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!

Schedule release!

Wow! It has been forever since there was anything to report on. It seemed like this off-season would never end and now the excitement can ratchet up in earnest with the release of the full schedule. This year's non-conference schedule has some really great games that will give this group opportunities for strong wins. It starts with a bang as Vermont heads down to UAB and Auburn, two perennially strong programs, who will give the Cats a huge test right out of the gates. No rest for Vermont with a Northeast road trip for two tough mid-major matchups with Merrimack and Iona. The Patrick Gym faithful will finally see the Cats at home on November 19th against Buffalo. Then it is off to Mohegan Sun for the Hall of Fame Tip-off tournament against Delaware and Fairfield. I am particularity excited about that tournament as I will be attending. Home for a stretch against Plattsburgh State (DIII) and then regional rivals Northeastern and Brown. Two more difficult road games against mid-major darlings Yale and Colgate.  Miami (OH) comes to town before the final road game against twin state rival Dartmouth. The Cats finish with another home against against Division III Elms College. I love the two games to open down in Alabama and the schedule is chuck full of strong mid-major programs. There are a lot of tough but winnable games. I know that the lower division games are always a controversial topic and this year there will be two. This is an unfortunate trickle down effect of all of the conference realignment and race for TV money. Schedules are being consolidated at the higher levels and many lower levels are sticking with regional games to lower costs. The options for home games are steadily shrinking and schedule releases have pushed later and later as teams hold out in hope of finding something. I am in the camp of just wanting to watch basketball so any game is a good time for me. The conference schedule sets up pretty well for Vermont as well. I love starting the conference season with the tough road games. It really sets the tone for the conference season. Starting with at UNH, at Lowell, and at Bryant is a heck of a measuring stick start to the season. The rest of the schedule has a good balance and the other big week is the Lowell/Bryant home back to back February 20th & 22nd. Time to get excited for the season! It is almost here!

P.S. Vermont has an official visit with F/C Will Goode out of the New Hampton School this weekend so send good vibes. The weather is certainly cooperating!

Vermont rounds out their coaching staff with Braeden Estes

Vermont has filled the director of basketball operations position to round out their coaching staff. Braeden Estes joins the Catamounts after spending the last three seasons at Dartmouth. This is another strong hire for Vermont. During Becker's tenure, he has done a great job hiring assistant coaches and his coaching tree is pretty diverse as Vermont has become a strong jumping off point for a coaching career. The director of basketball operations is a wide ranging job that has been expanded even further for this season as the NCAA now allows more coaches to head out on the recruiting trail. It is rare to fill this position with a candidate who has so much experience. Estes is a local guy growing up just over the border in Lebanon, NH. He was the student manager at UNH for four years before spending a couple of years at South Florida. He has experience in all aspects of the job and it is particularly nice that he already has recruiting and player development experience. Becker is always quick to point out how important his coaching staff is to the success of the Vermont program. Estes looks like a great fit in Catamount country and will further strengthen the Vermont coaching staff.  

Vermont completes their 24-25 roster

Today Vermont filled their last scholarship for the 24-25 season with a commitment from Gavin Perryman, a 6'1" transfer guard from Dallas, TX who has spent the last three seasons at Texas. With the late decommitment from Jayhlon Young it is good to get some veteran experience to fill the spot. Whereas wth Young the coaching staff was most certainly excited about his defensive value, Perryman is a pivot to give the Cats some insurance in the shooting department. Perryman redshirted in the 21-22 season and did not see very much game action over the last few seasons. Vermont will give him an opportunity to prove himself at the Division I level. In high school at Jesuit Dallas Prep, Perryman was an absolute sniper from long distance, shooting 42% over three varsity seasons on a very high volume (228-582) from three (Jesuit Prep actually has high school stats on their website. You can even check out his baseball stats as well!). Going to Texas was a legacy move as his father, Brandy Perryman, was a star shooting guard for the Longhorns in the mid nineties (1994-1998). After graduating in three years from Texas, Perryman has a chance to make an impact with what I would assume is two more years of eligibility. I actually got a chance to see Perryman play during his visit on the first day I went down to camp last week (before he tweaked something and sat out). He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has a nice stroke from the outside. He is physical, smart, and looked like a good fit. I see him as having a range of outcomes this season and filling the Brenton Mills role. Perryman will bring a veteran presence and push the competition in practice while being able to fill in if needed due to injury or ineffectiveness. A nice job by the Vermont coaching staff filling the last scholarship for this season in a less than ideal situation. This will help take some of the pressure off any of the young players who may have been forced into a role if there were any injury difficulties similar to last season. With the roster fully set fans can now get excited to this season's group of Catamounts in the fall. Can't wait!

Derryk O'Grady gets a promotion

The Cats found their new assistant coach just one chair down the bench as longtime Catamount bench fixture Derryk O'Grady has been promoted. O'Grady steps into the assistant coaching position after 11 seasons on the bench in various roles. What an awesome move for the Cats as O'Grady has been an integral part of the program during its rise. O'Grady has always had a knack for injecting humor and personality into every season. The mic'ed up moments have become a much anticipated tradition and he has done a great job of building positive relationships with players and community members alike. Seemingly able to learn quickly, juggle responsibilities, and excel in whatever role he has been in, I have no doubt he will continue his positive impact as he moves up the bench. It is great to see his hard work and dedication to the Vermont program pay off with this new role. Congratulations for sure!!

Summer scrimmage: Part Two

More summer basketball? Yes please. I had so much fun I decided to head back down and catch another post camp scrimmage. Once again the games were fun to watch and the intensity was up a few notches from the action I saw on Monday. I won't rehash any of the obvious and similar observations like Shamir Bogues is just so awesome, or Nick Fiorillo looks ready for a big year, etc. I got to see Sam Alamutu for the first time this summer as he was not there on Monday. Alamutu showed tremendous flashes last season and continues to look better and better. In the games today he looked smoother and was looking for his offense more. He looks primed to play that "swiss army knife" role where he can do a little bit of everything at any position in the lineup. Seth Joba looked more assertive today, playing through physicality in the post and finishing with either hand. Drew Bessette also played with more grit and played harder after looking a bit tentative and passive on Monday. One thing I will say about Bogues today is that you can see that he has put in some serious work trying to become a more consistent shooter from the perimeter. He made a handful of threes today and if that translates to the regular season, watch out. Once again it is so impressive the amount of talent that Vermont is able to bring in year after year in these changing times. Without the money or luxuries of other programs, they continue to identify players that want to win, work hard, and become the best players they can be. This team has the talent and drive to push for another title and I am already looking forward to the fall.