Opening night statement

Vermont 67 UAB 62

Vermont used an explosive first half followed by a signature gutsy second, to take home the win on opening night. What a way to start the season for the Catamounts. Not only was it a great game but it showcased all of the things that make Vermont such a tough team. Tough D? Check. Timely shooting? Check. Low Turnovers? Check. Unexpected contributors? Check. Just an absolutely awesome team win to open the season with contributions from everyone. In the first half Vermont found success against the UAB zone both finding lanes to the rim and knocking down threes. They really muscled up on the boards in the first half as well, making life difficult for Blazers star Yaxel Lendeborg. The second half was a different story. Lendeborg played like a man possessed and absolutely dominated Vermont. UAB switched to a physical man to man defense and took away Vermont's driving lanes. They had no answer. The Cats never panicked, never backed down or hung their heads, and kept fighting. The defense clamped down on everyone else and kept UAB from making a single three (0-10). Vermont iced the game at the line and came away with a huge win. The defense looked phenomenal and the Cats were even able to play some lineups with *gasp* three big men on the floor at one time. A tremendously gutsy effort with big plays up and down the lineup. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 20 points and hit the big shot to put the Cats ahead for good in the closing minutes. With the departure of Aaron Deloney, Hurley was the most natural fit to take on that perimeter scoring role and boy did he excel. Always poised and under control, Hurley picked his spots and make great decisions throughout the game. He hit 4 threes (including one from the parking lot) and played really tough defense, making life difficult for the UAB guards. Shamir Bogues got Vermont out to a hot start, absolutely exploding in the first 5 minutes of the game. After that he struggled to make shots as UAB focused their defense on stopping Bogues going to rim. Bogues finished with 13 points and was a huge part of the stellar perimeter defense. Nate Barnett waited a whole year to make his Catamount debut and he did not disappoint. He completely changed the game in the first half with his hustle and high motor play. Barnett finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 huge block in 22 minutes. He has a nose for the ball and it was great to see his hard work have an impact on the game. TJ Long struggled in his first game action but as always hit a huge three to break a 55 all tie. Long finished with 10 points to round out the double digit scorers for the Cats. The bank was open late for Ileri Ayo-Faleye as he banked in not one, but two threes in a crucial second half stretch. The Cats offense had stalled and Ayo-Faleye reignited the Cats with a tremendous four point play. He played his typical tough defense, finishing with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Seth Joba played a physical and tough 17 minutes and hit a nice corner three. Sam Alamutu didn't score but played tough defense. Sean Blake struggled with a few turnovers and Nick Fiorillo had a tough game, getting out muscled in the post. Fiorillo did come up with the crucial rebound to begin the free throw shooting at the end of the game. Just an incredible all around performance by the Cats. 

What a great way to open the season and Vermont can go into the Auburn game loose and ready to shock the world. 

Also what a great win for the Vermont women's team in their opener against Missouri. Fun times in Catamount country!!

Vermont 24-25 season preview

Basketball is officially back and after all of the waiting, obsessing, projecting, and researching, it is time to write about the upcoming season. With this being the last of the extra COVID year eligibility across college basketball, it feels like a peak year for the sport. There is so much veteran experience across the country and after this season teams are going to get much younger. These post COVID years have felt like an era all its own with all of the changes around eligibility, conference realignment, and player compensation. That makes this year so exciting and one to appreciate.

With so many returning pieces, there is a real excitement about what this Vermont team can accomplish this season. Players in the Vermont program very often make significant year to year improvements and now that the coaching staff has a large group of returners, there is an opportunity to to take another step forward. Integrating a large number of new players year to year over the last few seasons has meant there have been less opportunities to look ahead and add new wrinkles as most of the work has been just getting players integrated into the system. This year the Cats have a group who have already put in that work. This team has an opportunity to be very special. 

The one caveat to all this excitement is health. Every year teams are always battling the unpredictable nature of player health and this season the Cats have had a run of tough luck to start the season. Becker mentioned in his media day appearance that Shamir Bogues has not practiced very much due a surgery to remove bone spurs and TJ Long has only been available for about 25% of practices thus far dealing with a nagging foot injury. Considering those are the Vermont's two preseason all conference players, that is a cause for concern. It was nice to see Bogues back for the final exhibition but you never know how that missed time will affect teams. I think about When Dylan Penn was injured for the entire preseason during his Catamount season and it look him and the team a while to get going after all that missed time. Last season Nick Fiorillo also had a bit of an adjustment period coming out of his preseason injury. I am approaching this preview with bountiful optimism and as such am going to assume full health. Here. We. Go.

Projected Record: 25-6 (14-2) 1st in America East, NCAA tourney berth

This team has a ridiculous amount of potential. First off, they could be the best defensive team Vermont has ever had. In my preview last season I mentioned how exciting it would be to see Shamir Bogues in the Vermont defensive system and it did not disappoint. The Duke game left a sour taste with the offensive struggles and TJ Long's injury but underneath it all, Vermont's defense was fully validated as a force to be reckoned with. Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye are elite defenders no matter the level of competition. The Cats are going to be able to wear their opponents down in a big way. The first two games against UAB and Auburn will be fun to watch and are a great measuring stick. They are not just two great teams, they also have great individual players. Yaxel Lendeborg for UAB is a the preseason conference player of the year and Johni Broome from Auburn is rated as the best player in the country on evanmiya.com. Two dominant frontcourt players to kick off the season. With the preseason injuries, these games are going to be even more difficult. After that big road trip, the Cats have a chance to go on a pretty big winning streak. The rematch with Yale in early December will be absolute must watch, can't miss college basketball after last season's miracle. That game last season solidified Yale/Vermont as the best rivalry in Northeast mid-major basketball. The conference schedule starts with a bang as Vermont begins with three tough road games and that will set the tone for the rest of the conference season after those early Bryant/Lowell tests. 

Depth 

During this incredible run of success the most significant advantage that Vermont has had over their opponents is their incredible depth. The Cats have a group of players on the bench that if they were broken off as their own team, they would be a competitive squad. That is a luxury that very few teams have. This was really put on full display last year with the time missed by Bogues, Matt Veretto, and TJ Hurley. The "next man up" mentality in the Vermont program is really incredible. I think back to the 21-22 season opener on the road at Northern Iowa when Vermont was facing opening the season without its star Ryan Davis. Even the most optimistic fan was understandably feeling down about their chances.  The Cats went out and blew the doors off Northern Iowa anyway, kicking off an incredible season. Overcoming injuries is always a challenge but Vermont is a program that has a pattern of players stepping up when called upon. This year, the Cats have already seen the results of this with Sean Blake seizing his opportunity while other players have been out. 

Leadership 

Last year Aaron Deloney returned to be the program ambassador to a group of newcomers. This year the Cats have quite a wealth of experience and leadership. Nick Fiorillo is in his 6th season with Vermont, Jace Roquemore is in his 6th season of college basketball, Shamir Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye are in their 5th. Sam Alamutu, TJ Long, and Gavin Perryman are in their 4th. For a program with the goals and aspirations that Vermont has, there couldn't be a better setup. With so much knowledge, this group is prepared for the inevitable ups and downs of the college basketball season. 

Breakouts incoming?

Even with so many returning pieces, the Cats are still looking to replace important production. Losing Aaron Deloney and Matt Veretto leaves a big gap in scoring and perimeter shooting. This puts TJ Hurley square in center of replacing production. He is the most natural candidate to replace this perimeter scoring. Three point shooting was a real slog for the Cats last season and they will need a better season from beyond the arc to reach their full potential. Hurley has the ability to step into that role. Nick Fiorillo is finally fully healthy and looks ready to capitalize. He plays such an important role in the offense with his passing ability. Other players like Bogues and Ayo-Faleye have been working in the offseason to improve their perimeter shooting ability. One could say that Sam Alamutu already broke out last season. If the preseason is any indication, he was only scratching the surface. He has looked transformed moving into a guard role and is poised for another step up this year. At the media day Becker talked about how Seth Joba and Nate Barnett have shown steady improvement and have an opportunity to carve out a role. Both showed flashes in the exhibitions. This opportunity for improvement is the biggest benefit of the programmatic continuity. 

Newcomer impact

Even with so many returning minutes there is opportunity to the few newcomers to make an impact. Shy Odom has already established himself as a very good college basketball player and is looking to recapture that magic with Vermont. A 100% healthy Odom is a major impact player. His progress toward reclaiming his pre-injury form will be a huge storyline for Vermont as he is a player who can impact the game in many different ways. Without injury concerns, the rest of the new faces were looking at a tough road to minutes. The door has been opened for Gavin Perryman and Sean Blake to make an impact this season. Sean Blake has been an absolute revelation so far with his dynamic ability to get to the rim. He has forced his way into a role this season. Blake will certainly have some growing pains but he will likely have some explosive performances this season. 

Offensive improvement

The Vermont defense can always be counted on and helped the Cats thrive last season despite a very inconsistent offense. Looking at the analytics on www.barttorvik.com, last season was one of the worst offensive seasons by adjusted offensive efficiency in the Becker era. The defense saved the day as it was the one of best seasons by adjusted defensive efficiency in the Becker era (so when Becker says this year might be his best group on the defensive end, he is on to something). Every coach, every preseason talks about offensive tweaks and playing faster. This year is no different for the Cats. For Vermont it has always been hard to increase the number of possessions and play faster because their defensive system dictates a slower paced, lower possession game. I do think after last season's difficulties, the coaching staff will work to install some new wrinkles to unlock the full potential of this group. It will be interesting to see if that translates to a faster pace of play. The Cats have nowhere to go but up as they finished 350th (out of 362) last year in tempo. At the very least the offense will have to be far more efficient on a per possession basis this season. 

Exciting Basketball

The last thought for today is how exciting this team will be to watch. Last season was full of insane moments with big shots from Long, huge dunks from Ayo-Faleye, and jaw dropping sequences from Bogues. Toss in what Blake and Alamutu have shown in the preseason and this group has explosive energy and a killer mentality. The level of skill, IQ, and athleticism on this team is going to make for must watch basketball this season. There will likely be wow moments in every game this season. Bogues in particular (hopefully shaking off his nagging injury with his procedure) is poised to explode this season for Vermont.

There is no better sport than college basketball and I cannot wait for the season to officially begin. As always thanks for coming along on the ride with me, reading the blog, sharing thoughts, and enjoying Catamount basketball.  

Exhibition: Vermont vs St. Michael's

Vermont 80 St. Michael's 55

Vermont swarmed the shorthanded Purple Knights from the opening tip and kept their foot on the gas, cruising to a win in the exhibition finale. The Cats clearly were not going to let the game turn out like the last one and played with more purpose and energy throughout. The players and coaches do an excellent job of using losses or inefficient games as fuel. Early on the defense was intense as Vermont held St. Mike's to only two made field goals in the first 10 minutes. The offense was firing on all cylinders with quick cuts and the perimeter shooters finding success. In the second half, the Cats played more in the halfcourt and were trying different looks and finding different combinations. Vermont really dominated the boards throughout the game and played with a fire and intensity in the paint. Night and day from the first exhibition and a great way to go into the prep for Monday's opener against UAB. 

What was the big difference? Well for starters Shamir Bogues was back. It was great to see him out on the court and he made an immediate impact as he always does. His energy is infections and just like last season the on/off court splits for Bogues are incredible. His teammates seem to feed off of his intensity and there is an electricity to his minutes (unfortunately the box score has disappeared so there will not be exact stats for this write up). Bogues looked really good and it is awesome to see him ramping back up into game shape. Sam Alamutu continues to impress and looks reborn so far this season. Finally getting a chance to play his natural guard position, he is flourishing. He was a rebound shy of a double double and impacted every aspect of the game (ignore the free throws). His defense was absolutely smothering to start the game and his energy off the charts. Flying all over the court including some nice dunks. Seeing how he carves out a role this year is going to be so fun. Sean Blake was electric once again. The improvement over the course of this last calendar year from his final high school season to now has been astronomical. He truly has gone from a possible redshirt to a player who could carve out a nice scoring role off the bench. That is a testament to his hard work. His ability to burst through the gaps and rise to the rim are special (again, ignore the free throws).  The post player crew bounced back in a big way. Nick Fiorillo led the Cats with 12 points and jumpstarted the offense with a couple threes early. He is a tone setter for this group and handling a larger shooting role from the perimeter is crucial to the Cats success this season. Seth Joba showed flashes of his potential throughout the game. He too knocked down a couple threes and had a beautiful pull up jumper off the dribble. He battled for rebounds underneath and played with more aggression. Shy Odom flashed his potential in this one too with some nice offensive rebounds and played with more purpose. Everyone that played in the game scored in a really well rounded team effort.

Now on to the real thing. I am super excited for the game against UAB on Monday. I hopped on a UAB podcast to talk about the matchup and you can join the Patreon($) if you would like to listen. Click here for the link. My Vermont season preview will be posted in the next few days so be on the lookout. Regular season here we come!

Sean Blake instant legend

Vermont 68 St. Anselm 66

The Cardiac Cats are back!!

Freshman Sean Blake rescued the Catamounts in his debut with a late game tying layup and game winning free throws one possession later in the exhibition opener. Nothing like jumping right into the action. No Shamir Bogues or TJ Long, giving some other Cats an opportunity to see more minutes. The first half looked like a half of basketball where a team has been dealing with injuries and is missing some key contributors. Similar to last year Vermont could not find success from the perimeter and struggled to get shots at the rim. With no Bogues, the Cats struggled to find driving lanes. Vermont found some energy late in the second half and closed the gap. The second half was back and forth with both teams finding more offensive success. Josh Morissette was absolutely scorching for the Hawks, hitting tough shots from all over the court and finishing with a game high 27 points. Late in the game, Vermont made some key plays and emerged from the hectic action with a win. These exhibitions are designed to give the team an opportunity to smooth out the kinks before the season starts and that was certainly the case today. The offense is very much a work in progress as the coaching staff is trying to make some changes and find out what can unlock this group. The coaching staff will certainly have a lot of material for the Cats to work on in practice. 

One of the big bright spots for the Cats was freshman Sean Blake. In the second half, he was the player that helped Vermont break down the defense and find driving lanes. He has electric speed and finishing ability around the rim. Blake finished with 13 points and was a catalyst for the improved offense. He looks like the future star point guard at Vermont and might carve out a role this season. Sam Alamutu was also very impressive with the coaching staff placing him in the Bogues role as the initiator of the offense. His played with incredible speed and looked very comfortable in the open floor. Amazing to see how much he as improved from a defensive specialist at this time last season. It also clear that the coaching staff wants to get him some minutes in more of a guard role this season. Alamutu finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals including a crucial one with about 4 minutes left. Ileri Ayo-Faleye had a strong game finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He made some clutch perimeter shots while playing his signature tough defense. Ayo-Faleye warmed up with both the guards and the post players as he has clearly been working on improving his perimeter shooting. TJ Hurley led Vermont with 17 points and 5 rebounds. He struggled shooting in the first half but knocked down some big shots in the second half. The post player crew (Nick Fiorillo, Nate Barnett, Seth Joba, Shy Odom) had an up and down game with some nice moments but usually followed by some not so great execution. It looks like the roles in that group are still to be defined. 

Not the prettiest game but some incredible second half action to get everyone back into the swing of things. Chris Santo almost stole one from his buddies! Can't wait until Wednesday!

24-25 America East conference preview

Preview season is upon us! With exhibitions around the corner it is time to start looking at how the teams might finish. Last year at this time much of the narrative centered around the significant amount of new players and coaches around the league. With so many teams reloading through the transfer portal, there was significant unpredictability going into last season. Only one year later and things look very different. No coaching changes in the America East this offseason and while there was still quite a bit of player movement in the portal, several teams return their cores and the transfer portal additions seem to be predominately supporting role players rather than huge stars. The league as a whole was interesting last season with more uptempo teams for the first time and at the same time the top tier teams all finding success on the defensive end. It will be interesting to see if that carries over to this season or if the changes will continues to manifest. The statistic that I keep going back to when digging into previewing this season is the league wide three point shooting last year. It was abysmal. Only one team shot 35% (UMBC) and the league finished at 1916-5960 (32%). Well below average and the question is: was it the good defense around the league? or was is a lack of quality perimeter shooting? When digging into the new additions for this season around the America East, most teams did not add a whole lot of shooting and several teams lost shooting to graduation or the portal. I am excited to follow this thread as the season progresses. Lets dive into to each team.

Vermont

    Vermont is once again in the familiar position of the favorite. They have been when they are reloading and they certainly will be this season when they are returning so much of their core. The Vermont program continues to push to raise their ceiling and this offseason, they were successful in doing so. After a couple of seasons with a fluctuating roster, this year the coaching staff has been blessed with strong continuity. That leaves this group oozing with potential as players who stay in the program multiple years during the Becker tenure have very often seen strong year to year improvement. This year Vermont will be looking to use that continuity to improve their offensive chemistry and rhythm. The defense will once again be very tough with all league defensive team returnees Shamir Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye as the anchors. Last season was a tough one on the offensive side of the ball as the roster turnover (and injuries) really affected the Cats ability to find an offensive identity. The three point shooting will have the most significant impact on their offensive efficiency. It will be exciting to see which players step into new roles and how the coaching staff adds new wrinkles to unlock the potential of this team. TJ Hurley and newcomer Shy Odom are the two "swingmen" as their potential improvements/new roles influence the widest range of outcomes for Vermont. The bottom line for this season's Cats is that a healthy Vermont team will have a high ceiling not just in the America East, but across the national landscape. I will dig in with greater detail in my Vermont season preview which will be posted sometime before the opener against UAB. 

Bryant

      The Bulldogs made significant strides last season with a new coach and more familiarity with the America East. Much like Vermont, they were able to retain a significant part of their core during the offseason. During their two seasons in the league, Bryant has had some of the best pure talent in the league but has struggled to turn that talent into consistent on court performance. Last season the Bulldogs made huge strides on the defensive end and found success wearing teams down, paring frenetic defensive with their signature uptempo offense. They, like the rest of the league, struggled with consistency from their perimeter shooters and are hoping that Rafael Pinzon thrives in a more featured role and transfer (and Vermont native) Kam Farris can give them a lift from three. Earl Timberlake is back to lead the Bulldogs and make a player of the year push. He is a very unique player who provides both offensive and defensive versatility. Barry Evans comes over from St. Bonaventure as defensive minded big man ho will help offset the loss of Daniel Rivera. The biggest question mark for the Bulldogs is who will earn the minutes at the guard spots. Having Timberlake as a distributor takes some of the pressure off the Bryant guards but they will be looking for big leaps from newcomers Jakai Robinson and Devean Williams to shore up their backcourt. The Bulldogs will likely be playing with some unorthodox lineups throughout the season due to the fluctuating guard play. If Bryant can find more consistency and perimeter shooting they will push Vermont for the top spot. 

UMass Lowell

    The River Hawks have established themselves as the other consistent, winning program in the America East. Lowell has made three out of the last four title games but has come up short each time. They return a strong core and are once again poised to push for the top spot. Max Brooks, Cam Morris III, Quinton Mincey, and Yuri Covington give the River Hawks an experienced group who know what it takes to win. Mincey in particular is poised to move into a starting role after winning 6th man of the year last season. The loss of Brayden O'Connor and Ayinde Hikim leave Lowell with big question marks at the guard position. Mekhi Gray comes over from NJIT, giving the River Hawks an experienced guard who knows the league well. Lowell will be counting on transfers Quincy Clark and Caleb Murphy to fill out their guard minutes. One of the biggest struggles for Lowell last season was a lack of perimeter shooting. They were one of the lowest volume three point shooting teams in the country and struggled to cash in those limited opportunities. The River Hawks will need to find a spark from the perimeter in order to reach their full potential. 

There is a pretty significant gap in between the top teams and the rest of the league. This next tier of teams could really finish in any order as each are still looking to build programmatic momentum. 

Maine

    Maine has finally found some consistency and continuity in the program, but is still on the outside looking in. They are a strong, physical defensive team led by two time defensive player of the year Kellen Tynes. Returners Jayden Clayton, Quion Burns, and AJ Lopez along with Tynes, give the Black Bears a deep and dynamic backcourt. The frontcourt is full of question marks and Maine is hoping Appalachian State transfer Christopher Mantis will be able to give them good minutes. The biggest hurdle that Maine has had to overcome as they try to reestablish the program is their lack of offense. They have really struggled to score the ball and are one of the other team besides Vermont that continues to play at a slow tempo. The Black Bears are going to have to find more consistent offensive production if they are going to emerge out of the middle pack. 

Albany

    Another year, another Albany team that has added talent through the portal. Dwayne Killings has been able to get talent to join the Great Danes but has struggled to put a cohesive group out on the court. Last season they were able to push the tempo and win games with a frenetic, isolation heavy offense led by Sebastian Thomas. Replacing the departed Thomas will be a tall task for Albany as he almost single-handedly kept them in games last season. The Great Danes were able to retain Amar'e Marshall and he is poised for a big season as the featured offensive option. Joining the team are a strong group of transfers. DeMarr Langford comes over from USF/Boston College to give Albany a tough, physical guard. Kacper Klaczek comes over from St. Josephs and should give Albany a strong frontcourt presence. Justin Neely will attempt a return after two season lost to injury and Sultan Adewale joins the team after spending a season at Iona to try and give the Great Danes a physical post presence they have been lacking the last few seasons. As with the past few seasons, Albany has the talent to emerge from the middle of the pack but they have to prove they can get the pieces to fit together. 

UMBC

    Jim Ferry has brought his high flying offense to the America East over the last few seasons and it has made for some incredibly exciting shootouts. Unfortunately their struggles on the defensive side of the ball have kept the Retrievers from breaking through. Once again they look like an uptempo offensive team who will struggle to get stops at the defensive end. Losing Dion Brown to the portal was a big hit as he did so many things for the Retrievers. Marcus Banks Jr returns to lead the charge as the Retrievers perimeter sniper. Bryce Johnson, Ace Valentine, and Devan Sapp will be looking to make a big jump this season. Regimantas Ciunys showed flashes and will look to give UMBC some frontcourt production. The Retrievers are going to need big seasons from some unlikely sources to keep up with the pack. 

Binghamton

    In the spring Binghamton famously did not have a single player enter the transfer portal. One of the reasons for that is that most of their minutes were lost to graduation. Tymu Chenery and Nehemiah Benson return to lead this group of Bearcats. They will be looking for big jumps from returners Gavin Walsh and Chris Walker to improve their offense. Binghamton was another team in the league that did not take or make very many three pointers last season. The Bearcats will be looking for Stonehill transfer Jackson Benigni to help give them a boost from the perimeter. With the loss of leadership and experience to graduation this group will be looking to establish a new identity.

NJIT

    The Highlanders will be one of the youngest teams in college basketball with 7 freshman and 6 sophomores. They return dynamic talent and freshman of the year Tariq Francis which gives NJIT a nice piece to build around. Last season the Highlanders were able to shock both Vermont and Lowell but their performance outside of those two games was a struggle. It will likely be a similar season for NJIT with a few exciting games but creating consistency with such a young team will be a tall task. 

New Hampshire

    It is almost an entirely new team in Durham and with the graduation of player of the year Clarence Daniels, the Wildcats are looking at a significant rebuild. Trey Woodyard and Rex Sunderland are the one returnees who played significant minutes. University of North Georgia transfer Giancarlo Bastianoni and Temple/Wake Forest transfer Emmanuel Okpomo will get the first crack at frontcourt minutes and JUCO transfer Jawarie Hamelin will look to make an impact. It is nearly impossible to predict where the minutes and production will come from this season. It will likely be a long season for the Wildcats.

Basketball is just around the corner!

Season Ticket Pickup Scrimmage

Finally some basketball!!!

Every year the season ticket holder event kicks off basketball in Patrick Gym. It is always awesome to see the teams for the first time and get pumped for the season. The biggest takeaway from the last few seasons is how the overall intensity and focus of the players in the program has become razor sharp. With the increase in depth, talent, and expectations, these scrimmages have become so intense and competitive. The players are competing with a game level intensity on every play. It is a credit to the coaching staff and how they have continued to move the program forward and how the players continue to buy in to the attention to detail and the championship mentality.

Ileri Ayo-Faleye was great on both sides of the ball and continues to look better and better. He impacts the game in so many different ways. In the scrimmage he showcased the whole repertoire, knocking down threes, throwing down a dunk, blocking shots, and being a leader on the floor. He is really set up to have a special season. Nick Fiorillo looks healthy and continues to make great plays passing from the perimeter. Those two give the Cats quite a versatile frontcourt. The scrimmage gave fans their first look at Shy Odom. He still looks like he is working his way back to 100% but fits in perfectly in the Vermont system. He is a very willing passer and has great court mapping and anticipation when distributing the ball. He has great touch around the rim and is a creative finisher. Odom is a player who does the little things like setting good screens and making smart cuts. He really could be an x-factor for the Cats this season. Sam Alamutu continues to build and expand his game. He looks more confident on the offensive end and is always impressive with his physicality and rebounding. Freshman Sean Blake is lightning in a bottle and is poised to make a big impact during his Catamount career. He is incredibly explosive to the rim and has the athleticism to finish over and through defenders. Minutes are at a premium this season but he has all the tools to be the point guard of the future. Seth Joba has so much offensive versatility and it will be great to see if he can make a leap on the defensive end with a year in the program under his belt. Late addition Gavin Perryman has a nice shooting stroke and looked as though he could provide some depth if called upon. Jace Roquemore brings that steady, do it all, veteran presence that every good team needs. TJ Hurley will be the other x-factor for the Cats as he is going to be tasked with more offensive responsibilities this season. Walk-on Sincere Clemons had some nice moments getting to the rim. Ben Wesson and Drew Bessette struggled a bit with the speed of the game. Noah Barnett, TJ Long, and Shamir Bogues were in street clothes for the scrimmage and Bogues was in a walking boot so that will be something to monitor throughout the pre-season. 

It was great to see some basketball and it was clear even from the shorthanded scrimmage that this team is going to be very tough and physical on the defensive end (no surprise there). They have very good length and versatility on that side of the ball. No easy buckets. The two biggest questions marks going into this season are going to be health and three point shooting. With a few players already sitting out those fears are certainly not squashed. The three point shooting in the scrimmage today was eerily similar to last season as there were long stretches without a make. It will be interesting to see who steps up and takes on that perimeter shooting role for this year's Cats. 

Make sure to get out and catch as many Vermont Women's basketball games as you can this year. They looked great in their scrimmage today and are again going to be a team fighting at the top on the conference. 

So excited for the season!!

Vermont gets their first 2025 commit

With the season just around the corner, Vermont gets a jump start on the future with a commitment from 6'3 guard Momo Nkugwa. He is currently attending The Governors Academy in MA and is the first commitment for the 2025 recruiting class. What jumps out immediately about Nkugwa is his tremendous athleticism. Smooth and shifty getting to the rim before rising up and dunking everything. He has great length and excels getting out in transition. The offensive similarities between Nkugwa and Shamir Bogues are striking. He is also a threat from the perimeter, a strong defender, and plays with a high motor at both ends of the floor. This is a very strong start to the 2025 group. Nkugwa is going to be a fan favorite and will bring excitement to Patrick. He is a highlight waiting to happen (and another lefty!). The versatility that Nkugwa brings to the program is so valuable. With his length and athleticism at he can play multiple positions and gives the Cats a player that can impact the game in so many different ways. The coaching staff continues to identify hard working, high IQ players, who are all in on winning and do the little things to make themselves and their teammates better. The 2025 class will be a big one for Vermont as the pendulum in recruiting swings back in the direction of high school talent and as the Cats graduate several important pieces. The 25-26 group will be a kind of pioneer group in the new landscape of college basketball. I cannot wait for the season ticket event next week to kick off basketball season. So close!