Season reflections

Another season in the books for the Catamounts and as March comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the journey. There were quite a few highs and lows as Vermont continues to adapt to the changing landscape of college basketball. When all was said and done, The Cats checked off several boxes before falling just short of their ultimate goal. It was another 20 win season and that continues to highlight the consistency and program standard that Becker and his staff has set. New players and changing environments across college basketball and the Vermont program continues to find ways to compete at a high level. Falling short the last two seasons has been hard but only because the standard has been set so high. Those high standards make the Vermont program special and it is important to recognize just how rare it is to be able to pencil in 20 wins, a top two seed, and a spot in the championship year in and year out in a very chaotic and ever-changing sport.

The individual player development still showed through and continues to be the bread and butter of the Vermont program. Even with less times and years with players, there are steady improvements and buy in. TJ Hurley transitioned from shooter to scorer, Sean Blake became an all around contributor, Gus Yalden improved exponentially on defense (and from three), Noah Barnett went from energy guy to crucial starter, Lucas Mari became a defensive disruptor, and Momo Nkugwa a calming presence at the point guard position. If you rewind to the beginning of the season, these evolutions did not seem likely. Year to year continuity might be a thing of the past but even within a single season, there is tremendous room for growth. The most difficult part of the new era is the never knowing what the next year will bring and the inability to project a roster for the next season. This year the team cohesiveness took a bit longer than usual but it still had the Cats playing good basketball in March and had players making progress throughout the season. It is worth mentioning that overall this was a very young team with a significant part of the rotation in their first or second full college season. That inexperience was a big contributor to the in game swings in effectiveness. 

I am really going to miss the TJ's. They never really got to play together at their full potential but the excitement and shotmaking they brought over their time was really fun. They both gave us so many exciting moments and played their hearts out. Despite this group's struggles this season there was a bit of extra energy to the team. A lot of that credit goes to Yalden for bringing personality and fan engagement but guys like Barnett, and Nkugwa, and Blake also brought highlight plays and energy. The big swings in effectiveness during games resulted in huge runs and as a result this group of Cats almost always made the game interesting right up until the final buzzer. 

Two seasons ago, the defense was strong and the offense struggled. That put the emphasis this past offseason on improving the offense, potentially at the expense of the defense. During the non-conference portion of the season, it looked like that goal had been achieved as the offense hummed along and the defense struggled to get stops. It looked like a different style of Vermont team was going to be on the menu. Then as conference play approached, suddenly the defense began to catch up and the offense began to stall. That would foreshadow the rest of the season as Vermont again became a defensive minded team trying to survive scoring droughts. It was a genuinely weird season as the offensive talent and shotmaking was there but never seemed to fire on all cylinders. So I did what I love to do and go look at the numbers.

On barttorvik.com, there is a great table that takes a year over year look at a team's numbers. It is a great way to dig in a double check what you saw and felt during the year and to get at what the real difference was between a successful year and a year that fell short. The post COVID seasons are a great data set as the Cats have won three titles and fell short twice. The overall efficiency numbers have declined over the last several seasons but many of the underlying numbers are the same between the title and non-title seasons. They struggled to defend the three this year but that was also showed up in the 21-22 season. The defense not forcing a lot of turnovers is consistent year over year etc. This years team continued the staples of the Vermont program with efficient two point shooting, low turnovers, great defensive rebounding, and strong two point defense. So what was appreciably different? The three point shooting is an area of concern as over the last three seasons the percentage has been at its lowest during the Becker years. The big outlier for this years squad was how much they fouled on defense. Playing defense without fouling has long been a hallmark of Vermont teams and this year they put their opponents on the line significantly more than any of the post COVID teams. That is a backbreaker for a defensive minded a team and there were many times this year where it cost them games. Cleaning up that single area would have added several wins to this years squad. 

Now it is time to look ahead. With the transfer portal opening later and for less time, it will be interesting to see if that changes how the college basketball offseason looks once again. If the Cats can retain some of their core pieces they will be able to be more selective in how the coaching staff wants to roster build. If it is going to be another big roster overhaul, there will be more uncertainty. Last season they were forced to take big swings on unproven young players that yielded inconsistent results (much like the bygone era of high school recruiting). So far only Ben Wesson has entered the portal but it doesn't technically open until after the national title game so it will be through April until the roster becomes clearer. It will also be interesting to see who the coaching staff targets. The "add shooting and offense" mission had mixed results and ultimately did not have the effect that they were hoping. I think shooting will still be a priority but I think a creator off the dribble and reemphasizing defense will likely be an area they will look at. 

Look out for posts from all angles once portal season is in full swing as next year's roster takes shape!

Lastly, as always I appreciate everyone that still reads along and goes on this ride with me. I know that shutting off the comments reduced the interactive experience and that was a tough decision, but ultimately it allowed me to balance things in a better way. I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart for sharing this journey of college basketball fandom with me. 

Vermont falls in the America East title game

UMBC 74 Vermont 59 

UMBC continued their incredible play down the stretch and DJ Armstrong Jr. put together an all time championship game performance to lead the Retrievers to the tournament berth. The final score (and box score) will not do this game justice and don't tell the whole story. It will be easy to nitpick the poor Vermont shooting or look at the free throw disparity and if you didn't watch the game think same old problems. It was a closely contested game throughout with both teams responding to runs each way. Vermont's defense was really good and they made every shot tough for UMBC. DJ Armstrong Jr. single-handedly won this game with an insane performance, hitting tough contested shots, and scoring 13 points in a 4 minute stretch after Vermont took a three point lead. It was insane to watch and an incredible clutch performance. Armstrong Jr finished with with 33 points and almost all of his makes were deep, off balance looks, with hands in his face. Tip of the cap to him. To illustrate the point of how incredible his performance was, the rest of the Retrievers shot 12-40 (30%) and their leading scorer Jah'likai King was held scoreless. Great performance by UMBC and they will continue their hot streak into the NCAA tournament. 

TJ Long led the way for the Cats with a vintage 17 point performance in his final game. TJ Hurley struggled to make shots against a UMBC team determined to take him out of the offense and finished with 11 points. It is too bad the injuries never allowed the TJ & TJ experience to be fully realized. Gus Yalden chipped in 11 points and 5 rebounds (4 offensive) but battled foul trouble in the second half. Lucas Mari willed the Cats into the lead with his energy on both ends of the floor before getting hit with a elbow to the head and not returning down the stretch. He finished with 6 points and 8 rebounds. He was really incredible getting the Cats back into the game. Sean Blake finished with 7 points and 6 rebounds.

I will post a season review sometime in the coming weeks but in the meantime it is time to turn our attention to the Vermont women's basketball team following their incredible performance in the championship game last night. There are Catamounts in the postseason!

ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

Vermont 63 NJIT 54

Vermont continued their strong defensive play late in the season and booked a trip to the title game at UMBC on Saturday.  That was a magnificent team win. The cohesiveness that this group has found since the UMBC loss is an incredible accomplishment. Four players in double figures, six players with at least 4 rebounds, seven players with at least 1 assist, and a stingy, physical defensive effort. Tonight was the "next man up" Vermont mantra at its finest. The right plays at the right time. With all the challenges that Vermont faced this year, they are playing their best basketball of the season in March and avenged last year's semifinal loss to make it back to the title game for the 4th time in the last 5 years. Now they get to go on the road and I hope they get to play loose and free as the underdogs. Vermont has always been the hunted so I hope this group gets to come out as the hunters. UMBC has been on fire, winning 11 in a row since the loss to Vermont on January 29th. The Cats have nothing to lose and earned the opportunity to play for the championship. 

Sean Blake and TJ Hurley led the balanced attack with 14 points and 5 rebounds apiece. Both played with force and toughness in the face of the physical ball pressure from the Highlanders. TJ Long stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 (!) steals. His defensive intensity over the last two games has been incredible. His back to back threes in the second half gave the Cats a huge lift when the offense was struggling. Noah Barnett also had 11 points and hauled in 4 rebounds. He also made his first career three at the most clutch moment possible. It is hard to say a three with 9 minutes to go is a game winner, but that is exactly what it felt like. He has been playing incredible basketball over the last few weeks. Momo Nkugwa once again made a driving layup in a clutch spot. Lucas Mari finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds. Gus Yalden struggled to get it going and finished with 6 points and 4 rebounds but continues to show major improvement on the defensive end. 

 

Nothing better than playing on championship Saturday!

HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE COLLEGE BASKETBALL!!!!!

Vermont 77 Bryant 57

College basketball is the best.

Fresh off his player of the year award, TJ Hurley exploded in the second half and carried Vermont to the America East semifinals. What a game, what an atmosphere. Patrick was electric and the Cats showed out in one of their most well played games of the season. Vermont had Bryant at arms length for much of the game until the Bulldogs cut the lead to just four with 8:30 to go. The Cats responded with a 12-0 run and never looked back. Throughout the game, Vermont had the intensity, effort, and swagger that they have shown in spurts this season. The defense was once again really good and it goes beyond the box score. On paper Bryant shot a high percentage and took a lot of free throws, but they only attempted 38 shots for the entire game. That is an absurd number even for a slow paced game. Vermont gave up TWO offensive rebounds (they once again this season are second in all DI in defensive rebound percentage) and forced 12 Bryant turnovers. They were physical and in the Bulldogs grill from the opening tip. Offensively the Cats shot 57% (28-49) from the field and 45% (9-20) from three. Everybody that stepped on the on the floor made plays that helped contribute to the win. 

What more can you say about TJ Hurley? An all time playoff performance from an all time Catamount. Talk about a guy that earned it. Four years of hard work, battling through injuries, improving and expanding his game, and now player of the year. He absolutely put the team on his back and scored 24 of his game high 29 points in the second half. Hurley finished 9/12 from the field and 5/7 from three. The first of the back to back and-one drives was a thing of absolute beauty. Not to mention fouling out Bryant's best player in the process. Gus Yalden and Sean Blake both chipped in 12 points and got the Cats going with strong first halves. Noah Barnett was incredible as usual with his energy and hustle, finishing with 8 points and 7 rebounds. He had a big block and a clutch, full extension, diving on the floor steal in a big moment. Momo Nkugwa continues to defy logic with his calm, under control and yet explosive play down the stretch. His dunk in the first half was vicious and thankfully he survived the scary fall. He had one of the most clutch buckets of the game, driving to the rim right after Bryant cut the lead to four to give the Cats some breathing room. Over the last 5 games he has played 86 minutes and has committed ONE turnover. (he has not turned the ball over in the last 4 games at all). Just incredible for anyone, much less a young player in the most important games of the season. TJ Long's defensive intensity set the tone from his first minutes on the court and he finished with 3 steals.

What a great college basketball game in an incredible atmosphere. There is nothing better than basketball in March. Tuesday can't come soon enough. 

Another 20 win season

Vermont 69 Albany 56

Vermont used a strong defensive effort to secure another 20 win season for the program. It continues to impress that the coaching staff has been able to take different groups of players with different skillsets and still find ways to win at a consistent level year in and year out. This year may have taken a bit more of a circuitous route than in years past, but the player development and team cohesion still shines through. Great win to honor the seniors and secure the two seed for the America East playoffs. The key to this game was the incredible double teams that forced Albany big man Okechukwu Okeke into SEVEN turnovers. The defense was connected all night and forced Albany into really tough shots in the second half. This game also has the distinction of the most banked in shots I have ever seen. Offensively the Cats really attacked the rim in the second half and got to the free throw line, which wore down the Great Danes. 

Gus Yalden led the way with 19 points and stayed red hot from three with a 4/6 effort from distance. Watching him play this year has been pure joy and he has brought an energy to Patrick that is unlike anything I have seen from a player in the past. The crowd really responds to him and he just looks like he is having so much fun. Airplane celebration was top notch today. TJ Long finished with 13 points and 8 rebounds. His rebounding continues to be huge and I thought he made a great adjustment in the second half to drive the ball instead of setting for threes. Noah Barnett chipped in 9 points and 5 rebounds and is starting to benefit from the extra defensive attention given to everyone else. TJ Hurley had 9 points and 5 rebounds as well and continues to impress in a big way on the defensive end. He is a brick wall.  Sean Blake had a really rough stretch in the second half but finished with 9 points and 5 assists. Ben Johnson added 5 points on his senior day. Momo Nkugwa stepped in for Blake and was really good. He played tough defense and handled point guard duties with ease. He plays with a poise beyond his years. 

Its the most wonderful time of the year. Saturday can't come soon enough. 

SUPERNOAH SAVES THE DAY!!

Vermont 66 UMass Lowell 64

Noah Barnett putback a TJ Hurley miss with 11 seconds left to lift the Catamounts to victory. A huge play in a huge spot as Vermont continues to fight for playoff seeding. The game was intense and physical from the start with both teams crashing the offensive glass and a playoff atmosphere in the building. It was a back and forth affair with six points as the largest lead of the night for either team. The key moment in the game came with two minutes to go. After a steal and layup by Lowell to pull ahead 63-58, TJ Hurley rose up and connected from deep while getting fouled for a chance at a four point play. Ninety percent from the line? This one is in the books. Except is wasn't...... and it was the best missed free throw ever. Lowell couldn't control the rebound and Vermont got another chance. Gus Yalden hit a huge three, as he has done many times in clutch moments this season, and gave the Cats a six point possession to turn a five point deficit into a 64-63 lead. A free throw, a great steal by Jackson Skipper and then the set up for the Barnett heroics. Incredible moment for this crew. The defense was good tonight for the Cats, holding Lowell to 3-16 shooting from three and making just about every shot difficult. The battle on the boards was interesting as both teams were good on the offensive glass and it was a back and forth affair with each team having stretches of dominance in the battle underneath. One more regular season game to go. 

Gus Yalden led the way with 21 points and 12 rebounds. His three point shooting has really come on strong down the stretch as he is shooting 12/25 (48%) from three over the last 6 games. He also played a season high 33 minutes and continues to improve on the defensive end. His growth and progression this season has been fun to watch. TJ Hurley finished close behind with 19 points and he made life miserable for conference leading scorer Angel Montas Jr, holding him to 5-19 shooting from the field. Noah Barnett finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds and his aforementioned putback electrified Patrick Gym. Sean Blake had an uneven game with 6 points and 4 turnovers, but he also had 3 steals and 2 incredible blocked shots. Momo Nkugwa continues to make plays when called upon and finished with 5 points and 3 rebounds. Ben Johnson knocked in a three but teams are relentlessly targeting him on defense and he is struggling on that side of the ball. TJ Long struggled mightily, finishing 0-8 from the field and committing some key turnovers late. He had been tracking in the right direction so hopefully this is just a blip as he gets ready for March. Lucas Mari suffered another lower leg injury, which could be a huge blow as he has become such an integral part of the rotation. 

The crowd was great tonight and hopefully it is a similar atmosphere for senior night on Tuesday. March basketball is finally here. 

A HUGE shoutout to the Vermont women's team for securing their first outright regular season title in 24 years! 

Stayin' Alive

Vermont 70 NJIT 64

Vermont responded in an absolute must win game with a strong second half to take down NJIT. The Cats fell behind early once again and it looked like it was going to be another first half dud. Instead, Vermont shook off the slow start and went into the locker room tied. They came out hot to start the second half before NJIT responded with a run of their own. Then it was nip and tuck the rest of the way and Vermont made enough plays to pull off the big road win. To get the big road win on a night where neither the threes (4/20) or frees (had to do it 12/21) were falling is a testament to this team not giving up despite the challenges they have been facing. The Cats accomplished this by relentlessly attacking the rim and outscoring NJIT 44-26 in the paint. They were 23-32 (72%) from inside the arc in a strong second half of passing, cutting, and getting to the rim. Vermont had no other choice but to dig deep and find themselves and they did so in gutsy fashion. 

Gus Yalden scored 21 points on 10-15 shooting from the field. Every time the offense needed a bucket, he made a great play. Sean Blake bounced back from a very tough game on Thursday with a tremendous performance. Blake stuffed the stat sheet with 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists and his attacking mindset drove the offensive engine in the second half. Big time response from Blake. TJ Hurley finished with 13 points and was strong on the defensive end. TJ Long chipped in 7 points and 6 rebounds. His rebounding is huge for the Cats and he made some tough buckets in clutch spots down the stretch. Momo Nkugwa has come alive lately and made so many big plays tonight. Nkugwa finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds, including a big time rebound in an important moment late. He gets a pass for the free throw shooting this time. 

Two home games to go for the Cats to find some consistency going into March. They welcome a red hot UMass Lowell team to Patrick on Thursday. Playoff atmosphere arrives early. 

Vermont at UMBC 2/19/26

UMBC 75 Vermont 62

UMBC started hot and made clutch shots down the stretch, taking down Vermont. Another big game where the Cats struggled to get going in the first half and dug themselves a hole that was too big to overcome. The Retrievers played a great game and have been playing great basketball since their loss to Vermont, especially on the defensive end. The Vermont offense continues to struggle to capitalize on open looks and they were bullied and beat up on the boards. It is too bad that they were down so big in this game early because the defense really got going in the second half during the comeback. The slow starts feel like Vermont not being quite ready for the other team's tenacity, as opponents are seizing an opportunity to take down a more vulnerable Vermont team than in past years (and exorcise some demons from the dominant run a few years ago). Saturday night's game is an absolute must win as any more losses would put them in danger of slipping out of the top three. 

TJ Long was a bright spot, scoring 21 points and pulling down 8 rebounds. Getting a healthy Long down the stretch could help the Cats make a playoff run so seeing him have back to back good games is a big positive. Gus Yalden scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds but struggled to finish through UMBC's physical post defense. Momo Nkugwa gave great energy in the second half and was a big part of the comeback. He finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals. TJ Hurley struggled mightily, making only one shot. He was very good on the defensive end but couldn't get anything going against the Retriever's ball pressure. Sean Blake struggled mightily on both sides of the ball. He struggled to finish at the rim and looked a step slow on the defensive side of the ball. Ben Johnson also struggled defensively and ended up only playing 16 minutes. 

Truly a season on the line moment for Vermont. Gotta come out with a strong first half on Saturday night. 

NO BRAKES ON THE GUSBUS!!!!!

Vermont 90 Bryant 63

Vermont and Gus Yalden stole Bryant's soul as the Bulldogs came unglued early in the second half, succumbing to the Catamount onslaught. This game was all about the first 5 minutes of the second half. Vermont used an efficient and workmanlike first half to build a 12 point lead at the break. Out of halftime, Vermont went on a 18-2 run that included two technical fouls and an ejection for Bryant head coach Jamion Christian. It is rare for a game to feel so over, so early in the game, but Bryant looked defeated after the first media timeout of the second half. This is the game Cats fans have been waiting for. This is the clicking on all cylinders, Catamount swagger game that fans have enjoyed often during the Becker tenure. The action was electric and it was far and away the most complete game of the season. Vermont shot 58% for the game, including an incredibly efficient 9/14 (64%) from three. The Cats were also 21/25 (84%) from the foul line, comfortably making the best of a very physical and chippy atmosphere. They absolutely dominated the paint, outscoring Bryant 36-18 and won the rebounding battle 34-26. A dominant win in a statement game going into the most important week of the conference season. With road games against the two teams they are chasing (UMBC and NJIT), must win is an understatement. Couldn't go into the week with better momentum. 

Gus Yalden was absolutely phenomenal in leading the charge for Vermont. He continues to improve each game and his enthusiasm and "crowdwork" absolutely swings momentum and energy. Yalden finished with 27 points on 10/15 shooting and pulled down 6 rebounds to go along with 3 assists. His spinning, scooping layup and three on the delayed fast break in the second half absolutely electrified Patrick. He is adjusting to the defensive attention that teams are throwing his way and improving his reads all over the court. Massive game. TJ Hurley continued to thrill Cats fans with his new found above the rim game, throwing down his most viscous dunk yet, as part of a 19 point performance. The extra emotion he has been showing during this hot streak has been so fun. TJ Long showed some of his old form with a 14 point, 5 rebound performance that included a 3/5 effort from three. This was the first "big three" game and hopefully a sign of things to come as team health improves. Sean Blake continues to find new ways to change speeds and create offense for Vermont. Blake finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists and is impacting the game in so many ways.

This is one to enjoy and build on for the deciding week of the conference regular season. Lots of love for the Cats on Valentines day!

I also wanted to thank everyone that reads and comes along on this ride with me as this is my 600th (!!!!!!) post. That is a lot of words over the almost 13 years that I have been writing this blog. 

Vermont at Binghamton 2/12/26

Vermont 73 Binghamton 65

Vermont clamped down on the defensive end and used timely shotmaking to take down Binghamton on the road. In the first half, Vermont attacked the rim at will and started to pull away. Binghamton got hot from three and were able to close the gap at the half. Both offenses hummed along in the second half and Vermont struggled to find space on the perimeter. The teams traded baskets until Vermont ratcheted up the defensive pressure to seal the game. It was a strange game where Vermont was able to get easy shots at the rim but struggled from distance. They shot an incredible 26-33 (79%!!) on shots inside the arc. Binghamton did a great job limiting the Cats opportunities from distance as Vermont was held well under their average attempts. It was great to see this group score efficiently and get the win on a night when they only made 3 three pointers. Vermont was good on the boards and made timely defensive plays. The Cats have no room for error in their quest for a regular season title and gutting out gritty road wins will be crucial.

Gus Yalden led the way for the Cats with a tremendous all around performance. He controlled the game with his post ups, screening, and passing. Yalden finished with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists. He was under control and did a great job reading the defense and taking what they game him. TJ Hurley finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds. He threw down another slam and I am here for his "dunk era". Sean Blake scored 11 points and played tough defense, finishing with 3 steals. Lucas Mari continued his impactful play with 9 points and 2 steals. He is making a lot of the little plays that contribute to winning. TJ Long came alive down the stretch and hit some big shots. He finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds as he continues to work his way back form injury. Noah Barnett had an odd game where he scored 10 points but went 0-4 from the free throw line, grabbed only 1 rebound, and committed 4 fouls. 

Nice win on the road as the Cats get ready to welcome Bryant to Patrick Gym on Saturday.

Bounce Back

Vermont 80 New Hampshire 57

The Cats bounced back from two tough losses and dominated New Hampshire from the opening tip. A wire to wire and much needed win for Vermont. Thursday night's game was a pretty rock bottom moment for this years group and today's game was going to be telling as to how they are gonna handle the second half of the season. They came out with energy and focus on both ends of the court and finally got off to a good start. The ball movement was particularly crisp as they carved up the Wildcat defense. There was a little lull at the end of the half where the Cats let New Hampshire back into the game, but they erased any doubt of a letdown with a strong second half. The shotmaking that was such a part of the team construction this offseason finally came through and the defense was engaged and physical. Vermont finished with 20 assists in a incredibly balanced team effort.  They knocked down 15 three pointers and dominated the boards. A big time performance in a big spot. 

Ben Johnson was the star, scoring 26 points on 7/10 shooting from three. He was spectacular at finding space and moving without the ball. He is really shifty coming off screens and doesn't need much space to let it fly. Gus Yalden got the Cats off to the hot start, scoring all of his 16 points in the first half. He knocked down 3/5 from deep and pulled down 8 rebounds. His screening and passing led to a lot of open looks and he was more engaged on defense. TJ Hurley scored 13 points, including a nice dunk. He is really taking his game to another level and attacking closeouts with force. Sean Blake finished with 11 points and 7 assists and moved the ball incredibly well all afternoon. Noah Barnett got the start and did a little bit of everything. He finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists and helped set the tone defensively. Lucas Mari returned from injury and immediately made an impact with his defense and rebounding. I do not think it is a coincidence that the defense struggled without him over the last two games. He has become a very impactful and versatile defender and is huge on the boards. He finished with 8 rebounds and 3 assists and brings high energy when he is on the floor. 

Huge win to hopefully help propel Vermont into high gear for the stretch run. 

Vermont vs NJIT 1/31/26

NJIT 79 Vermont 77

NJIT came to Patrick with a purpose and handed Vermont their second conference loss of the season. The Highlanders came out with swagger and energy and led wire to wire in an big time performance. Their relentless defensive pressure and physical play in the paint really put the Cats back on their heels. Since entering the league, the Highlanders have pretty consistently been a thorn in the Cats side. In the first half Vermont could not hit a shot as the offense screeched to a halt. Becker has mentioned repeatedly that he feels like they have been generating good shots for good shooters but have not been knocking them down. This game was another demonstration of that inexplicable trend as many of the shots missed were good looks. The second half was choppy and chippy as tensions rose. It felt like a Murphy's law game as the Cats just couldn't string together enough plays to gain momentum. When they finally did get some shots to fall, there was not enough time left to climb out of the hole. This group has proven that they play well with their backs against the wall and shown tremendous grit in coming back in tough situations. Unfortunately, they have struggled to play with that same intensity early in games. Teams are always gunning for the Catamounts and some of the new players are learning how physical and gritty America East play can be. The results through the first half have shown without a doubt that on any given night, anyone can beat anyone.

Sean Blake led the Cats with a career high 23 points and added 8 rebounds and 4 assists. He was electric in the second half trying to will the Cats back using his speed in the open court. TJ Hurley finally went cold in the first half before knocking some shots down in the hectic final minutes. Hurley finished with 16 points on 5-15 shooting from the field. Noah Barnett bounced back from a tough night on Thursday and matched NJIT's physicality and energy. Barnett finished with 12 points and shifted some momentum the Cats way. Gus Yalden was the only Catamount to score for the first ten minutes of the game but struggled after that and finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds before fouling out. Teams have made life really difficult for Yalden lately and he is shooting only 8/21 (38%) from two and 2/14 (14%) from three over the last three games. They are forcing him to catch the ball away from the paint and throwing double teams from all angles. Ben Johnson struggled, going 1/6 from three. TJ Long returned to the lineup and finished with 7 points on 3-7 shooting. Lucas Mari rolled his ankle early in the first half and did not return. The Cats really missed his size and rebounding. They just cannot shake the injury bug these past two years. 

A tough loss at home to finish the first half of the conference season. No rest for the wicked as the always daunting road trip to Orono awaits. 

BIG WIN!!!

Vermont 64 UMBC 55

Vermont used tough defense and clutch shot-making to take sole possession of first place in the America East, beating UMBC in front of a raucous Patrick Gym crowd. The first half was a back and forth affair with both teams feeling each other out. In the second half, the Cats defense really locked in and made life difficult for the high flying Retrievers offense. In the middle of the second half, Vermont had several chances to stretch the lead and put the game away but could not cash in. UMBC took advantage and went on a 11-3 spurt to tie the game at 51. The Cats responded with big threes from Ben Johnson and Lucas Mari and got the stops they needed to win the game. The defense was particularly impressive in this one as UMBC was held under 60 points for only the second time this season. The lowest they had scored during conference play was 69. The rotations were great and they held the Retrievers to 23% (6-26) shooting from three. They also forced UMBC to play quite a bit in isolation as they were only able to muster 7 assists in the game. Offensively, the Cats are still struggling to find consistency but made 11 threes and had 13 assists on 20 made baskets. The ball movement was great once again and everyone is looking to find the best shot. Huge win to start a decisive weekend in the early battle for first place in the America East. 

TJ Hurley stayed red hot, scoring 18 points on 7-11 shooting. He also grabbed 7 rebounds and played tremendous defense on DJ Armstrong Jr. He looks so in command on the court right now. Lucas Mari continued his breakout with 16 points and 6 rebounds. He scored 8 of those points down the stretch to put the game away including two beautiful corner threes. He has turned a corner in his adjustment to the college game and has been huge over the past week. Ben Johnson continues to impress in his starter role, finishing with 11 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists. His three in response to UMBC tying the game was clutch. He also had a great block on a three point attempt in the second half. Sean Blake was incredible despite only taking 2 shots (and despite a tough night at the foul line). He finished with 5 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists and is making so many big plays. He has really found an incredible balance to his game and is running the offense with a strong presence. Gus Yalden struggled to get going, shooting 2-13 from the field. Teams are really throwing a lot at him defensively and forcing him to catch the ball away from the paint. He is battling and scored 8 points while more crucially dishing out 5 assists. Even when he is struggling to score he is opening up the offense with his screening and punishing the extra defensive attention with his passing. Ben Michaels continues to provide tough defense and finally got a shot to go down. 

Huge momentum and confidence builder going into another showdown with second place NJIT on Saturday. Can't wait!

Vermont at Bryant 1/24/26

Vermont 62 Bryant 52

In an absolute grinder of a game, Vermont made clutch shots down the stretch and finished a very tough week on the road at 2-1. In the first half, Bryant was barley functional on offense, only making three shots. Unfortunately Vermont struggled to pull away and put Bryant on the line which kept the Bulldogs in the game. In the second half, Vermont looked like they might pull away but their offense then came to a screeching halt and Bryant finally found some room on offense. Like in many games for the Cats this season, it came down to which team was going to execute and make the big shots down the stretch. Vermont made plays in the crucial moments and came out with a win. The defense for Vermont was good and forced Bryant into really tough shots at the end of the shot clock for much of the game. Unfortunately the Cats continue to put other teams on the line too often and it makes it tough to put teams away. Becker spoke this week about the fact that this is the first conference play experience for many of the newcomers and how fierce the battles get regardless of record. This game was a good example of how important it is to put teams away because the emotion and energy can turn on a dime in these hotly contested games. Offensively, the shot making continues to come and go over the past few months. They are still getting good shots, they just aren't not falling. Stills feels like there is some room there. Despite the shooting difficulties, the ball movement was excellent with 13 assists on 19 made baskets and the Cats pulled down 16 offensive boards while winning the battle 40-30 overall. At several big moments, the offensive rebounding was key and broke the Bulldogs spirit. They continue to take good care of the ball with only 6 turnovers. A good "find a way" win in a tough environment at the end of a long week. 

TJ Hurley stayed hot with a Herculean effort down the stretch. He finished with 26 points to follow up his career high 30 on Thursday. This feels like that senior bump as he ready's make one last run as a Catamount. Watching the game slow down for him in real time (not that he has ever been in a hurry) at a different level than in the past is so cool. Great decision making and finding the right spots to attack. Incredible heater going 18/35 (51%) from the field, 9/20 (45%) from three, and 11-12 (92%, which oddly enough drops his percentage) from the line over the the two games. All while being hounded by the defense. Star. Gus Yalden was the other Catamount in double figures with 14 points. He struggled to get going in this one and has actually cooled off quite a bit from three (2-12 over the last 3 games). But shooters shoot and he made the big three to give the Cats some breathing room before making a great read on the very next play to get Hurley a wide open look to put the game away. Sean Blake finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in a solid all around effort. Lucas Mari was good again off the bench, finishing with 5 points and 7 rebounds. Ben Michaels didn't score and continues to struggle to find his offense, but pulled down 9 boards and led the charge on the offensive glass with 4. Ben Johnson is averaging 29.5 minutes per game since TJ Long's injury and continues to give solid veteran minutes. I have to give him a shout out for the fact that he has only turned the ball over 4 times all season. Crazy. I like to call that the Everett Duncan award (look up his insane low turnover numbers). Noah Barnett's return gives that Cats a level up both on the boards and the defensive end. 

Now a short break before a big showdown in an early battle for first place with UMBC. Patrick better be rocking!!

TJ HURLEY

Vermont 77 UMass Lowell 68

TJ Hurley scored a career high 30 points and led the Cats to victory on the road over UMass Lowell. It was a strong bounce back effort from the Catamounts who answered every call and played well on both sides of the ball. The first half was nip and tuck to start before Vermont closed the half with a mini run and went up 11. They continued to keep the River Hawks at bay early in the second half. Then a Lowell run cut the lead to one with 13 minutes left. Vermont responded with a big time 12-0 run to take control. They were able to close out strong and pick up the win. The energy was good from the start and the Cats looked engaged for the full 40 minutes. Vermont dominated points in the paint 40-24 and forced 14 Lowell turnovers. The Cats were able to capitalize by scoring 19 points off turnovers. It as a great response to the tough loss on Monday and you could see a more focused group, making the right play and making the extra pass. Becker switched to the 1-3-1 zone and completely stalled the Lowell offense in the final stretch. 

Hurley was electric, scoring at every level and asserting himself on the offensive end. He knocked down 5 threes and was deadly from the mid-range. It was great to see him take charge and look to score a bit more, knowing he needed to be more aggressive with TJ Long out. Gus Yalden battled foul trouble and finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds. He was excellent in this game opening the floor up for his teammates with his passing and screening. A big part of the game deciding run was the best stretch of Lucas Mari's young Catamount career. Mari was all over the court, forcing steals and grabbing rebounds on defense, while being aggressive on offense and attacking the rim with authority. He finished with 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals while playing with incredible energy. It is not an exaggeration to say that he singlehandedly shifted the momentum. He also provided a calm presence running the offense. Monster second half, punctuated by two huge dunks. Ben Johnson scored 10 points and pulled down 5 rebounds. He scored on a couple beautiful turnaround jumpers in the lane and attacked closeouts well. Sean Blake chipped in 8 points and made some tough shots while Vermont was putting the game away. Noah Barnett returned and made an impact with his physicality and energy.

Great win and nice momentum heading into the match-up at Bryant on Saturday.

Vermont at Albany 1/19/26

Albany 75 Vermont 68

Albany used a big burst in the second half to beat Vermont for the first time in five years. It was the Cats first conference loss and in a similar fashion to their last two games, they got down big in the second half before clawing their way back. This time the didn't have quite enough to get over the hump. Albany played a great game and after a tough and challenging non conference schedule is playing great basketball since Abdoulaye Fall returned from injury at the start of conference play. The Great Danes forced the Cats into 13 turnovers and capitalized at the other end. It was a game of big runs and momentum swings as each team went on multiple double digit scoring runs. Vermont's defense struggled for much of the game but dug in late to get them back in the game. Unfortunately their defensive rebounding (normally their very best skill) let them down and gave Albany extra possessions during the Cats comeback. Vermont is still looking for that 40 minutes of locked in play as both sides of the ball have been coming and going for stretches over the past few weeks. Again they showed great poise and grit in getting back into the game but need a way to find that same level of intensity earlier in the contest. 

Gus Yalden led the Cats with 21 points and 8 rebounds in a nice bounce back effort. The coaching staff continues to look for ways to maximize his offensive impact and stop teams from taking advantage of him in pick and roll at the defensive end. TJ Hurley finished with 15 points and 5 rebounds but struggled with his efficiency, shooting 4-13 from the field. Albany's defense forced him into some lower percentage mid-range shots and did a good job limiting his opportunities at the rim. Ben Johnson finished with 12 points in his second start. Sean Blake finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists but missed some easy ones in big spots. Ben Michaels finished with 2 points and 6 rebounds. The bench did not play many minutes in this one and they did not have the same impact hey have had in the last few games. 

A tough start to a tough week as the Cats prepare for UMass Lowell on Thursday night. 

Vermont vs Maine 1/15/26

Vermont 67 Maine 62

Vermont went on a 15-0 run to battle back and take control in their revenge game against Maine. The first half was full of back and forth action with neither team able to pull away. Maine was hot from three to start and limited the Cats opportunities from distance. Maine came out swinging in the second half, pounding the ball inside and getting out in transition. They built a 12 point lead at 49-37 and things were looking bleak. The Cats clawed their way back thanks to dynamic play from Sean Blake, hot shooting from three, and tough defense. They held Maine without a basket for 11 minutes (13:06-2:06) in a monster team effort. Vermont closed the game out at the free throw line and secured the win. The injury bug continues to plague the Cats with TJ Long joining the injured list. Vermont's depth really showed as the players that were called upon to play bigger roles really stepped up. The Cats blocked 9 shots and held Maine to 36% shooting. They also out-rebounded Maine 37-29 in a gritty, physical effort. 

TJ Hurley led the way with 18 points. He was so good around the rim and kicked off the run with a three pointer. Sean Blake was spectacular, finishing with 17 points and 6 assists. After some early turnovers, he locked in and didn't turn the ball over in the second half. He was dynamic both finishing at the rim and executing the drive and kick. He also finished 7-7 from the line helping to ice the game. Ben Johnson got the start due to Long's injury and had his best game as a Catamount. Johnson finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds while playing scrappy, physical defense as Maine tried to take advantage of him on switches. He came up with big plays and none were bigger than finding David Simon in the corner for the go ahead three. Huge performance by Johnson. Gus Yalden has his first tough game at Vermont, finishing 3-11 from the field for 8 points. He did pull down a career high 11 rebounds and block 2 shots but was visibly frustrated on the bench in the second half. He is a passionate guy and I have to give him a lot of credit for powering through and hitting a huge three to give the Cats some breathing room with about a minute left. Ben Michaels played incredible defense on Maine's leading scorer TJ Biel, blocking 2 shots, and had a massive put back dunk during the game deciding run. Simon finished with 3 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 blocks and was a big part of the momentum shift in the second half. Lucas Mari played 22 minutes off the bench and finished with 3 points and 7 rebounds. He had a beautiful assist to Momo Nkugwa for a three point play that really got Patrick rocking. Nkugwa also has a massive, almost skywalking rebound in a big spot during the decisive run. 

This was a big win before a very tough week next week. The schedule makers did the Cats no favors with a compressed three game road week. Monday at Albany, Thursday at UMass Lowell, and Saturday at Bryant. That is about as tough as it gets. Nice to get some momentum before being tested. 

Vermont vs Binghamton 1/8/26

Vermont 60 Binghamton 59

Did you miss it? 

Defensive grind is back!!

In a slow and sluggish game Vermont was able to survive and win their conference home opener over Binghamton. Jeremiah Quigley was spectacular for Binghamton with a near triple double, but was unable to carry them all the way. The Bearcats were in command fro much of the night, controlling the tempo and slowing the game to a snails crawl. Neither offense could gain any traction as the defenses set the tone. The Bearcats held Vermont to only 15 attempts from three, by far their fewest of the season. Vermont countered by dominating points in the paint (28-12) and winning the rebounding battle. With four minutes to go, Binghamton went up by six and things were looking grim. The Catamount defense came to the rescue and Vermont finished the game on a 9-2 run to eek out the win. Old school Vermont victory. The free throw shooting was *cough* abysmal at 13-24 (54%) and the game ended with a strange missed free throws/halfcourt heave anticlimax. Conference play is quite the rollercoaster. Both teams are dealing with significant injuries and Vermont spent almost the entire second half without Gus Yalden as he continues to battle some calf(?) injuries. The Cats that were called upon stepped up in big spots and showcased the Vermont "next man up" mentality. 

I will begin with the end. Momo Nkugwa saved Vermont with a spectacular final four minutes which featured tough battles on the boards, 6 of his 8 points, and the game winning free throws. He was incredible and showed poise beyond his years. Clutch. Jackson Skipper also has some big moments, hitting clutch free throws and coming up with a huge block on the defensive end. Skipper finished with 5 points and 5 rebounds in 20 minutes. Ben Michaels stepped in for the injured Yalden and finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds in 24 minutes. Big day for the bench crew. Yalden was the only Catamount in double figures, finishing with 15 points and 5 rebounds. He kept the Cats in the game in the first half with two big threes. Sean Blake finished with 9 points and Lucas Mari chipped in 7 points. TJ Hurley had the game saving block and dished out 6 assists to offset only scoring 3 points. TJ Long struggled to knock down shots but pulled down 9 rebounds to go along with 3 points. Better days are ahead for the TJs but they showed how to impact the game even when not at their best. 

Now the Cats get a week off to hopefully get fully healthy before welcoming Maine to Patrick. Vermont is ready for a little payback after the Black Bears ended their season last year. 

Vermont at New Hampshire 1/3/26

Vermont 80 New Hampshire 61

Happy New Year!!

Vermont opened conference play with a dominant victory over New Hampshire. In the first half, the teams were kind of feeling each other out and New Hampshire used a hot start form three to keep the game close. The Cats were clicking on offense and went into the half with an 8 point lead. The second half was all Vermont on both sides of the ball. A great way to open conference play. The league as a whole is down this year and Vermont has an opportunity to take advantage. Becker actually went zone down the stretch and it completely shut down the New Hampshire offense. Vermont dominated the paint, outscoring the Wildcats 42-22 and took excellent care of the ball, committing only 8 turnovers. With an established post game, Vermont's offense can generate open looks off of paint touches and that was on full display today. Great ball movement and extra passes, getting good looks for teammates. 

The scoring was a three headed monster with TJ Hurley, Gus Yalden, and Sean Blake accounting for 55 of the Cats 80 points. Hurley led the way with 20 points on a super efficient 8-12 from the field. He has great body control around the rim and he uses it to power through defenders. Yalden pumped in 18 points (also on 8-12 shooting) and added 5 rebounds and 3 assists. He is so good at generating offense for himself or his teammates from the post. Blake was spectacular, scoring 17 points while adding 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. He is playing with such poise and making winning plays. He knocked down 3/5 from three which must have felt good becasue they were his first makes from distance since November 18th(!). Ben Michaels stepped in for an injured Noah Barnett and finished with 8 points and 3 rebounds. He is good on the offensive glass and it was awesome to see him play well. Hopefully Barnett's injury isn't serious. TJ Long scored 6 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had some beautiful assists out of the pick and roll in the second half. Ben Johnson continues to work hard to improve his defense and made some nice hustle plays, finishing with 3 points and 3 rebounds. 

Nice kickoff to the conference season and now its time for the conference home opener against Binghamton on Thursday.