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!