White headline a group of returners looking to continue the recent success. The Bearcats biggest struggle last season was poor perimeter shooting. This remains a questions mark and Binghamton will be looking to newcomers Tymu Chenery and Chris Walker to give them a lift from the three point line. In order for Binghamton to break through they will need consistent offensive production as they have been prone to long cold shooting stretches over the last few seasons. 

5. Maine

    For the first time in a LONG time, Maine was able to hold on to and return a strong core that helped the Black Bears climb out of the basement and put together a competitive middle of the pack finish last season. Chris Markwood has the program headed in the right direction and there are real expectations in Orono this season. Leading the returners is preseason all conference and reigning defensive player of the year Kellen Tynes. Tynes was not just one of the best defensive players in the conference, he led the nation in steals last season. Between Shamir Bogues (Vermont) Symir Torrence (Binghamton), and Tynes the America East could be one of the toughest conferences for opposing guards. These matchups during conference play will be ones to watch. Jayden Clayton and Ja'Shonte Wright-McLeish also return for Maine to give them a dynamic backcourt. Okay Djamgouz headlines the newcomers, bringing a strong perimeter threat to the Black Bears. AJ Lopez, Quion Burns and Adam Cisse also look to make an impact from the transfer portal.  Peter Filipovity and Kristians Feierbergs return a scoring punch to the frontcourt. Last season Maine struggled with rebounding and particularly with rim protection, allowing teams to have their way underneath. Shoring up their froncourt, particularly on the defensive end will be crucial in order for Maine to take the next step. 

6. UMBC

   The Retrievers will be looking to continue to battle in the middle of the pack. In order to do that they will be relying on trio of transfers. Max Lorca-Lloyd, Khydarius Smith, and Bryce Johnson will step right in and be the leaders of this UMBC squad. Returning guards Devan Sapp and sophomore breakout candidate Dion Brown will look to provide a spark for Jim Ferry's squad. Last season UMBC struggled mightily on the defensive side of the ball and that has often been a hallmark of Jim Ferry coached teams. The Retrievers will have to find a way to stay out of shootouts in order to climb out of the middle of the pack. UMBC is one of the few teams that has a large freshman class and if any of the young players find their way into the rotation it will certainly raise the ceiling of this group. 

7. New Hampshire

    For the first time in almost two decades, Bill Herrion will not be on the sidelines for the Wildcats. Nathan Davis takes over and unlike last season, UNH will have some returning contributors to lean on. Headlining the returners is preseason all conference forward Clarence Daniels. Daniels is one of the best returning players in the conference and should be able to keep the Wildcats knocking at the door in the middle of the pack. Jaxson Baker, Ridvan Tutic, Christian Moore, and Trey Woodyard also return for UNH. If the Wildcats are going to find success this season they will need to improve their offensive efficiency. Last season the Wildcats finished 358th out of 361 teams in 2pt field goal percentage. That is an appalling number and not a recipe for offensive success. UNH will be looking to newcomers Dior Davis, Ahmad Robinson, Naim Miller, and Paul Gakmar to give them a lift inside the arc. 

8. Albany

    From a pure talent perspective, Albany has a chance to far exceed this prediction. In the conference preview last season, I mentioned that Albany was the hardest team to predict and I feel similarly this season. They have strong returning talent and made nice additions through the portal. Dwayne Killings is on the hot seat this season after a tumultuous first two seasons. During his tenure the Great Danes have often looked disengaged and disconnected. Jonathan Beagle returns after winning rookie of the year and looks to make a big jump this season. Justin Neely, the 21-22 rookie of the year, returns after missing last season due to injury. Aaron Reddish, Marcus Jackson, and Ny'Mire Little round out the young returning core. Through the portal the Great Danes added former Binghamton guard Tyler Bertram, Sebastian Thomas, and Ama're Marshall. Marshall in particular has created significant buzz as a potential offensive spark plug. Last season the Great Danes were one of the worst defensive teams in the country and they will have to make significant strides on that end of the floor in order to stay out of the basement.  

9. NJIT

    It will be a complete rebuild in Grant Billmeier's first season. With nine freshman on the roster, there will likely be growing pains outside of the starting lineup. The Highlanders do return Adam Hess, Mekhi Gray, Justin Anderson, and Kjell de Graaf to provide the starting lineup with a veteran presence. They also bring in two graduate transfers in Elijah Buchanan and Daniel Schreier to give NJIT some experience to rely on as they navigate this transitional year. The Highlanders will just be looking to set new program expectations and to try and build some positive momentum for future success. 

    

    

 

Nick Fiorillo suffers another injury

Alex Abrami announced on Twitter (it will always be twitter) that Nick Fiorillo suffered a lower body injury and is out indefinitely. Just devastating news for Fiorillo who had worked himself back from last season's injury. I have always loved Fiorillo's presence on the court and it is tough to lose his veteran presence. I really hope that he will be able to once again heal up and get himself back on the court before the end of the season. This thrusts Ileri Ayo-Faleye into a even larger role and opens the door for the freshman bigs, particularly Seth Joba to have an opportunity to carve out a role. Ayo-Faleye has been building hype and momentum with his offseason performances and is now locked into big minutes. Matt Veretto was already going to have a large role but his production and growth will be even more important now. Joba is supremely talented at the offensive end and could provide some scoring punch but will have to improve on the defensive end to carve out minutes. Last season was a reminder of how hard it can be for young players to pick up the defensive rotations. Jackson Skipper and Sam Alamutu could also see a few minutes in some small ball lineups. Hopefully this injury is will not keep Fiorillo out too long and I wish him a speedy recovery. 

Drew Bessette commits to the hometown Cats

Vermont has added another piece to their 2024 recruiting class in local Rice basketball star Drew Bessette. Bessette is a 6'8 forward who looks to be the next hometown star for the Cats. The coaching staff has always done a good job of prioritizing the top local talent and laying out a developmental path for them to reach their full potential. I got a chance to watch Bessette in the post camp scrimmage earlier in the summer and the thing that jumps out is his size. He is a a big, strong kid that goes after rebounds and can play above the rim. He did not look physically out of place playing against the rest of the Cats. He has nice touch around the rim and good rebounding instincts. Bessette has nice shooting form and looks like someone who could grow into a stretch forward role. As with past Vermont players, he may need some time to get used to and comfortable with the speed of the college game but his familiarity with the program is going to give him a leg up. I like his potential and think that he will have a significant impact at some point in his career. I really give credit to Becker and his coaching staff for taking the time and energy to invest in giving local players a chance to come in, work hard, and play for their hometown team. The proof is in the pudding as local stars like Matt Glass, Clancy Rugg, Pat Bergman, Candon Rusin, Nate Rohrer, and Ben Shungu all developed into into key players during Becker's tenure. 

The. Season. Is. Almost. Here. 

Sean Blake kicks off the 2024 recruiting class

Vermont secured their first commitment for the 2024 recruiting class from Sean Blake, a 6'2 PG from Mississauga, ON. Blake is a talented player and a great way to to kick off the next recruiting class. He plays with a strong command of the game and has great pace with the ball in his hands. Blake has a quick first step and his best skill is finishing creatively and through contact at the rim. He plays with a high motor at both ends of the floor and uses his athleticism to make an impact at the defensive end. Blake is still developing as a shooter as he looks to round out his game. He has a chance to be the another link in the chain of strong Vermont PGs from the Toronto area. In two years there will be loads of guard minutes available and the coaching staff is getting ahead of the game by bringing a player in to learn the ropes before being counted on for production. Blake is a perfect fit and has all of the qualities the Vermont program prioritizes. He is oozing with potential  looks like a player that will thrive in the Vermont ecosystem. Adding Nathan Johnson to the coaching staff certainly strengthened their Canadian recruiting connections so it makes sense to see their first commitment reflecting those ties.