Vermont adds a walk on

Sincere Clemons a 6'2" guard from Ithaca, NY by way of Northfield Mount Hermon announced his commitment to the Catamounts as a walk on. With all of the walk ons from this past season departing to continue their careers elsewhere, there are spots available. These roster spots are such important parts of building team culture and making practices even more competitive. Vermont has always found creative ways to fill these roster spots with guys who are ready to compete. It is a win win for guys who are looking to take their shot at the college game and be a part of winning, and the Vermont program gets players who can help fill in the practice gaps. Clemons is a high IQ, playmaking guard who will be looking to get stronger and give himself a chance at finding a scholarship down the road. Great opportunity to play in a program with a great reputation for player development. 

Vermont rounds out their 2024 recruiting class

Vermont finished their 2024 recruiting cycle with a commitment from 6'4" G Ben Wesson from Charlottesville, VA. Wesson played his high school basketball at Albemarle High School and was named the regional player of the year this past season. He is only 17 years old and was considering a potential prep year to get ready for the college game. Vermont swooped in and offered him the last 2024 slot and he will have a chance to redshirt this season and hit the ground running the following season. The coaching staff has done a great job this cycle adding immediate impact transfers (Jayhlon Young and Shy Odom) and future contributors (Sean Blake, Drew Bessette, and Wesson). Due to their strong veteran rotation, all of the freshman next year will be able to sit for a year and adjust to the college game, giving them a leg up for the 25-26 season when they will have minutes available to potentially add depth to the rotation as redshirt freshman. Freshman across the country are about to have their chance to impact college basketball again as teams get much younger following this season. This feels like a return to the previous era when the Vermont coaching staff always added a combination of freshmen and transfers (when they used to have to sit out) to balance and plan for current and future seasons simultaneously. The Vermont program has had a strong track record with redshirt season development. Now back to Wesson. He is a great fit in the Vermont program. A bit of a late bloomer who has elite shooting potential and playmaking instincts. He plays with a strong motor and has good defensive fundamentals. With a prep year to get stronger and adjust to the college game, he is set up to have an impact early in his career as a shooter. Pick your comparison over the years (Cam Ward, Stef Smith, TJ Hurley, etc.) and Wesson's skill set has often blossomed in the Vermont system.  A plug and play Catamount. Another successful recruiting season with loads of potential and for the first time in a few years, completed in early May so the coaching staff gets a little bit of a break before the summer program. Another exciting season in Catamount country is on tap!

Shy Odom commits to Vermont

Vermont received a commitment from 6'6 F Shy Odom, a native of Roxbury, MA who played two seasons at Howard and has two years of eligibility remaining. This is an absolutely massive add for the Catamounts. Odom had a huge freshman season at Howard where he won MEAC rookie of the year after averaging 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds and then led the Bison to a NCAA tourney berth, winning the MEAC tourney MVP. In Howard's first round game he finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds against Kansas. This season he was named the MEAC preseason player of the year before struggling a bit while battling injuries. Prior to Howard he played at top tier Sierra Canyon HS with Bronny James and others. The Vermont coaching staff has been scouring the portal looking for a player who can add a post presence to the current roster. Odom fits that role perfectly. He is at his best attacking the rim and using his strength and physicality to finish through contact. Odom can score with his back to the basket or attack off the dribble. He is a strong rebounder who has been particularly effective on the offensive glass. Defensively he is able to wall up opposing players, good shot blocking instincts, and has versatility to guard multiple positions. He also has strong playmaking skills as he averaged 2.4 assists last season. Odom is going to be a dynamic player for Vermont. This is the third season in a row that the Vermont coaching staff has landed a player to put an already strong roster over the top (Dylan Penn, Shamir Bogues, and now Odom). With the addition of Odom, Vermont has the depth and versatility to once again make a championship run and beyond. Odom will provide the physical post presence that Vermont has been looking to add the last few offseasons. With two more seasons he will also provide a great veteran presence when Vermont gets very young following the graduation of all of the COVID year players. One more scholarship to go for Vermont and my guess is that it will be filled with an eye to the future as opposed to an impact for next season. 

Jayhlon Young commits to Vermont

Vermont begins their portal season with a commitment from 6-2 guard Jayhlon Young from Dallas, TX. Young has gone from Grambling State (Redshirt) to Baton Rouge Community College to UCF to Memphis and is ready to spend his final year in Catamount country. His calling card is his strong defensive ability and is going to be a great fit for Vermont. Young had a very strong career at Baton Rouge CC, starting all 25 games his sophomore year and averaging 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. After that season he transferred to UCF and had a good season for the Knights, first as their starting point guard, and then as the backup. Young then played last season at Memphis in a similar role. His on and off ball defense have drawn praise throughout his career (the analytics agree with the eye test) and he plays with a high motor and relentless energy. Offensively he is a solid shooter who likes to get out in transition and has shown good playmaking ability from the point guard position. He will be looking to get that offensive efficiency bump that the Vermont program has been so good at fostering. A lineup featuring Shamir Bogues, Ileri Ayo-Faleye, and Young will be a nightmare for opponents. Young and Bogues will give Vermont the ability to harass opposing guards for a full 40 minutes night in and night out. Last season really demonstrated the importance of having strong depth with Bogues, TJ Hurley, and Matt Veretto all missing chunks of time. Adding Young to an already strong group of guards will once again give the Cats the versatility that was crucial to their success this season. Another tremendous job by the coaching staff finding an under the radar player that fits their style and system so well. I expect Young to make a big impact and bring energy and excitement to Patrick next season. 

P.S. Young is also a lefty so Vermont will continue to have the most lefty heavy team ever. 

Vermont falls in the WNIT semifinal

St. Louis 57 Vermont 54

St. Louis came out in the second half and shot the lights out while the Cats offense never quite found a rhythm and Vermont came up short in the WNIT semifinal. What a magical and inspirational run. Patrick Gym was packed and rocking from the opening tip. The game didn't go Vermont's way but what a great send off for Emma Utterback and Delaney Richason. Personally I can't thank Emma and Delaney enough for how they have inspired young Vermonters around the state with their incredible careers on and off the court. Big shout out to Bella Vito with another double double and playing with reckless abandon. What an amazing place for Vermont to be, with both basketball programs playing at such a high level. I feel lucky every time I walk into Patrick gym because I know I am going to see a great basketball game. What a wonderful winter of basketball for the Cats. 

Chris Santo departs for a head coaching gig

It was announced today that Vermont assistant coach Chris Santo has accepted the head men's basketball coaching position at Saint Anselm. What an awesome opportunity for Santo to head back to his alma mater and take the reins of the program. Santo went a perfect 3 for 3 during his time on the bench as an integral part of the three-peat. Congratulations to him and the best of luck! Vermont has done a tremendous job of seamlessly moving from one assistant to another during Becker's tenure. It is always interesting to see what direction they go in as far as area of expertise or regional connections. One of the things that has contributed to the consistency of Vermont's success is building a great staff that Becker can rely on. Several of the assistants that have left have been able to springboard from Vermont to a higher level position. Just like the winning culture is attractive to prospective student athletes, it is equally attractive for those looking to further their coaching career. 

Vermont charges to the WNIT final four

Vermont 67 Purdue 59

The Cats are still dancin'

The Vermont women's team exploded in the second half and punched their ticket to the WNIT Fab Four. That was the best game I have seen this group play during this incredible three year run of success. This team and this group have been so fun to watch and they have inspired my daughters to fall in love with basketball. What a testament to Coach Kresge and the players to resurrect the program. This win was such a great team win, Everything clicked in the second half. In the first half, the nerves were real and play was choppy. Vermont's tops in the nation defense kept them in the game while the offense was disjointed. Purdue was winning the battle on the boards and forcing Vermont to take tough shots. Then the Cats came out in the second half and put on a clinic. They started to smother Purdue on defense and turned the tide in the battle on the boards. Shots began to fall and pretty soon Vermont was cutting up the Purdue defense with precision passing and clutch shotmaking. A perfect 12-12 effort from the line sealed the deal and the Cats are off to their first WNIT Fab Four. 

The leader, as she has been throughout her career was Emma Utterback. She overcame a jittery first half with an amazing second. Electric in the open floor, knifing through the defense to the rim, and finding teammates for easy buckets. Utterback finished with 20 points and 6 assists in a huge performance. Keira Hanson's emergence this season has been fun to watch. At the beginning of the season, the Cats were looking for someone to step up and fill the void left by Catherine Gilwee's injury. Hanson has just blossomed into Vermont's best shotmaker and fuels so many runs with her creative shotmaking. She finished with 17 points (3-4 from three) and 5 rebounds. Bella Vito is so often the unsung hero of this team. Quietly doing a bit of everything to help the team win. Tonight she was absolutely dominant scoring 14 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and grabbing 3 steals while playing a team high 39 minutes. So many great plays from her in this game. Anna Olson came up big with 14 points and 5 rebounds while playing great defense on the inside. Delaney Richason didn't have a big box score game but she showed off her number two all time in career blocked shots ability with 2 huge blocks and other big time defensive stops. 

What an incredible run and a amazing moment for Utterback and Richason to go back to their home state and pick up a huge win. I cannot wait for the next one. Bring on St. Louis!!

Jackson Skipper enters the portal

Today Jackson Skipper announced that he has decided to enter the portal. In the current day and age of basketball recruiting, it is going to be unlikely to keep every young player, especially with one more year of the COVID year players keeping rosters old. Roster construction has become wonky and it is hard to look ahead to see the role that exists on any team. It makes sense for Skipper to explore his options and see if there is a program that fits the path forward he sees for himself. I really liked the way Skipper played as he had a nose for the ball and always seemed to have a smile on his face. The regular season finale gave a glimpse of the player that he could grow into and I think he will be an impactful player wherever he lands. I wish him the best of luck and enjoyed his two seasons in Catamount country. Walk-ons Michael Mora and Charlie Moore have also decided to look for opportunities elsewhere after redshirting this season at Vermont and entered the portal today. According to the Burlington Free Press offseason tracker, Vermont expects to retain the rest of the roster so that is really good news. That leaves three roster spots to fill. Based on the offers I have seen thus far to players in the portal, Vermont is looking to add a guard and a post to fill out next years team. I would imagine there will be news sometime over the next few weeks around who is going to fill those roster spots. I am sure it is going to be such a relief to the coaching staff to be able to return so many players and have the portal period be a little less hectic this year. 

Season Wrap

Another amazing season in Catamount country where the incredible has become routine. The 28 wins tied the second most in school history and gave Vermont their second America East title three-peat. Every year there are new and different challenges, and every year the Cats find a way. Over the last two offseasons, the coaching staff was tasked with replacing or reloading a significant chunk of the Vermont roster. Each time they were able to find pieces that fit, and get the most out of the players that they had. Too integrate so many new players, players in new roles, and still win at the pace that Vermont has been accustomed to has been quite a feat. The transfer portal/NIL era has thrown new and different challenges at coaches across the country and Vermont has been able to adapt and overcome. This season gave Vermont fans some incredible moments and exciting memories. The TJ Long shot to beat Yale will go down as one of the greatest moments in Vermont basketball history. The incredible comebacks, clutch plays, and gutsy play will forever be etched in Catamount lore. 

The way that Aaron Deloney took control and led this team was nothing short of a heroic effort. Navigating his changing role on the team both on and off the court with the incredible poise and strength that he did was the key to Vermont achieving success this season. The three-peat was a perfect capstone to his career and he cemented his place as an all time Catamount. I will miss AD greatly becasue I just loved the way he played and his on court persona was tremendous. Matt Veretto's time was cut short due to injury but what a great story and cool way for Veretto to resurrect his basketball career in Catamount country. Watching Shamir Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye dominate games defensively was electric this season. Truly must see. Getting to watch a player with the incredible tenacity of Bogues this season was something special. TJ Long just came up big in so many situations and always seemed to have the answer. What great news that his knee should make a full recovery without surgery. Loved having a guy who is willing to take and can make tough shots. The improvement from Ayo-Faleye and Nick Fiorillo was fun to watch as well. They really solidified what was the biggest question mark going into the season. TJ Hurley and Sam Alamutu showed so much growth and flashed big time potential for their future in Catamount country. 

The year in year out dominance has truly reached epic proportions because each year during this three-peat has featured very different groups. Usually a run like that is fuelled by all time players dominating year after year (a la Coppenrath/Sorrentine). This run has been different players, different supporting casts, and different styles. Some of that is the current landscape of college basketball where young players have a much lower impact and retaining players long term has been tough, but it is a testament to the ability of the coaching staff to learn and adapt. They have done a tremendous job identifying players who fit the program and then during the season, making adjustments to fit the team and personnel they have. 

Year to year projections are so hard now with the player movement in college basketball. So far Michel Ndayishimiye is the only Vermont player who has entered the portal. If Vermont can retain this group, they will go into the season returning most of the team for the first time in a few years. That type of continuity has the potential to even further raise the ceiling of the Cats. Getting to bring back a solid core and also being able to add a more specific piece through recruiting versus finding an entire team of contributors, will be huge. Next year is the final year with players that have extra COVID eligibility and that means that teams will go from being really old to young overnight. Looking ahead, the 25-26 season will be a whole new adjustment as high school recruiting and young players will become more important once again. 

I have also really enjoyed the WNIT run that the Vermont women's team has been on. It has been so great to watch the program re-establish themselves as contenders in the America East. Emma Utterback and Delaney Richason have inspired a new generation of young players in the state and what a great run to cap off their careers. I can't wait for the game tomorrow.

As always thanks for reading and commenting and being a part of this community. For the first time I struggled to keep up with all the comments towards the end of the season and that is a testament to the enthusiasm of the fans! The offseason always feels long but I am already excited for the fall!

Vermont gives Duke a scare

Duke 64 Vermont 47

Vermont hung around and the defense showed up before the offense sputtered and the Cats fell to Duke. Most of the game was back and forth and it was exciting to see the Cats fight back every time Duke tried to pull away. The biggest takeaway for me was that the defense showed up in a big way. Early on the Cats were getting beat for big dunks at the rim and things were looking a little bleak. But just like they have all season they dug in on the defensive end and made life very difficult for the Blue Devils. That game really legitimized how good this defense is. Watching the defense work this year has been incredible. The shots just wouldn't fall and the length of the Duke defenders really bothered the Cats. Unfortunately all I can think about is TJ Long and his injury. So heartbreaking and I just feel for him. Crossing my fingers and sending positive thoughts. 

Shamir Bogues was great, scoring 18 points including the 1,000th of his career. I love watching him play and he really showed out in this game. Aaron Deloney chipped in 14 points and capped off his career with a nice game. The floater at the end of the first half is one of my all time favorite Vermont shots. I know it is not a buzzer beater or a game winner, but that was just so incredibly exciting. What an incredible career for AD. One of my fav catamounts of all time. Gonna miss him in Catamount country. Sam Alamutu was incredible, playing physical defense, and pulling down 7 rebounds. Seth Joba played huge minutes in the first half and gave fans a taste of what could be over the next few years.

What a great season. I really fell in love with this group. The grit and never say die attitude was just incredible. Every game and every big moment they had the ability to make you believe. The offseason in college basketball is more unpredictable than ever but I am so excited to see this group potentially run it back.

That is all for now. The Long injury really put a damper on my spirits. I will post a season wrap up sometime over the next week. 

March Madness Preview: 13 Vermont vs 4 Duke

It is time for the best weekend of the year. There is nothing better than the first few days of March Madness. Easily the best sporting event of the year. Every year that Vermont makes the tournament, it adds even more excitement to the tourney. After reflecting on the matchup the last few days it honestly doesn't get any better than this. A marquee time slot, against a marquee college basketball program, in a location that allows for fans and many families (especially for TJ Long's) to attend the game. What more could you ask for? I haven't been this excited in a long time and one of the reasons is the Cats get to enter as true underdogs, ready to pull off the impossible. So many of the last few tournament that Vermont has made, they were often a buzzy upset pick. It has been great that the program has such incredible respect and recognition around the country. It did however create this feeling of disappointment when they didn't pull the upset. I love that Becker and company are pushing this program to win tournament games and make a run. It is an incredible goal and an amazing place to be as a program. For Vermont who is always the favorite and plays as Goliath in the America East, it will be fun to get to play as David. What a rush it will be for the Cats to step on the court at Barclays on Friday night and leave it all out on the floor. It is what makes college basketball the best. On any given night, anything can happen. 

For Vermont to win, they will be relying on their trademark defense that has carried them all year. Becker has talked at length about this being his best defensive group and they have demonstrated that dynamic ability all season. Shamir Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye give the Cats two defenders who can defend every position and make dynamic, game changing plays. Duke presents their toughest challenge of the season but I do think Vermont's defense can give the Blue Devils a challenge. If the defense can keep them in the game the other ingredient will be getting hot from three. Vermont has good shooters and have shown the ability to get open looks in their offense. Unfortunately at times this season, the shots just refuse to fall. Maybe the basketball gods have been saving all of the makes for this one magical game? Fingers crossed for a TJ Long heater. If nothing else this group is one of the most relentless, gutsy, and mentally tough teams that Vermont has had. There will be no quit and they will be ready to believe. I am beyond excited to see this team come out and compete.

If Duke prevails it will be because they make their perimeter shots. Make no mistake, for Vermont to have a chance, the Blue Devils would need to have an off shooting night from distance. They are a top tier three point shooting team and when they are on, they are very tough to beat. Another thing that works in Duke's favor is that they are comfortable playing at a slow methodical pace. Vermont has had success against uptempo teams by slowing them down and frustrating them with their methodical approach. Duke will not be phased by the slow tempo and will relish playing in the half court. Kyle Filipowski has had a incredible season and has been a tough matchup all season. He is the key to the Duke offense and it will be exciting to see what kind a game plan Vermont goes with. The Duke guards and their ability to hit shots will be the deciding factor in this game. Last year against Marquette it was one takeover stretch from a guard playing with momentum that buried the Cats and I think keeping the Blue Devil guards from taking over will be key. 

As a fun sidebar for the Cats, Bogues is 15 points and Long is 22 points away from 1,000 for their respective careers. Imagine if they both got to that number? 

This weekend is gonna rock. Can't wait to binge some basketball. 

13 Vermont vs 4 Duke rapid react

March Madness begins!!

Vermont gets the regional location they want in Brooklyn, NY and will face off against Duke on Friday. A thirteen seed is a good seed for Vermont and it is always fun to get a game where the fans can travel. Matchups are always tough when you are the huge underdog and this one is no different. Duke is a elite offensive team who does not beat themselves. They are one of the best shooting teams in the country, particularly from three where they finished at close to 38% (15th in the country). They don't put their opponents on the line and are very good at taking care of the basketball. I will say, this is a fun one for me because the very first month of writing this blog I traveled down to Cameron indoor stadium to watch the last Duke/Vermont matchup and had the greatest live college basketball watching experience of my life in the Cats thrilling 91-90 loss. So maybe the magic will repeat itself? Will it be a tall task to pull the upset? Absolutely! Will that make it any less fun? No way! How can they do it? Making shots and flexing their muscle on the defensive side of the ball. I can't wait to watch them let it fly on Friday!

I will dig into the nitty gritty and post a more in depth preview before the game on Friday. Man this is going to be fun.

Link to the write up from the last Duke matchup here: Duke/Vermont 2013

P.S. As far as bracket predictions go this is ideal for me becasue as a Duke hater I have a rule that I never advance the Blue Devils out of the second round on principle, so this makes it easy for me this year to pick them to lose in the first round! Let's go Cats!!

THREE-PEAT COMPLETE!!!

Vermont 66 UMass Lowell 61

What a special group.

Vermont once again used their stifling defense and timely shotmaking to put away a determined UMass Lowell squad. The Cats got the three-peat and punched their ticket to March Madness. Another incredible season for a program that has set an absurd and unreal standard of success. From the first time I watched this group in June you could feel the focus, intensity, and chemistry. Throughout the season the guts and mental toughness that this group showed was so fun to watch. Whether it was watching this group dig in on defense or hit big shots on offense, every game was fun to watch (even if it required an iron constitution). Almost 20 years after the first three-peat, the symmetry is pleasing and what an incredible checkpoint in the two decade run this Vermont program has had. 

The game got off to an electric start with Shamir Bogues flying all over the court and Ileri Ayo-Faleye throwing down a huge dunk. UMass Lowell clawed their way back into the game by relentlessly attacking both the glass and the basket, resulting in regular trips to the free throw line. The teams traded blows and Lowell went into the break up three. In the second half who else but TJ Long got hot and scored 11 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Long then promptly picked up his fourth foul. The Vermont coaching staff deserves an award just for the substitution as they subbed in Nick Fiorillo who promptly hit two huge three pointers. The Cats were great on the boards in the second half, only turned the ball over 6 times and made the plays down the stretch to seal the game. 

Bogues was named most outstanding player as he once again led the Cats on both sides of the ball. He finished with 15 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and zero turnovers. I say it after every game but man is Bogues electric. He finished with 13 steals in the 3 tourney games. That is a 4 steal per game average!! Insanity. What a incredible player. TJ Long scored 14 points and once again proved that he finds an extra gear when the game is on the line. Aaron Deloney struggled on a 2-11 shooting day but gutted it out as always, icing the game with a tough layup and making 7-8 from the line. AD is an all time Catamount and deserved every bit of this three-peat to cap off his five seasons in Burlington. Nick Fiorillo made the most of his opportunities and his two threes in the second half were absolute game changers. Fiorillo finished with 11 points to round out the double figure scorers. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was the do it all unsung hero of the day, finishing with 9 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. The stat most indicative of his growth this season is the 4 assists to lead the Cats today. He got some rhythm late in the season attacking the basket and finding a drive and dish balance. Sam Alamutu is the "beyond the box score " MVP of the season. There are games where his final line looks like nothing (0 points and 3 rebounds today) but it feels like every rebound is a big one and he seems to always find a way to impact crucial possessions. All season this has been a team in every sense of the word. Everyone bought into winning and everybody was ready to do whatever it took to reach their ultimate goal. Truly special to watch. 

Time to go dancing!! Can't wait for the selection show tomorrow!!

America East Semifinal: Vermont finds a way

Vermont 66 New Hampshire 59

Survive and advance. 

Vermont held off a furious late New Hampshire rally and punched their ticket to the America East championship. The old adage is defense wins championships and boy did the Cats dig in tonight. Until the late rally when the game got a bit hectic, Vermont's defense was darn near impenetrable. The Cats were walling up and challenging everything. Holding the Wildcats, the league leading team with 9 made three per game, to 4-28 shooting from three and making life difficult for player of the year Clarence Daniels. Great team defense limited the high scoring Daniels/Robinson duo to a combined 10-31 shooting from the field including 0-11 from three.  The Vermont offense was disjointed at times and the Cats once again struggled from the free throw line but it is fruitless to nitpick those things this time of year. This team is gutsy and tough, especially when they need to be and have proven time and time again that their competitive fire shows through. What an incredible accomplishment to once again be in the championship with a new and different group. We fans are a spoiled group with the incredible success of this program and I can't wait to be at Patrick in the electric championship game atmosphere once again on Saturday. 

Vermont was led on both ends of the floor by a monster game from Ileri Ayo-Faleye. He poured in a career high 19 points, shooting 6-7 (2-2 from three) from the field and 5-6 from the line. All while playing incredible defense on Clarence Daniels and pulling down 8 rebounds. A big time performance and a testament to the hard work he has put in over the last year. Nick Fiorillo had a strong all around game with 13 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists. He knocked down 3-7 from three and each one was big. He also threw an incredibly perfect full court "TD pass" to TJ Long for a beautiful layup to break the press in a big moment. It wasn't all roses as his decision making was a little suspect for the second straight game and he finished with 5 turnovers. We will chalk it up to rust and nerves as he looks to take better care of the ball on Saturday. Shamir Bogues was once again absolutely electric for stretches and finished with 11 points and another 4 steals. He struggled finishing in this game but continues to make dynamic plays on both sides of the ball. TJ Long played really great defense tonight, finishing with 4 steals and disrupting several other plays. He struggled from the field but chipped in 9 points and had a gorgeous assist to Ayo-Faleye for a dunk. Aaron Deloney had a nice all around game with 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. His leadership has been great across the two playoff games. Sam Alamutu had great minutes off the bench finishing with 4 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. 

Saturday is what it is all for. A chance for a championship at Patrick. UMass Lowell comes to town for a title game rematch in what should be an electric matchup. No better place to be in March. Let's go Cats!!

America East Quarterfinal: Vermont escapes with a win

Vermont 75 Albany 72

What a game!

In a tremendous playoff atmosphere, Vermont prevailed over a determined Albany team thanks to digging in on the defensive end and a late three by late game Long. It was a really exciting game with each team trading big baskets and momentum swinging back and forth. The Great Danes had the look of a team with nothing to lose, letting it fly without a care and Sebastian Thomas absolutely scorching for most of the game. Vermont was jittery at times, trying to shake off those playoff game nerves. Both teams seemingly had an answer for everything that the other threw at them. The Cats made the free throws count early before struggling to ice the game as they were 23-32 compared to 10-10 for Albany. Despite the hectic, high pressure nature of the game Vermont only committed 7 turnovers and got timely buckets down the stretch. In the end, the Cats defense dug in and made plays when they needed to. Survive and advance is the name of the game in the playoffs and the Cats proved once again that they have the heart and grit to win these tough games. 

TJ Long once again. Man. So many big shots this season. Long shook off a tough shooting night with a clutch layup and the foul and then the huge go ahead game winner from the corner. Long finished with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Shamir Bogues stuffed the stat sheet and dominated for stretches on both ends of the floor. He finished with 16 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 5 steals. He was electric disrupting passing lanes and did a great job attacking the basket and finding his teammates. Aaron Deloney took advantage of his chances at the free throw line, finishing 9-10 from the stripe on his way to 17 points. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was tremendous on defense, taking on the challenge of guarding both of Albany's high scoring guards. The versatility he displayed and the trust that the coaching staff has to give him those assignments is incredible. His defense on Sebastian Thomas at the end of the game was the real clincher. Ayo-Faleye finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Jace Roquemore played strong defense and had a nice run in the second half with a huge dunk and a big three, finishing with 5 points and 4 rebounds. Nick Fiorillo struggled a bit after missing the last game with a injury,  commiting a few mental mistakes and turnovers. 

Upsets have been happening across several of the conference tournaments so far and the top two seeds in the America East both managed to survive tough challenges to move on to the semifinals. The Cats welcome New Hampshire to Patrick on Tuesday for what should be another great playoff game. 

Vermont at New Hampshire 3/5/24

Vermont 68 New Hampshire 64

I'm back!

In a game where the Cats were down three starters, the "next man up" once again took center stage and Vermont scratched and clawed their way to a win. How many teams can win on the road down three starters? In a season where this Cats group has showcased their depth time and time again, this might be the most impressive performance yet. Sam Alamutu was the star, seizing his moment and dropping a career high 23 points to go with 7 rebounds. He was aggressive from the get go and hit big shot after big shot, including a huge three in the second half. To top it all off he sealed the game with a steal. The jump he has made on the offensive end this season has been so impressive and it is great to see his hard work paying off. What a moment for him in this game. Jackson Skipper also put in a career high effort with 11 points on 3/4 shooting from three. Each of his threes were at crucial moments and it is impressive to see him come in and be ready to contribute despite not getting regular minutes. TJ Long rounded out the double digit scorers with 12 points. Long added a team high 9 rebounds and had 3 blocks. His defense was particularly impressive tonight, deflecting passes and playing physical. Of course he also had his signature late three magic that just about sealed the game. Shamir Bogues struggled offensively but did pull down 5 rebounds and dish out 4 assists. It bears repeating that winning this game with the missing players and foul trouble down the stretch is a tremendous testament to the program's ability to build depth and create buy in all the way down the bench. 

Also wanted to give a few thoughts about the games I missed over the last week. To sweep Bryant and Lowell again was awesome and the best part was Aaron Deloney getting a signature moment on senior night. What an amazing all time performance by him and nobody deserves it more. Another incredibly dominant run through the America East and Vermont now has the longest regular season title streak at 8 straight with Gonzaga finishing second this season. What a dominant run by this program. 

Playoff time is here!! I can't wait and Saturday is going to be a blast. Hopefully the Cats can get healthy for the playoff run. Best time of the year!

Vermont at Albany 2/22/24

Vermont 94 Albany 80

Vermont met little resistance from the Albany defense and shot 55% from the field in a big road win. The game was played at Albany's breakneck pace but the Cats were able to take advantage by getting to the rim, scoring 46 points in the paint. In the first half, Vermont shot the ball very well and attacked the Great Dane defense with a faster paced offensive attack. It looked like the Cats were going to run Albany out of the gym early but Tyler Bertram single handedly kept the Great Danes in the game with an impressive shooting display. In the second half, Albany kept punching back and looked to be swinging the momentum in their favor before Coach Becker switched to a zone defense, totally deflating the Albany offensive attack. The Cats continued to get shot after shot at the rim and hit a couple big threes to put the game away. It was great to see the offense take advantage of a good matchup and Vermont's incredible balance shined through. Six players in double figures and big contributions from the bench. Proving that they can win a more shootout style game is a good experience for this team as they head toward March. The defense had a few lapses but did a much better job overall in the second half. That was a game where you kind of tip your cap to Bertram as he hit some insane shots. 

Shamir Bogues led the way with 17 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. He was masterful in all aspects tonight, particularly running the offense to near perfection. He did a great job striking a balance between attacking and setting up his teammates. TJ Long scored 15 points and did a nice job attacking the rim and finishing through contact. Aaron Deloney was the closer in this one, hitting big shots down the stretch to put the game away and finishing with 14 points. TJ Hurley chipped in 12 points, efficiently picking his spots on offense and playing tough physical defense. Ileri Ayo-Faleye had 12 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks in a nice all around game. He played with force and also showed a little playmaking with some nice drive and dish moments. Nick Fiorillo scored 10 points and his putback tip in at the halftime buzzer was a big lift for the Cats. Matt Veretto finally found his shooting stroke, knocking down 3-6 from three for 9 points. His three from the corner with about 8 minutes to go really broke Albany's spirit. Sam Alamutu played some nice minutes and finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds. 

Now the big homestand against the other title contenders where Vermont will have a chance to clinch the regular season title. This is is the week where that all of the hard work and preparation gives the Cats an opportunity to check the first box on their season goals. First up is Bryant on Saturday in what should be a great game.

I will be travelling internationally over my February break and likely will not be able to watch or blog these two huge matchups. I will nonetheless be cheering from afar and spreading that Catamount pride around the world!

Vermont at Maine 2/17/24

Vermont 68 Maine 57

Vermont beat Maine in a workmanlike performance on the road with Coach Becker watching from the hotel, out with a sickness. Coach Schneider manned the sidelines for his first career win that saw the Cats continue their strong defensive performances. The game went like most of the Vermont/Maine matchups do, a physical, slow paced game that remains close throughout. In the first half the Cats finally came out and made some perimeter shots, taking an early lead. Maine was able to bounce back and take the lead thanks to beating the Cats on the boards. Vermont closed the half on an 11-1 run to regain the lead. Both teams came out cold in the second half as each team felt out the defensive adjustments. Ultimately, Vermont bounced back on the boards and had a response for every Maine run. The Cats shot the ball better and got to the free throw line where they took advantage with an 18-21 effort. The defense continues to shine, forcing Maine into tough shots and challenging everything at the rim. Maine helped the Cats out with an 11-21 performance from the line. Another game where the depth and defensive pressure of Vermont wore down their opponent in the second half. 

Shamir Bogues was great in the second half running the Robin Duncan/Dylan Penn post up and initiate the offense role, making big buckets to keep the Black Bears at bay and finishing with 21 points and 7 rebounds. He also led the Cats with 3 assists and zero turnovers, finding the right balance between attacking and playmaking. Ileri Ayo-Faleye came off the bench for the first time this season and responded with a big game. He finished with 14 points and did a nice job of getting out in transition. Nick Fiorillo got the Cats off to a hot start with two early threes and finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks. A strong performance in a return to his home state. Jace Roquemore came off the bench for 3 points and 5 rebounds. It was a great team win where seven different players hit a three pointer. 

Onto Albany on Thursday in a game where it will test the Cats "one game at a time" mentality. With a big week of Bryant/Lowell (including senior night) at home looming, Vermont will have to be extra focused on the road against an explosive Albany offense. 

Deloney and Becker reach milestones together

Vermont 70 New Hampshire 54

Aaron Deloney exploded for 28 points including the 1,000th of his career to get Coach Becker his 300th career win. What a great night at Patrick and huge milestones for two guys who fought hard to reach unexpected dreams. The first half was back and forth with the offense again stuck in neutral for stretches. The defense was there from the get go and AD sent the Cats into the locker room with the lead with a late three. In the second half the Cats defense absolutely ground New Hampshire into a pulp while the shotmaking arrived and Vermont cruised to another 20 win season. The defense that this group is playing really is quite incredible. Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Shamir Bogues stonewalled the Wildcats high scoring duo of Clarence Daniels and Ahmad Robinson to the tune of a combined 6-19 shooting from the field. Daniels in particular has been getting player of the year type buzz and Ayo-Faleye took him completely out of the game. The ceiling of this defensive group is so high. 

Again AD was just masterful finishing 10-15 from the field and only 1 turnover. The AD lightning in a bottle games are some of my favorites to watch. The whole place is just buzzing when he gets hot. After that it was quite a balanced effort with everyone else that played more than a minute scoring but no one else in double figures. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. He just absolutely smothers guys on defense. Shamir Bogues played great defense as well and finished with 6 points and 8 rebounds. Jace Roquemore continues to be huge off the bench with 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Nick Fiorillo earned the start and fought through some early struggles to finish with 6 points and 3 assists. TJ Hurley finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds and Sam Alamutu chipped in 5 rebounds and a nice dunk. TJ Long struggled mightily as New Hampshire worked to attack him on switches on the defensive end. Matt Veretto continues to struggle to break out of his shooting slump and isn't shooting with the same confidence. 

Now a very quick turnaround with one of the toughest road trips for an afternoon game on Saturday against Maine. Will be a very physical and hard fought game against a tough opponent. 

Bogues for the win!

Vermont 72 UMBC 70

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Vermont overcame a nightmare 0-15 start from the field and an early 20 point deficit to sneak out of UMBC with a win. In another show of tremendous resilience and heart, the Cats never put their heads down despite the Retrievers seemingly having every answer. In the first half it was another inexplicable offensive wasteland. Becker was just beside himself as the misses kept piling up. The Cats are getting the same open looks they have been getting all year, they just will not go down. I think that is what makes it so hard is it doesn't feel like anything is different besides shots not falling. Vermont was able to bounce back enough to cut it to an 8 point deficit at the half. In the second half there were many times where it felt like the Cats were gaining momentum. Each time UMBC had an answer with big time shotmaking. Opposing teams are really responding to the strong rim protection and tough defense from the Cats by playing mostly in isolation and relying more on jump shooting. Vermont just kept grinding and made enough plays to come out on top. Timely shooting, tough defense, and low turnovers. That is this team's bread and butter. It feels like at some point the shots are going to fall again. This was a must win game and the Cats found a way to get it done. It is very similar to how they pulled out the close victory over Brown following their tough loss at Miami (OH). This team could have called it a day and folded after the awful start but they never lost hope and showed the heart of a winner. 

Shamir Bogues completely put the Cats on his back and willed them to victory at almost every stretch of the game. After having his toughest game as a Catamount on Thursday, he had his best this afternoon. Bogues finished with 23 points on 10-14 shooting and committed zero turnovers. In the first half when Vermont was down 25-5, he ignited the Cats with some electric scoring plays including a smooth step back three. In the game defining run Bogues chased down a UMBC fast break, scored inside, blocked a shot, hit a three, finished off a three point play, and hit the game winner. An incredible performance, especially considering there are still times during the game where you can see the foot injury crop up. What a gutsy performance. TJ Hurley powered through a physical game and an off shooting afternoon to finish with 11 points and 5 rebounds(4 offensive). He got several clutch rebounds today as Vermont did as great job on the offensive glass. TJ Long struggled for most of the game from the field but grabbed a career high 11 rebounds and of course hit big threes when Vermont needed them in the second half and finished with 7 points. Jace Roquemore had the lunch pail effort of the game finishing with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals while allowing Becker to play lots of different lineups with his versatility. Nick Fiorillo finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in another nice all around effort. Sam Alamutu scored 6 points and hit two huge free throws down the stretch. Ileri Ayo-Faleye pushed through what Becker described as an illness and made some big defensive plays and finished with 7 points. Matt Veretto and Aaron Deloney struggled to knock down shots in a combined 2-13 shooting performance. 

You can see on the sidelines that Becker and the coaching staff are trying to solve the puzzle that is the Cats offensive struggles. Thankfully the defense continues to be strong and they were able to avoid a soul crushing two game skid. Now back home for a big showdown with pesky New Hampshire for Becker’s first shot at 300 career wins. 

Also now that NJIT also beat Lowell maybe the Highlanders are just hot right now!

The streak comes to an end

NJIT 63 Vermont 61

NJIT freshman Tariq Francis lit up the Catamounts for a career high 31 points and led the last place Highlanders to a huge win, snapping the Catamounts 23 game conference win streak. Vermont's shooting woes finally caught up with them, particularly at the free throw line where the Cats finished 11-20 (55%). For the second straight game the Cats got off to a very cold start and this time they struggled to get things going in the second half. NJIT played very tough on the defensive end, flying all over the court and contesting every shot. On the defensive side of the ball the Cats had no answer for Francis who made shots from all over the court. This is the type of let down or "trap game" that happens in every conference season. The players and coaching staff always talk about getting every team's best shot and tonight they got the Highlanders best shot for sure. How the Cats respond at UMBC will be a real test for this group after their first conference loss. 

TJ Long led the Cats with 18 points and was one of the few bright spots for the Cats. He made tough shots and kept the Cats in the game. Nick Fiorillo continue his strong play off the bench with 13 points and 6 rebounds but struggled at the line. Jace Rocquemore was also a nice spark off the bench finishing with 6 points and 8 rebounds. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 9 points and 7 rebounds but finished 5-9 from the line and didn't have his usual defensive impact. Shamir Bogues had his toughest game in a Catamount uniform, struggling on the defensive end and making very little impact on offense. He has not been able to get the rim over this last stretch of games and hasn't been in double figures since the Lowell game. Matt Veretto and TJ Hurley struggled to knock down their open looks and Aaron Deloney struggled to make an impact before a late three. 

This is the type of loss that presents an opportunity for this team to demonstrate their resolve. These losses happen this time of year across college basketball in the grind of the conference season. Will this group galvanize around this adversity like they did after the tough loss to Miami (OH)? Or will the pressure and tension of being the hunted get to this new group of Catamounts? It won't take long to find out with UMBC right around the corner. 

AD appreciation post

Vermont 62 Binghamton 49

Vermont won a gritty, physical, ugly battle against Binghamton to move to 8-0 in conference play. The first half was played in a kind of slow motion with both squads struggling to find their offense and 12 total fouls called with only one total free throw taken. In the second half Binghamton threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Cats with big lineups, small lineups, and everything in between as they tried to find some way to break through the steely Vermont defense. The shotmaking showed up down the stretch and Vermont secured the victory. Once again the defense was the main event, absolutely smothering by making every possession long and every shot difficult. The Cats ended with only 5 turnovers and orchestrated the game with a calm power. The formula is there for the Cats: smothering defense, low turnovers, and timely shotmaking. The balance and depth of this team wears teams out and the unselfishness can render the opposing teams scout null and void as anyone and everyone is really to take the reins and lead the team at any given moment. 

Aaron Deloney is flat out an incredible player. His career arc should be the blueprint for any young player who has their eye on a successful college career. Through his first two seasons he was averaging 2.6 points in 11 minutes per game and shooting 23% from three. AD never hung his head, waited his turn, put in the work, and made an impact from the bench when it was his time. He then put in even more work and earned his chance to get out there and lead the team as a starter. When adversity hit he was honest with himself, his coaches and teammates were supportive of him, and he knew that he could be everything he wanted to be in his role off the bench. Now his team is in first place and he is only 25 points away from 1,000. A tenacious competitor, tremendous leader, and an absolute baller. Six straight games in double figures. In conference play, 34 assists and only 6 turnovers. In today's game he was masterful, finishing with 16 points on 4-8 shooting from three and 5 assists. Becker said at the beginning of the year this was AD's team and it is safe to say he was right. TJ Long was the other Catamount in double figures with 14 points. He continues to attack the hard closeouts with physical drives to the rim. Matt Veretto got the Cats off to a hot start and finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds. Nick Fiorillo has just been exploding off the bench and impacting the game all over the place. Big rebounds, gorgeous passes, and clutch buckets. He finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and showcased some nimble footwork around the rim with some crafty finishes. Jace Roquemore has become the swiss army knife off the bench, moving around on both sides of the ball and showcasing his versatility. Roquemore finished with 7 points this afternoon. Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Shamir Bogues struggled offensively, combining for just 4 points but once again were smothering on the defensive end. They both use their wingspans and quickness so well and can seemingly simultaneously threaten a double team and cover their own man. 

Halfway through conference play and Vermont is ready to continue the march with a road swing down the coast next week. 

Vermont vs Albany 2/1/24

Vermont 81 Albany 59

The Cats dominated from start to finish and continued their hot start to conference play with a win over Albany.  Once again the defense set the tone and is what is setting Vermont apart in the America East this season. I mentioned the change in styles in an earlier post and having seeing all but one team play it is very clear that the Cats defense is a major advantage. It has always been a hallmark of the Vermont program but this team has an extra gear that can cover up mistakes and change the momentum in a big way. Particularly the Cats ability to challenge shots at the rim and their physicality on drives to rim. The passing and ball movement is also coming together in a big way. Even though tonight the Cats were uncharacteristically sloppy with the ball, they finished with 19 assists and shredded the Albany defense with precision passing. That is a testament to the unselfishness of this team and their ever improving chemistry. 

Nick Fiorillo led the Cats with 15 points to go along with 4 assists. He continues to impress with passing out of the high post and has tremendous chemistry with Aaron Deloney. What a luxury to have those two coming off the bench and the frontcourt has really turned into a strength over the past few weeks. Speaking of Deloney, he was masterful tonight finishing with 13 points and 6 assists. His feel is all the way back and he has been tremendous orchestrating the offense over the last few weeks. TJ Long chipped in 14 points and 7 rebounds, attacking the basket as he looks to get his perimeter shot back on track. Ileri Ayo-Faleye dominated with another double double, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds. He legitimately ripped the basket away from its mounts on a dunk in this one. An absolute beast. Shamir Bogues finished with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 blocks and wreaked havoc wherever he went. He is so disruptive on defense, seemingly always ending up around the ball. TJ Hurley has become the master of the four point play with another one tonight and finished with 8 points and 3 assists. 

I will finish tonight with a big shout out to the Vermont women's team for a big win on the road at Albany, ending the Great Danes 14 game win streak. Another Cats squad playing incredible defense and on a 6 game win streak of their own. GO CATS GO!!!

Statement made: Part Two

Vermont 67 Bryant 57

Set 'em up and knock 'em down.

Vermont dominated Bryant with a tremendous effort on the defensive end and passed their weekend road swing with flying colors. Defeating the other two undefeated conference teams in their home gyms on a quick turnaround is a tremendous accomplishment and continues to demonstrate the resolve that this team has. In both games they were challenged to win when they were not at their best offensively and each time they made adjustments and found a way to win. The first half was back and forth with the teams feeling each other out. Vermont exploded out of the gate in the second half and maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way. With the perimeter shots not falling once again, Vermont took advantage of mismatches in the post and relentlessly attacked the rim. One of the big keys to defeating Bryant is to make them play at a slower tempo and the Cats put on a masterclass in executing that gameplan today. The Cats finished with 10 steals and 7 blocks and made life miserable for Bryant on every drive to the rim. Once again the depth of Vermont and the balanced scoring shined through. The bench had 35 points in this game, outscoring the starters. Every time a team schemes to take a part of the Cats offense away, someone else steps up. The Cats have had a different person lead the team in scoring in eight consecutive games. That is a rare feat. Their unselfishness and commitment to winning is quite an advantage. 

Today it was Nick Fiorillo's turn to lead the Cats in scoring. He finished with 15 points, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. Efficient, under control, and steady as a rock. The game was very physical throughout and Fiorillo held his ground and never wavered. Aaron Deloney scored 12 points and dished out a team high 4 assists. Deloney has very quietly scored in double figures in four consecutive games and is back to the steady AD we know and love. Jace Roquemore provided a huge spark early in the first half after Shamir Bogues tweaked his foot and needed a breather. Rocquemore scored 8 points to go with 3 assists and 3 steals and had an absolute poster dunk on conference leading shot blocker Daniel Rivera. Speaking of Bogues, he gutted it out and played tremendous defense on conference leading scorer Sherif Gross-Bullock. He finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds but missed some bunnies at the rim as his vertical explosiveness has taken a slight hit due to the injury. He battled hard today and the game served as a prime example of how many different ways he can impact the outcome. TJ Hurley was the only starter in double figures with 10 points and he has really assumed the silent assassin role that Everett Duncan was so good at. Hurley doesn't need the ball in his hands to make a huge impact and very quietly moves himself around the perimeter, ready to knock down big shots. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continued his strong play with 6 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks. He took a beating in this one and struggled from the field but has really become a player that can impose his will on the game and change the momentum with a single play. Matt Veretto played tough defense and finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds. TJ Long has hit quite a slump with the added defensive attention and is struggling to find his rhythm. It will be his time again soon and I am sure he will bounce back. 

Vermont is back home on Thursday with the challenge of maintaining focus after a big weekend of key wins. Old rival Albany comes to Patrick as another uptempo team looking to speed up the Cats. This Cats group is fun to watch and I can't wait for the game. 

WHAT A GAME!!!

Vermont 72 UMass Lowell 65 OT

This is why college basketball is the best. What a incredible game.

Vermont overcame several very uncharacteristic mental errors down the stretch of regulation and pulled out a gutsy win in overtime. The game was back and forth throughout and lived up to the billing of the two top teams and bitter America East rivals in an early season conference battle. Defenses were locked in, physical play was par for the course, and every run had a equal response. With Lowell's trademark three point defense stifling the Cats, Vermont turned to a flurry of backdoor cuts on the offensive end. It looked as though the Cats had taken a stranglehold on the game at 60-53 with 2:36 left. Then the wheels fell off with mental errors left and right. A travel on an inbound, a fouled three point shooter, an ill advised three, and giving up a offensive rebound on a free throw. Phew. That was rough. The Cats survived and with shotmaking and defense, pulled out the huge road win. Vermont's defense was incredible throughout, holding the potent Lowell offense to 37% shooting, forcing 16 turnovers, and challenging everything at the rim. A big time statement from this group that they are ready and up to the challenge of conference play. 

The MVP, as he has been for the last few weeks, was Ileri Ayo-Faleye. Impacting the game on both ends of the floor and coming up with big play after big play. Career highs across the board with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, and big free throws down the stretch to boot. It felt like every one of his buckets, blocks, and rebounds were big. The block of the Max Brooks dunk in overtime was masterful. He has just exploded over the last few weeks and it has been his versatility that has impressed the most. He is making an impact in just about every aspect of the game. Incredible. Shamir Bogues returned to the starting lineup and reminded everybody how great he can be when healthy. He led the Cats with 19 points and added 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. In the second half it felt like there was a stretch where his defense single handedly turned the tide of the game. A fully healthy Bogues completely changes this Cats group. He is dynamic on both sides of the ball and supercharges the Vermont attack. Aaron Deloney provided his trademark spark off the bench and hit big shots throughout, finishing with 12 points. His floater over Brooks late in the second half was a thing of beauty. TJ Hurley battled throughout and hit a couple big threes, rounding out the double figure scorers with 10 points. Nick Fiorillo's passing was a game changer in the second half, running the offense out of the high post. Fiorillo finished with 6 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a savvy veteran performance. And of course, TJ Long struggles throughout the game as the focus of the Lowell defense, can't get anything going, misses some open looks but................ hits the biggest shot of the night in overtime to give the Cats a late lead. 

No time to rest on their laurels as the Cats are faced with an equally big test on a quick turnaround against an also undefeated in conference Bryant on Saturday afternoon. An absolute gauntlet weekend against the top tier America East challengers. Should be another incredible matchup and another absolute battle. 

Vermont at Binghamton 1/18/24

Vermont 82 Binghamton 62

I finally got around to watching Thursday night's game. An incredible team performance that really showcased not only the depth of this team but the versatility. The interchangeable pieces and lineup options on this team are progressing nicely and are putting a lot of pressure on opposing defenses. As teams are looking to sell out to take away the three or focus on stopping one or two main options, other players are stepping up and making the most of their opportunity. One of the exciting things about watching this team is how every player looks empowered to look for their offense when they have an opportunity. The ball continues to move around and when it finds a player with an advantage, they attack. The defense is executing better each game and in this game the steals were particularly effective in jumpstarting the Cats. 

Sam Alamutu led the Cats with 13 points and added 4 rebounds and 2 assists. He continues to grow into his role and is attacking off the dribble, which is creating opportunities for him and his teammates. The perimeter shooting is a nice bonus and has made himself enough of a threat that he has to be accounted for when the ball is moving around the perimeter. Nick Fiorillo added 12 points and and his sweet shooting has returned after battling injuries this year and last. The bench unit scoring 44 points is representative of the fact that Vermont has so many guys who are and have been starters in that bench unit. They truly have 10 guys who have been starters and any combination of those players makes Vermont dangerous. TJ Long also dropped in 12 points and had 4 steals. He is such an opportunistic defender who has a nose for the ball. Aaron Deloney rounded out the double digit scorers with 10 points and looks locked in once again. Shamir Bogues returned and looked as though he got through the game healthy. If he can remain healthy he pushes the Cats ceiling even higher. Jace Roquemore has been an absolute revelation for Vermont. He sparked the Cats second half run with tremendous patience and execution from the point guard spot. Since entering the rotation at the Brown game, Roquemore is averaging roughly 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal in 23 minutes per game. He has also committed only one turnover during that five game stretch. Earlier in the season Vermont was searching for stability at the point guard spot and they have absolutely found it. 

The next two games are the biggest of this early conference slate. Both UMass Lowell and Bryant have been very good and are hungry to take their shot at Vermont. One of the keys over the next two games is that both Bryant and Lowell defend the three very well with Lowell currently second in the nation in opponent 3 point percentage (27%). One of the other interesting trends to watch over the course of this conference season is a leagewide stylistic change. Gone are the days of the America East grinding teams as Vermont and Maine are the only slow tempo holdovers from that past era. Six out of the nine AE teams are top 100 in tempo and 4 of those (Bryant, UMBC, Albany, New Hampshire) are top 20. Offensive efficiency is up across college basketball and the league is seeing a shift in offensive philosophy as well. Can't wait for these next two games!

Vermont vs NJIT 1/13/24

Vermont 76 NJIT 55

There it is.

40 minutes of Catamount basketball (maybe 37 but you get the picture).

Vermont dominated a shorthanded and overmatched NJIT squad to sweep the early conference homestand. That game really put on display this group's strengths. The win was powered by the Cats depth, shotmaking, toughness, unselfishness, drive to win, and leadership. From start to finish Vermont maintained focus and executed really well. The passing over the last two games has been impressive with another 20 assists in this one. You can really see the joy that this group takes from each others success. The ball was zipping around and finding its way to the best shot. A great win to build momentum going into a very tough early season road trip. 

Jace Roquemore and Aaron Deloney put on an absolute point guard clinic in this game. The pair combined for 26 points, 11 assists, and 0 turnovers. Roquemore is epitomizing the Vermont program's "next man up" matra, stepping right into the starting point guard role and putting up a dominant performance. He finished with 14 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and knocked down 3/4 from deep. Kudos to him for buying in and working hard to be ready when it was his time. He is providing the veteran presence that Vermont was looking for this offseason. Aaron Deloney has settled into the "starter off the bench" role and is thriving as a facilitator. Over the last 4 games Deloney is up to 18 assists and 0 turnovers. You can see how much he LOVES getting that perfect pass to a teammate for a big bucket. Today he finally got some shots to go down and finished with 12 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds. TJ Long led the Cats with 17 points on 3/6 shooting from three. His ability to hit tough shots is such a valuable asset for Vermont. Ileri Ayo-Faleye had some huge dunks, big blocks, and continues to pick the right spots to shoot the three. Sam Alamutu was great off the bench finishing with 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. Total team win with everyone who played finding a way to contribute. 

Huge road trip over the next two weeks that includes an always difficult Binghamton game in Vestal and both of the other potential contenders in UMass Lowell and Bryant. A great opportunity to take stock of the league and an early conference litmus test for the Cats. 

Vermont vs UMBC 1/11/24

Vermont 77 UMBC 72

Vermont rode the UMBC rollercoaster and hit enough shots to pull out the victory. It was a wierd, hectic game with bodies flying everywhere and very few fouls called. Conference play is a different animal than the non-conference and this group is still finding itself, many going through that for the first time. UMass Lowell similarly struggled with last place NJIT at home this evening. Anything can happen in these hotly contested conference matchups. The Cats got off to a slow start and then caught fire, building a big lead. The pace became increasingly frenetic and UMBC did a great job getting the game to be played at their pace. Back and forth and up and down with shotmaking from all over. Vermont used a balanced team attack to respond to every run from the Retrievers. The Cats finished with 18 assists and only 5 turnovers and knocked down 12 three pointers. Right now there are just to many stretches where the Cats take their foot off the gas on the defensive end. I am sure that is really sticking in Becker's craw as this team is still searching for that locked in defensive identity. The ball movement, shotmaking, and unselfish play continue to propel the Cats to victories as they look for 40 minutes of consistent, locked in Catamount basketball. 

TJ Hurley led the balanced attack with 14 points. He continues to provide an efficient offensive presence and does such a great job of letting the game come to him. Matt Veretto was right behind him with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Ileri Ayo-Faleye is becoming quite the second half hero as of late, going on a 8-0 run all by himself and finishing with 12 points. The leap he has made over the last week is impressive and he continues to come up big for the Cats. TJ Long rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 points. Long is in a bit of a slump as teams are putting a lot more defensive pressure on him but he still managed to knock down a big shot late. Jace Roquemore earned the start and ran the offense nicely. His calm presence and point guard mentality are are filling a great need for Vermont with Bogues out. Sam Alamutu played well off the bench scoring 8 points and leading the Cats with 7 rebounds. He is doing a great job learning on the fly with more and more nice cuts to the basket to compliment his physical defense. Aaron Deloney played a nice game off the bench with 8 points and a team high 6 assists. 

Vermont will always get every team's best shot and today's game was no exception. This group continues to find a way to win and they get one more home game before a great early conference road trip that will give these Cats a huge test. 

Vermont vs Maine 1/6/24

Vermont 65 Maine 58

Vermont used a strong second half to defeat a hungry Maine team in their conference opener. The game started with a electric run sparked by the return of Shamir Bogues, giving what turned out to be short glimpse into what a fully healthy Cats team can do. Unfortunately, Bogues re-aggravated his injury and did not return. I feel so bad for him. It was clear that he was so excited to get back out there and play and it must be very discouraging that his body keeps betraying him. I hope he can get healthy but you have to start to wonder if he is going to get back to 100%. Sending healing thoughts. The team was very clearly deflated by the Bogues injury and Maine took advantage going on a 16-2 run to end the half and the Black Bears went into the break with a four point lead. Maine was determined to take away Vermont's three point shooting and executed that plan perfectly, holding the Cats to 3-17 shooting from deep. The Cats made a great adjustment and attacked the rim, dominating points in the paint 44-28. The story of the game was the Cats defense. This was a bread and butter Vermont program victory where the team dug deep and swallowed up the Maine offense in the second half. The Cats finished with 9 steals, 5 blocks, and won the rebounding battle 36-33. It was a gritty hard fought game led by Vermont's frontcourt. This Cats team can really challenge shots at the rim and make every shot inside the arc a difficult one. They also took exceptional care of the ball with only 6 turnovers. 

This game was all about the big men. Matt Veretto got the Cats off to a good start and Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Nick Fiorillo came up big in the second half. Veretto finished with 12 points and 4 rebounds, knocking down 2 of the Cats 3 threes. He continues to improve his ability to punish mismatches in the post. For the second straight game Ayo-Faleye really took control of the game offensively with hard drives to the rim. He is still refining his offense game but has made a tremendous leap in his ability to get to rim and put himself in position to finish. Ayo-Faleye finished with a career high 14 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks in a tremendous two-way performance. He had the defensive play of the game, chasing down a wide open Maine fast break and single handedly forcing a turnover in a crucial moment. Incredible growth over the course of the season so far. Nick Fiorillo rounded out the double figure scores with 13 points on 5-6 shooting, canning a huge three (the Cats only one of the second half) in a crucial moment to give Vermont some breathing room. You know he was hyped to play his home state team. He also had a crucial block down the stretch and has really solidified the frontcourt rotation. TJ Long scored 9 points in a game where he struggled to get anything going offensively. He also blocked a couple of shots and made some timely defensive plays in the second half. Jace Roquemore was great for the second straight game, taking over for the injured Bogues. Roquemore finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals in 22 minutes off the bench. He is running the offense with poise and has a nice calm to his game. Adjusting to a new program is tough and never a linear process so it is great to see him starting to find his footing. TJ Hurley and Aaron Deloney struggled with the Maine defensive pressure, shooting a combined 2-12 from the field  and finishing with 2 points apiece. Sam Alamutu and Brenton Mills were great on the boards, both grabbing 4 rebounds in limited minutes. The Vermont depth was huge in this one, helping to rebound from the loss of Bogues.

Every game in conference play is tough and every team has plans and backup plans to take away a team's strengths and take advantage of their weakness. Now the Cats get UMBC at home on Thursday in what should be the polar opposite of today's matchup. Vermont and Maine are slow tempo teams (340th and 290th out of 362 total DI teams) who want to grind out games with their defense. UMBC on the other hand is second in the country in fatest tempo and just about dead last (360th out of 362) in defensive efficiency. It will be quite a contrast of styles at Patrick on Thursday night. 

CARDIAC CATS!!

Vermont 71 Brown 70

The Cardiac Carts strike again!

Vermont took their very first lead of the game at 71-70 and locked defensively to make it count, stunning Brown in the second half. Vermont started sluggish, looking like a team coming off a long layoff, and Brown couldn't miss. The Bears took a 17 point lead at at 42-25 with 3:30 left in the first half and things were looking grim for the Cats. Then Vermont went on a 9-0 run heading into the locker room and gave themselves new life. The second half was back and forth to start with but the Cats struggled to get over the hump. Brown pushed the lead back up to 10 with 14 minutes left. Vermont then went on a 16-6 run to tie things up at 61. Back and forth the teams went and then with 1:21 left TJ Long (who else) knocked down a three to put the Cats ahead 71-70. That lead held with tough defense from both sides to finish out the game. One huge plus from this game was the free throw shooting showed up big. After a disappointing effort last time out the Cats went 14-16 from the line to help secure the victory. They also took excellent care of the ball with only 4 turnovers. With the perimeter shooting struggling Vermont did a nice job getting shots at the rim, outscoring the Bears 32-26 in the paint. It would be nice not to have to sweat it out in every game but the Cats certainly have gained valuable experience with all of the tight, hard fought contests they have played in the non-conference. Honestly they manage to play almost every type of game (blowout win, blowout loss, buzzer beater win, buzzer beater loss, etc.) during this stretch and at the very least they will be ready for anything during conference play. 

Matt Veretto led the Cats with 16 points and what was most impressive was that he did so without hitting a single three pointer. He looked great taking advantage of mismatches and looking for his shot going to the rim. That is major growth for Veretto who has predominantly functioned as a shooter in a Catamount uniform. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was massive in the second half scoring 11 points and once again challenging every shot at the rim. Brown went up 68-63 late and Ayo-Faleye responded with a quick 5-0 run to tie things up. He has done a great job picking his spots from the three point line. TJ Hurley also had a huge second half with 10 points and played a team high 28 minutes. TJ Long struggled on both sides of the ball for much of the game but gutted it out and once again hit the big shot late. Long finished with 11 points and 5 rebounds and continues to hit big shots when the Cats need a bucket. There were two big time unsung hero performances in this one with Sam Alamutu and Jace Roquemore giving the Cats a huge lift off the bench. Alamutu brought energy and is looking for his offense more and more. He scored 5 points in only 12 minutes but each play he made seemed like a big moment. Roquemore was a huge difference maker, guarding Brown's leading scorer and barely letting him touch the ball in the second half. He scored 6 points in 17 minutes and went 4-4 from the line, really stabilizing the Cats in the second half. Nick Fiorillo led the bench squad with 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. He hit a big three that really energized the Cats with about 8 minutes to go in the game. 

A strong non-conference performance from the Cats and now it is time to make it count with the conference schedule beginning this weekend. The Cats proved themselves as the favorites but face some stiff competition in what looks like a tough, competitive conference this season. Lowell has battled injuries and looks very tough. Bryant has found a new identity as a tough defensive team. Maine, Binghamton, and New Hampshire have been tough and competitive in the non-conference as well. The Cats schedule is odd to start with three straight home games followed by a tough three game road stretch. Can't wait for Saturday's game in what should be a great atmosphere at Patrick.