Vermont vs Dartmouth 11/29/23

Vermont 64 Dartmouth 53

Just win baby.

Vermont clamped down on the defensive end after a sluggish first half and the offense finally broke through with a 15-0 run to push past Dartmouth. The Cats held Dartmouth without a basket for 8 minutes in the second half and held Dusan Neskovic scoreless after he came out red hot with 17 first half points. Coach Becker was hot from the start in this one, getting after guys left and right during the lackluster play in the first half. The halftime speech clearly had an effect as the effort and intensity was up a few notches in the second half. The defense continues to impress with its physicality and strong rim protection. So far this season the Cats have done a really good job at making things hard for opposing teams at the rim. That is crucial in keeping games within reach when the offense is struggling. The offense was choppy and a bit discombobulated in this one, looking like an early season game with guys seemingly not on the same page. They are still searching for consistency in getting to the rim and breaking down defenses off the dribble. The wealth of shotmaking continues to impress and is helping to dig the Cats out of some tough holes. 

It was the TJ show during the big second half run as TJ Long made three consecutive threes before passing the baton to TJ Hurley for a quick five straight points. They both played tough physical defense in the second half as well in a clutch performance all around. They were the only Cats in double figures with Long finishing with 14 points and Hurley finishing with 12 points and 6 rebounds. It was great to see Long bounce back after a tough game and Hurley has looked better and better with each game. Hurley also had the highlight of the night with a huge three and the foul to really seal the game. Sam Alamutu continues to come up with big plays and led the Cats once again with 7 rebounds. He had a huge offensive rebound and bucket during the big run that ignited the crowd. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to make game changing plays with two big second half blocks. The first one could have blown a hole in the floor it was spiked down so hard. Nick Fiorillo finished with 5 points and 4 rebounds in 20 minutes. He played tough on both ends of the floor and adds an important dimension to the Cats rotation. Tonight was the first real tough game for Shamir Bogues as he looked out of sorts and finished with 5 turnovers. Aaron Deloney gutted through another tough shooting night but finished with 9 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in a team high 31 minutes. He still doesn't look comfortable on the offensive end but is working hard to contribute to winning in other ways. 

Now on to a big game Saturday night. Yale has looked very good in the early going this season and really took it to Vermont last season in a 73-44 loss for the Cats. The returners will be looking for a bit of revenge at Patrick in what should be a great game. 

Vermont at Bradley 11/25/23

Bradley 79 Vermont 70

Bradley used their defense to overwhelm the Catamounts in the second half continuing the Braves undefeated start to the season. The defensive rotations from Bradley were impressive as they really pushed Vermont around and challenged every shot. It was a back and forth affair to start with each team making runs after making adjustments during a timeout. The Cats were down big in the second half before some incredible late game shooting made it interesting. This is the game that will give Vermont some things to take back and work on. Bradley really took it to them and it was their first game in a tough road environment. The defense was a step slow in the second half and the Cats put Bradley on the line too often. Vermont is still looking for more consistency in generating shots at the rim and breaking down defenses with dribble drives. The free throw shooting also continues to be a struggle this season and that is always such a backbreaker in a tough games. Playing two very strong undefeated teams back to back is a challenge and provided the Cats an opportunity to see where they needed to improve. On the plus side they didn't give up and in both games showed some grit.

It was great to see Nick Fiorillo back out on the court. I love his passing and think it will be a valuable skill for this group. Matt Veretto went nuts over the last several minutes and made 6 threes for the second consecutive game. He finished with 23 points to lead the Cats. Shamir Bogues again impressed with his all around play. Bogues finished with 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. He has such a outsized effect on the game it is very hard to take him off the court. Unfortunately he is really struggling at the line and hopefully he can improve in that area. It feels like this has been every game thus fat but Sam Alamutu impressed once again. He finished with 8 points and 11 rebounds and continues to be an absolute monster on the boards. TJ Hurley looked great off the bench, finishing with 13 points hitting 3/4 from three. TJ Long had his first tough game in a Catamount uniform going 0-7 from the field. He certainly has some streakiness to his game and it just wasn't his night. Aaron Deloney struggled with the size and physicality of the Bradley team, finishing with 3 points on 1-5 shooting. He is still searching for that spark so far this season. 

The Cats will look to rebound Wednesday night with a home contest against Dartmouth and then Yale at home as well on Saturday. The Patrick Gym faithful will be rocking and ready. 

Vermont vs VSU-Johnson 11/22/23

Vermont 106 VSU-Johnson 57

Vermont took care of business against VSU-Johnson with everyone who played scoring and the Cats knocking down 17 threes. Despite the wide margin it was actually a pretty enjoyable game to watch considering the talent gap. Nazir Gossette came off the bench red hot in the first half for the Badgers and made the game competitive for a stretch. Vermont stayed mostly engaged and it was nice to see some players get some perimeter shots to fall. 

Matt Veretto led Vermont with 23 points on 6-8 shooting from three. It was crucial for him to see a few go through the net after an inconsistent start to the year from the perimeter. Aaron Deloney finished with 15 points and similarly I think it was good for him to get a few to go down. With Ileri Ayo-Faleye sitting out, Sam Alamutu earned a much deserved first career start and continues to impress on the boards. Brenton Mills finished with 14 points and has worked himself into a nice role after a few tough seasons at Bowling Green. This was a good opportunity for Seth Joba to get a some extended minutes and continue to work through mistakes as he adjusts to the college game. 

Now onto to a really fun stretch in the schedule with some great home games and tough opponents. First up is a very tough road game against Bradley. It will be really interesting to see how the Cats respond following their first lost last time out. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Myrtle Beach Invitational Championship: Vermont vs Liberty

Liberty 71 Vermont 61

In a back and forth affair Liberty executed down the stretch and handed Vermont their first loss in the championship game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. It was another exciting game with both teams executing and making adjustments throughout. Vermont jumped out to a big lead early but Liberty composed themselves and battled back. From then on everytime it looked like someone was going to pull away the other team battled back. Then Vermont went through a tough stretch with some sloppy play right at the end of the game and Liberty seized control for the win. With two good defensive teams battling it was interesting to see both the Cats and the Flames take away main scoring options with Liberty shutting down Matt Veretto and Vermont stifling Kyle Rode. Both teams had other players step up and share the load. The game capped off a really impressive tournament for Vermont with lots of positives to take away and good early season chemistry. The struggles at the end of the game looked very much like a team who still isn't quite sure who is the guy at the end of games when the pressures on. It was the first time the Cats looked a little rushed. What a great showing in this early season tournament and it looks like a great jumping off point for these Cats. 

Shamir Bogues led Vermont with 16 points and 9 rebounds. Bogues wowed once again with his energy and intensity. There was a sequence at the beginning of the second half that included a block, missed layup, recovery all the way back for a steal, and then pushing the ball ahead for a layup. Just absolute end to end energy. He struggled a little but with finishing at the rim and forced a few shots down the stretch but those are the growing pains early in the season on a new team. Aaron Deloney scored 13 points and also had a few tough possessions down the stretch. He finished 1-6 from three and has still not quite gotten himself in rhythm on the offensive end. TJ Hurley came off the bench and scored 11 points. He had some timely buckets but struggled a bit defensively against the quick Liberty guards. TJ Long scored 10 points on 3/6 shooting from three. Liberty did a nice job taking away his drives to the rim. Sam Alamutu continued his strong start to the season, hitting a few clutch threes and finishing with 8 points. He is playing with great confidence right now and looks to be making a leap in his third year with the Cats. Both Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Matt Veretto struggled, going a combined 1-10 from the field finishing with more combined fouls (6) than points (3). Once again Liberty did a great job executing their game plan to neutralize Veretto. 

Vermont competed hard in all three games and came away looking like a team that is ahead of schedule. The Cats learned a lot about themselves and will come back with a wealth of information about their strengths and weakness that they can apply to their game prep for the rest of the season. One more non DI game and then a fun stretch against some very strong mid major teams. 

Myrtle Beach Invitational: Vermont vs Saint Louis

Vermont 78 Saint Louis 68

Vermont dominated an undermanned Saint Louis squad to punch their ticket to the championship game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational Tournament on Sunday at 5:30pm. The Billikens were without their leading scorer Sincere Parker due to a broken foot and the Cats pounced early and gained the advantage. This time the offense flowed early on and kept Vermont in rhythm. Saint Louis was hot from three to start but Vermont's stout interior defense made things tough at the rim. In the second half the Cats survived each Saint Louis run and kept the lead at double digits for most of the half. One of the early takeaway is that Vermont has legitimate shot blocking at multiple positions for the first time in a long time. They are making life difficult for opposing teams at the rim and are using their size and strength to wear down opponents. Today's game was also a good demonstration of the multiple shooting weapons and how that creates so much space on the floor. Opposing defenses have to mark so many different players on the perimeter that Vermont can get good perimeter shots up regularly. It was great for this team to experience both ends of the spectrum through the first two games, clawing back from a deficit and maintaining a lead. Those experiences are invaluable for a team that is in the process of building continuity. Now onto the championship game which is all the Cats could ask for in a tournament like this, a chance at a title. 

It was a very balanced Vermont attack but TJ Long led the Cats with 16 points. He has really shown some offensive versatility over the past two days with some nice finishes at the rim to complement the deadly perimeter shooting. He iced the game today with a mini five point run late. Matt Veretto is also showcasing a new dimension with some nifty back to the basket hooks and spins to complement his outside shooting, finishing with 14 points. Veretto also blocked 3 shots and walled up at the rim well. Aaron Deloney shook off his early season shooting struggles and set the tone today with some early threes. AD finished with 12 points on 4-6 shooting from three. Shamir Bogues was a game changer once again finishing with 14 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. His ability to break down the defense and get to the rim was crucial for Vermont to avoid long dry spells when the perimeter shot wasn't falling. It is also great to see how his energy helps the Cats push the pace and get out in the open floor. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to impress on the boards pulling down 8 rebounds (3 offensive) to go along with 6 points. Brenton Mills hit two key threes in the second half, finishing with 6 points in 21 minutes. Mills has clearly worked hard on learning the defense and is providing a nice spark off the bench. TJ Hurley finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds, providing physical defense and timely buckets. Sam Alamutu again provided valuable minutes as well. Vermont has some really nice versatility and lineup combinations because of their size and shooting at the guard positions. 

On to the winner of the Wichita State/Liberty game for the title on Sunday. It should be a fun atmosphere as the Vermont crowd has been great over the last two days. This team is so fun to watch and I can't believe I have to go a whole day without watching a game!

Myrtle Beach Invitational: Vermont vs Charleston

Vermont 73 Charleston 64

WHAT A GAME!!!

Vermont dug deep and battled all the way back to grab a huge win in the opening game of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. That was an unbelievably exciting game of college basketball and a HUGE win for the Cats. Vermont hit a cold spell offensively in the first half and got themselves in a deep 15 point hole. Following a time out the Cats continued to be a little disjointed but cut the deficit to 9 at the half. The defense came out roaring in the second half and Vermont started to physically impose themselves. Vermont was challenging every shot, diving on every loose ball, and hitting the boards hard. Slowly but surely their own shots began to fall and then everything clicked over the last 5 minutes. It is hard not to overstate how much grit and determination this group showed today. Vermont was not at their best for much of the game and never put their heads down, never let up on the defensive end, and willed themselves to victory. To see that type of mentality this early in the season with a new group of guys is very encouraging. 

Shamir Bogues is an absolute all court wrecker. He just never stops. So many times in the game he made momentum changing plays. Bogues finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds (3 offensive), 3 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. Incredible. The stat of the day is that Vermont outscored Charleston 20-0 on fast break points. That is due in no small part to the relentless energy Bogues brings on the court. There was talk this offseason about this group being able to force more turnovers and potentially quicken the pace a bit and that came to fruition in this game. Bogues is a key piece in that new stylistic wrinkle. Matt Veretto led the Cats with 18 points and was huge in the second half. He was getting pushed around in the first half but responded in a big way and was much more physical in the second half. TJ Long continued his hot start in a Catamount uniform with 15 points and tied for the team lead with 7 rebounds. He also chipped in a couple of steals and was a big part of the physical play in the second half. Long started hot and then forced things a bit in the middle but came back strong down the stretch. The player that really turned the tides in the second half was Ileri Ayo-Faleye. His energy, blocked shots, physicality, and hustle were huge. He finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks and had the huge offensive rebound put back and one that gave Vermont the lead. He also hit a big three a few plays earlier, showcasing his versatility. His growth from last season is great to see. I was excited to see how Sam Alamutu's minutes would translate against a bigger team and he played a great "won't show up in the box score" game. Alamutu played 19 minutes and contributed to the Cats imposing their physicality on the game. Brenton Mills played some great minutes, finally getting a three to fall and grabbing a couple offensive rebounds. TJ Hurley finished with 7 points and hit a big three down the stretch. Aaron Deloney gutted out another game as the leader of these Cats. He hit a couple huge threes late and finished with 8 points. AD is still finding his way in his new role but is providing tremendous leadership for this group. 

These tournaments always provide such a great atmosphere and are such a great way to test a teams mettle early in the season. No time to rest on the laurels as the Cats turn around and play Saint Louis tomorrow at noon. Once again I will likely have to watch the game on replay after work but can't wait!

Vermont vs Plattsburgh State 11/11/23

Vermont 92 Plattsburgh State 41

Vermont took care of business against Plattsburgh State. The things to look for in games where there is a clear talent gap are the focus, mentality, and effort throughout the game. The result is rarely ever in doubt in the non DI games but the players approach can give a lot of information about the character of a team. In the game tonight the Cats were locked from the tip and managed to remain engaged in the game throughout. Guys were diving for loose balls and not giving an inch on defense deep into the second half, even as Vermont built a massive lead.  The Cats ran their sets and executed as if it were any other game. That has not always been the case with groups in the past and I think is continues to lend itself to this being a special group. Everyone who played scored which you would expect in a game like this. However, the most impressive stat to me is that everyone who played had an assist. I honestly don't know if I have ever seen that before. I am very excited to see the Cats get into the thick of some very tough games during next week's tournament.

A big congratulations goes out to Sam Alamutu on his first career double double. Alamutu finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. I am loving the small ball PF that he is playing and am excited to see how it translates in games against teams with more of a post presence. Alamutu has clearly put the time in and is catching up to the speed of the game. His rebounding ability is something that could play a very important role on this team. TJ Long continues to impress, scorching the nets with 6/7 shooting from three and leading the Cats with 20 points. His shooting efficiency is going to benefit greatly from the Vermont system. A big shout out to Michel Ndayishimiye on getting extended playing time and scoring 11 points on 3/4 shooting from three. With TJ Hurley and Jackson Skipper sitting out, Michel took advantage and had a awesome game. Nice to see his hard work pay off. 

Now for the first big test of the season at the Myrtle Beach Invitational on Thursday at 11:30am (ugh, I will have to watch it on replay after work). Charleston is one of the best mid-major programs in the country and Vermont's frontcourt depth will be tested for the first time. The tournament field has mostly strong teams across the board so all three games should be highly competitive and fun to watch. Vermont has often had success in these tournaments and who doesn't love having so many games to watch!

P.S.

My daughter is fully recovered from her appendicitis and she is back home. Thanks for the kind and healing thoughts!

Vermont vs Merrimack 11/6/23

Vermont 67 Merrimack 55

Shamir Bogues scored 17 first half points as Vermont raced to an early lead and never looked back. Merrimack is an interesting opponent and their games often end up like they did this evening, tough, physical, and slow paced. Their defensive system is very unique and they pose a interesting challenge. Vermont responded well to every peak and valley in the game tonight. A typical season opener with stretches of brilliance followed by stretches of sloppy play. The Cats defense was tough from the get go and they played with great poise in the face of a tough and frantic defense. What a cool home doubleheader for both Vermont basketball programs and a great sweep for the Cats. 

Bogues was electric in his Catamount debut finishing with 19 points on 7-9 shooting. His speed is really impressive and you can see the relentless energy that he brings. When he is on the floor there is an electricity that seems to energize his teammates. He looks poised for a big season. All offseason the discussion has been who steps in the unique role that Robin Duncan played for the Cats. In tonight's game, Sam Alamutu did his best Robin impression finishing with 4 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. His energy and physicality changed the momentum. He was certainly the unsung hero tonight and so great to see his hard work paying off. His rebounding ability in the small ball lineup could be a huge asset this season. Matt Veretto battled through foul trouble and finished with 14 points. He is still finding his footing in his new offensive role but battled hard and made big shots. TJ Long scored 10 points in his Catamount debut as well and chipped in 3 assists and 3 rebounds. Aaron Deloney shook off a tough start and made big shots down the stretch to round out the double digit scorers with 11 points. Ileri Ayo-Faleye also battled through some foul trouble and ripped down 6 rebounds.

A strong opener that gave glimpses of what this Cats team can do when they are firing on all cylinders. Opening day of college basketball in one of my favorite days of the year. 

Vermont 23-24 season preview

Before I begin my preview I wanted to take a minute to recognize a milestone. November 5th 2013 was my very first post and this one will be my 470th. A whole decade of blogging. Writing this blog has been such a cool experience and being a part of this little community that it has created brings me great joy. I am so thankful to all the people who have come along on this journey with me. I certainly never imagined when I started I would still be writing 10 years later and am excited to see where the next 10 take me. So thanks for reading, reaching out, and cheering on Vermont basketball. 

Once again Vermont enters this season with high expectations. As is par for the course, the Cats are expected to come out on top despite integrating eight new players into the program. Vermont was in a similar situation last season and managed to overcome early season struggles to raise the trophy once again. The integration process last season was slow and had many twists and turns. This group already looks to have a leg up in that department, looking ahead of the game in building team chemistry. From the jump it seemed like this group was focused and together. This years team has the look of a team ready to drive towards a championship. So let us dive in and take a look at this year's team. 

Projected record: 24-7 (13-3) 1st in America East, NCAA tourney berth

The non conference slate is not nearly as daunting this season and I would expect Vermont to come together as a team on a more accelerated timeline than last season. That is not to say that they don't have some very tough teams on their schedule and the Myrtle Beach Invitational will be a tremendous early season litmus test. The opening game of that tournament against Charleston is one of the best early season mid-major matchups. Then comes a great home slate of northeast mid major basketball. Both Yale (picked 1st in Ivy) and Colgate (picked 1st in Patriot) visit Patrick Gym the first two Saturdays in December. Those should be incredible, high level matchups. As far as the conference schedule goes, it starts with three home games and then a daunting stretch in mid January where the Cats have to go to Binghamton, UMass Lowell, and Bryant consecutively.

Defining roles

The biggest discussion topic during the offseason has been the amount of talented players that Vermont has. It has been clear throughout that the Cats have ready contributors all the way down the line. That means the competition for playing time is going to be fierce. This is both a good problem to have and a challenging one to manage. It is going to be very easy to nitpick and what decides playing time could be some of the most minute differences in performance. On the plus side all reports thus far are that guys are fully invested in winning and being ready when their number is called. That type of chemistry and programmatic buy in is crucial with such a deep team. However, when the rotation inevitably shrinks or players are slumping, the coaches are going to have the hard job of motivating and supporting each player to find and excel in whatever role they have. 

Changing expectations

Every single player on this year's team is in a situation that is different from their previous college experiences. Aaron Deloney is going from instant offense bench scorer to main option. Matt Veretto is going from surprise contributor and feel good story to being counted on for production. The new players are coming into a program where winning a title is not just the goal, but the expectation. All of these new experiences can be tough and there have certainly been players in the past who rise up and meet the expectations right away and others that take time to find their place. This years non conference schedule will be all about the players and coaches finding the role that puts each player in the best position to succeed.

Point guard?

As kind of a secondary part to the new roles discussion is who emerges as the Cats point guard. Vermont has a lot of great guards who are ready to initiate the offense and make plays for their teammates, but outside of Jace Roquemore, none are pure point guards. Last season it was the switch of responsibilities between Finn Sullivan and Dylan Penn that unlocked the Cats offense and I would expect a similar learning curve this season as the players and coaching staff figure out who to give the keys to. Having good point guard play has been the absolute hallmark of Vermont basketball year in and year out and how this role ends up being distributed will have one of the biggest impacts on the Vermont season. 

Rebounding

I feel like I write about rebounding in every season preview and every year Vermont finds a way to excel at what I will call "rebound prevention". The Cats have been one of the best teams in the nation over the last few seasons in defensive rebounding percentage. Vermont keeps teams off the offensive glass and shoots efficiently on the offensive end, leading to less rebounding opportunities. The Cats have always sacrificed playing at a faster pace with making sure that everyone gets to their rebounding assignments and keeps teams off the glass. There has been some discussion of playing faster and taking more chances and it will be interesting to see how that is balanced with being strong on the boards. There is no clear strong rebounder this season and much like Robin Duncan last season, someone is going to have to make a big jump in their rebounding numbers. Much like at point guard, there are a lot of good candidates on the roster.

In the Nick of time?

I know, I know, a terrible pun. Couldn't help myself. In all seriousness, Nick Fiorillo can have a big impact on this team if he can get healthy. He knows the system and is able to do whatever the team needs him to do. If he can make it back for conference play he will give the team a big boost in not just some added frontcourt depth, but as leader. He can continue to play that leadership role on the bench but being able to get back on the court can give that leadership another dimension. Nick is a classic "impact goes beyond the box score" player. 

Breakouts incoming

With so much talent and potential on the roster, breakout seasons could come from anywhere. The biggest factor in the sustained success of the Vermont program is the player development from season to season. Every year someone (often more than one someone) makes a big jump and steps into a larger role. So far TJ Hurley and Ileri Ayo-Faleye look to have the inside track on returners making a big jump. Matt Veretto already had a large role last season and will be looking to get a bump up as well. Through the two exhibition games TJ Long has demonstrated all the hallmarks of a guy that is ready to thrive in the Vermont ecosystem. Shamir Bogues will be looking to get going after a missing some exhibition time with what looks like a minor injury. Some of the younger guys will likely get a shot as well but as is the trend across college basketball, veterans are king. 

Defense

Just one last quick note. Death, Taxes, Vermont's defense. Nothing new there. This team however has a chance to be special for a couple of reasons. One, they have lots of strength and length. Up and down the roster they have physically capable defenders to integrate into the Vermont system. That aspect looks solid and predictable. One little wrinkle that will be a fun thing to monitor is having a player like Bogues who thrives in a more aggressive, in the passing lanes style that has not been a hallmark of the Vermont system. Despite being a great defensive team, the Cats are rarely big on forcing turnovers. Bogues has the ability to be a one man wrecking crew in that department and coupled with the rest of the good defenders, could give the defense a dimension it has rarely had. 

Overall my gut says that this team has a chance to be special. as I said earlier, there is a feel when watching them play that this group came to Vermont to win. Now all that is left is to play the games. 

P.S. 

    On a personal note the beginning of this season is going to be a little bit different for me as I am actually writing this post "right across the street" in the UVM children's hospital with my daughter as she recovers from a bought of appendicitis. She will be here all week so I will be watching the opener with her in her room. 

Exhibition: Vermont vs St. Michael's

Vermont 65 St Michael's 47

Vermont closed out exhibition season with a dominant defensive effort. This game was the perfect tune up for the season opener next week against Merrimack. The Purple Knights played a tough, physical zone from start to finish. Merrimack is one of the few division one teams that employs zone as their main defensive scheme. Getting an early game against a rare style of play and an early rock fight against a very motivated and physical team is a great way to be challenged. Initially in the first half, the Cats were a little back on their heels. Too many turnovers and missed shots. The offense settled in in the second half and Vermont was able to pull away. The most encouraging takeaway was that the Cats defense was there from the tip. Guys were really walling up drivers and forced St. Mike's into tough shots all night. TJ Hurley and TJ Long were particularly tough, locking guys up on drives and staying strong without fouling. Aaron Deloney also played tough physical defense. Ileri Ayo-Faleye had a strong all around game, leading the Cats in scoring. Jace Rocquemore, Brenton Mills, and Sam Alamutu also came off the bench with a strong defensive mindset. Seth Joba got extended minutes and showed flashes of his potential. As I said after the last exhibition, Long is the guy who can get a bucket when the team needs it. When the Cats finally started to pull away in the second half, it was due to Long getting a tough layup and a three on back to back possessions. He looks like a perfect fit in the Vermont system. This Cats team really needs a healthy Shamir Bogues as Vermont really misses his speed on both ends of the floor. Bogues is already proving his value as a leader by picking up the balls after shootaround and pulling guys aside and talking to them during the game. Those little things go a long way. That type of camaraderie is apparent with this group and it bodes well for how this team will grow and progress throughout the season. Can't wait for the season opener and will post my Vermont season preview this weekend!