Exhibition season starts with a bang

Vermont 90 Holy Cross 80

As the Gus Bus screamed into the crowd:

"WE'RE BACK, WE'RE BACK, WE'RE BACK...." 

Basketball returned to Patrick and the first look at this year's team produced some electric moments on the way to a 90-80 victory over Holy Cross. The NCAA has taken its fair share of lumps over the last few years but changing the exhibition rules to allow more flexibility, including allowing DI opponents, is an absolute win. What a great atmosphere and a great game to kick off the season. 

First off, if that doesn't get fans pumped for the year, I don't know what will. After several years of tough, grinding, and often ugly exhibition games, that game was full of fun and excitement. This team has depth, versatility, and a wealth of playmakers. One of the things that stood out was how many "lunch pail" guys they have. So many players making the little play, getting into the trenches, and playing with energy. Opponents are not going to be able to set weak picks this year because Vermont has guys who are ready to straight up truck some dudes. Man, that was fun to watch. 

Will Davies had one of most electric Catamount debuts that I can remember. Davies finished with 24 points to lead the Cats but more importantly, it was the way that he did it that was so impressive. He had highlight after highlight and impacted the game in just about every dimension. He has such a great feel for the game and is absolutely relentless. It is hard to pick a favorite moment from the game, but the two standouts are the absolute stuff block at the rim and the alley-oop dunk. He knocked down 4/8 from three (including a cold step back in the corner), got to the rim, fought through picks, and displayed great communication and leadership. His backcourt mate Darrel Yepdo was right behind him with an electric 20 points of his own. Yepdo shot 4/7 from three and showed incredible downhill acceleration getting to the rim. Having this point guard duo is an incredible luxury and gives Vermont that dynamic offensive ability they have been searching for the last few years. They are going to be fun to watch. Khalil Badru came off the bench and scored 14 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. He is great at elevating in the mid-range and knocking down tough shots. He can defend any position and will provide some highlight worthy moments throughout the season. John Broom is going to be a kind of silent assassin. He impacts the game without the ball in his hands and is a really tremendous rebounder. He finished with 7 points and 7 rebounds. There were a few rebounds he grabbed today that it felt like he had no business grabbing. Coming all the way back after closing out a three-point shooter to sky for the rebound and pulling one down in a group of four Crusades to name a few. Noah Barnett continues to do Noah Barnett things. Out hustling guys to the ball and shifting momentum with his energy. He finished with 8 points and 4 rebounds and looks like he has worked on his offensive game. Daniil Glazkov finished with 9 points and could be a real swing player for the Cats. He plays with a great calm and has a well-rounded game. He had a finish at the rim this afternoon that was insane. Glazkov is a very big guard and plays with physicality on the defensive end. He has a ton of upside. Gus Yalden finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals in an up and down opener for him. Holy Cross was determined to run him through the ringer and make him work on the defensive end. I don't know if I have ever seen a team run a post player off so many down screens to initiate their offense. They really wore him down and he was quite frustrated by the end of the game. Yalden is going to experience that transition from surprise first season to target on his back second season. Teams are going to plan all sorts of creative ways to try to take him out of his comfort zone this season. The good news is, he is going to be up to the task, and he will not have to shoulder such a huge offensive load this season. This team has some real weapons. 

No reason to nitpick the first game (that is for the coaches to do in film tomorrow). The defense is going to get better as rotations tighten up and players get comfortable with the system. They have guys who can be great defenders, and the positional size of this group is great. The shooting was a nice surprise and will really open things up if the Cats can find consistency from the perimeter. I am very intrigued by the playmaking ability as they have lots of strong passers in this group. 

This is absolutely and unequivocally going to be a fun group to watch this season. I think they have a chance to do something special. No matter what, Patrick is going to rocking this season. Can't wait for next Saturday. 

Oh basketball, how I have missed you

The leaves are turning and the cool nights are rolling in. That can only mean one thing......it's time for basketball season!!! The season ticket holder event provided the first look at the teams, and I got to show off my rebounding prowess in the skills competition. It felt so good to be back in Patrick and it is great to be writing again. I finished up my degree this summer and I am looking forward to blogging season. Basketball is the best. 

On to the scrimmage reactions. It always fun to watch because you get to see something from every player. Tonight there was no Gus Yalden, Momo Nkugwa, or Daniil Glazkov. They were relegated to the cheering squad. The competition was fierce as always and the overall impression is that there is some strong potential with this team and this group of players are a great fit together. Players with different and versatile skill sets that complement each other. Going offense heavy in roster construction last year did not work out as the coaching staff hoped and you can see that there was an emphasis on defense and versatility in the roster construction this time around. One of the big changes this year will be the depth at point guard. That will make a huge difference in how the offense runs. This group looks like they will be physical on the defensive end and strong on the boards. I feel like a broken record, but perimeter shooting will once again be the area to keep an eye on. They have several players with upside from the perimeter, but consistency will be key. I am very excited to see the first game action in a couple weeks, and it is great that the NCAA changed the rules to allow for better exhibitions by allowing more games and Division I opponents. This team has the pieces to compete for a championship. 

Will Davies was very impressive. He looks like Vermont player through and through. Gritty, smart, relentless. He has a tremendous feel for the game has the ball on a string. Great court vision and a command of the offense. The Davies/Yalden pick and roll is going to be deadly. Darrel Yepdo is the other half of the point guard duo and he will also bring steady leadership. He is crafty and brings that veteran calm. Those two are going to put their teammates in good spots all year. Khalil Badru has tremendous athleticism and is going to have some highlight reel moments this season. He is strong on the offensive glass and can make tough mid-range shots. Noah Barnett is ready to continue his steady rise as a do it all glue guy. He wills the team forward with his energy. Hayden Johns was very impressive as the main initiator on the green team. He is all frenetic energy and has a pretty deadly lefty wrist-flick hook shot. It will be interesting to see how he progresses coming off last year's knee injury. John Broom showed of his quiet, always around the ball skills. He made a lot of little plays like being in the right spot on defense and grabbing rebounds. He has a high ceiling and will be impactful on both ends of the floor. Cash Chism is a good shooter and plays with a scorer's mentality. With the depth at the guard position, he might be in more of a learning mode this season. Sincere Clemons and Zach Romich, the two walk-ons, had some nice moments in the scrimmage and provided good energy. That just leaves the trio of international bigs. Mario Brunetto knocked down a couple threes and could provide some shooting. He will have to get tough on the defensive end in order to find those minutes. Sublime Gbiegba was strong on the boards and has good court vision. He could be a real swing player for the Cats. The transition to college basketball can be a hard one but if he picks it up quickly, he could find his way into the rotation. Marko Masic has great size and is smooth with the ball. He too will be looking to make that college basketball transition as quick as he can.

Just a few thoughts here to get started and now the countdown begins to real game action and I cannot wait. Excited to be getting into the groove again and ready for the season. 

Summertime, and the livin's easy

Summer has arrived in Vermont and that means it is time for a quick sneak peek of this year's Catamounts. To begin with, it is a small window into next season as several of the international players are still working their way to Catamount country. That means this week there was no Marko Masic, Sublime Gbiegba, or Mario Brunetto. They will trickle in over the summer. Hayden Johns, the transfer from St. Anselm is also still working his way back from last season's injury but is on track for the fall. Now on to the players who I did get to see. Let's begin with the returners. Gus Yalden is poised for a huge season. He is in better shape, in a leadership role, and has the continuity of the same program for the first time in his career. He will likely be in consideration for preseason player of the year and has a chance to do something special. Momo Nkugwa is bigger, stronger and has put in quite a bit of work refining his perimeter shot. He is so smooth on the court and looks ready to build on his strong finish to last season. Noah Barnett is such a perfect complement to Yalden in the frontcourt and is in a great position to continue his rise. His energy and veteran presence as the elder statesman entering his fourth year as a Catamount will be huge with so many new faces. Alright, Alright, I won't bury the lede any further. On to the newcomers! Will Davies is going to be a workhorse and a textbook Catamount. He can do a little bit of everything, has a great attitude, and a drive to win. Get ready to hear "Davies to Yalden" on repeat. He has a great command of the floor, and it is easy to see why he led DII in assists last season. Darrel Yepdo joins Davies in the backcourt and brings a different energy. Yepdo is fast and crafty, getting to the rim and making plays. He too is a workhorse and will stretch the floor with his three point shooting. A great one two punch at the point guard position. John Broom flashed big time in the scrimmages and is oozing with potential. He has great size and length and shot the ball well from three. He showed a great knack for begin in the right place at the right time, deflecting passes, walling up drivers, and grabbing rebounds. Could absolutely explode this season. Kahlil Badru is super athletic and great at getting downhill and crashing the offensive glass. He is still refining his shooting but looks like a high energy, disruptive force who can play multiple roles. Daniil Glazkov is a huge guard and really post player sized for the America East. He is a steady, methodical player who plays good positional defense, is a good rebounder, and crafty with the ball. Cash Chism is a good young guard who plays hard and can score from anywhere on the court. Zach Romich is a hard working guard who will push guys in practice and bring a winning attitude. There you have it! A slice of this year's Catamounts. It will be very exciting to see the full team in the fall and they have some great pieces to build upon. I hope everyone has a wonderful summer!

Roster Complete

Vermont wraps up their roster with a little more international flair. Mario Brunetto a 6'11" forward originally from La Spezia, Italy becomes the final commit for this recruiting cycle. Brunetto spent the 2024-2025 season at Eastern Michigan (playing in only 4 games) before spending last season at Arizona Western College where he averaged 10.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, and shot 36% (40-110) from three in 15.7 minutes per game. This is a great "unlock the potential" final add to the roster. Brunetto has guard skills in a forward's body and he has loads of potential waiting to be unleashed.  He is comfortable initiating the offense off the dribble and has shown the ability to be a knockdown shooter. He is still finding out how to best maximize his skillset and the Vermont coaching staff will get a chance to work with Brunetto to find a role that fits him best. I read an article on basketunderreview.com about how free throw percentage can be an indicator for year to year fluctuations in three point percentage. Link here. Basically bad free percentage + good three point percentage = potential for drop in three point shooting the following season and vice versa. Brunetto was a 91% (63-69) free throw shooter last season so the potential for making an impact with his perimeter shooting is real. Brunetto will look to round out his game and work with the coaches to reach his full potential. Roster complete. Can't wait to see what this group of Catamounts will look like on the court. 

Sublime Gbiegba commits to Vermont

Vermont reaches back into the international recruiting pool, landing a commitment from 6'8' forward Sublime Gbiegba out of France. Gbiegba currently plays for Cholet U21 and is coming off a breakout season that saw him average 13.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. He is a consistent low post threat who is strong on the offensive glass and displays good touch around the rim. He has demonstrated a good feel for the game with his passing and offensive movement. Gbiegba is a perfect compliment to the current Vermont frontcourt. The coaching staff has been looking for another back to the basket threat in the low post and has found a very intriguing and high ceiling option. This roster has quite a bit of versatility and good length in the frontcourt. Gbiegba has just begun to scratch the surface of his potential and will look to continue that growth as he transitions to college basketball. With last years starting frontcourt returning, Gbiegba will have good veterans to learn from and a chance to make an immediate impact. With one more scholarship to go, the coaching staff has done an excellent job finding players with skillsets that complement each other and fit the Vermont program. 

Vermont adds another

Zach Romich a 6'3" guard who prepped this past season at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire has joined the Catamounts. Romich is from Groton, MA and had a standout career for Groton-Dunstable High School. He is know for his high level three point shooting and being a high IQ, high character player. He is from quite the basketball family with several of his older siblings having played college basketball as well. He played on a Kimball Union team that had several other DI commits and played AAU for the New England Storm. He is a winner who is a relentless worker and a team leader. He has really raised his stock over the past year with his elite shooting and confident floor game. He gets a chance to join the Vermont program and bring that winning mindset and work ethic while getting a shot to play his way into a future role. Vermont has often found great value in bringing in players looking for a shot and even if that might have been in a bygone era, it is still great for building team culture. When filling the last few spots on a roster, culture fit, buy in, and work ethic are incredibly important. In this new age of college basketball, projecting the future roster is impossible, but what will always be true is those culture building intangibles make a huge difference. 

Cash Chism commits to Vermont

The Catamounts landed their first high school recruit of this offseason, receiving a commitment from 6'2" guard Carter "Cash" Chism out of Mount Pleasant, Texas. Chism wrapped up his high school career with a strong senior season at Mount Pleasant High School where he became the school's all time leading scorer, racking up 1,758 career points. He was first team all district and offensive player of the year as well. Chism is a pure scorer who can create shots from anywhere on the floor. Deep range from the perimeter and creative finishes in the paint. One of those players that can get hot and will his team to victory. Landing a young player who can play both guard positions is great at this point in the recruiting cycle. Even though roster building for the future is harder and harder to gauge these days, there is a lot of value in getting a young player who can grow into role. Chism's type of shot creation is something that the Cats have been looking for each season. A player that when the offense breaks down can improvise and create. Recruiting season is winding down with 2 more spots to fill.