I have returned from a quick trip to Florida!
I did not watch the game live but was able to watch the replay of the game after the fact. It was a great back and forth battle between two well coached teams. My biggest takeaway from this game was about this Vermont team's identity. It is time to stop getting caught up in what this Vermont team doesn't do (shoot the ball well from three) and embrace this team for what is does do well (play tough defense, clean up the defensive glass, take care of the ball, AND show a ton a heart). I have been just as guilty as others in getting caught up in the three point shooting narrative. However, 11 games in and this team has found its identity. This team is not going to be a great three point shooting team. I think they will improve but will probably top out at serviceable. The thing is, that is fine. There are no perfect teams in college basketball every team has strengths and weaknesses and part of the coaching challenge is to find ways to play to strengths and overcome weaknesses. This Vermont team currently has two glaring weaknesses. They struggle from three and do not get very many offensive rebounds. There are going to be games where those weakness get exploited but this team is built to overcome both. The Cats play great defense and force other teams to shoot poorly to help offset their lack of perimeter shooting. Vermont is also one of the best teams in the country at preventing offensive rebounds to offset their lack of second chance points. Outside of all the nitty gritty statistics the other reason to embrace this group is their heart. The Brown game was a another example of how hard this team works and how much they want to win. After leading most of the game and dictating the tempo, Brown took their first lead with 50 seconds left. The Cats didn't quit, they didn't falter. They dug deep and won the game. This is a group that will do whatever it takes to win.
Isaiah Powell was tremendous in this game. His physical defense really set the tone and he he came up with the big stop and rebound to seal the game. Finishing with 15 points and 8 rebounds, Powell has really become this team's lunchpail guy. Even keeled, physical, workmanlike. Powell plays within himself and epitomizes the win first attitude of this team. Ben Shungu led the Cats once again with 18 points in another solid effort. Ryan Davis rediscovered his stroke going 4-4 from three and finishing with 16 points. Going back to the Providence game that is six consecutive threes made by Davis. A great sign heading into conference play next month. I could have also led with Justin Mazzulla as the star of this game as he has really come into his own since he entered the starting lineup. His defensive intensity in this game was one of the best individual defensive efforts I have seen. He was everywhere. Disrupting dribbles, tipping passes, diving for loose balls, and hitting the glass. Mazzulla finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals, a block and even knocked down two threes for good measure. He has the look of a guy in his last year of college basketball trying to squeeze every ounce out of the experience.
Another great win for the road warrior Catamounts. They now head into a week off for exams before heading back out on the road against Northeastern on Sunday. That will be another very tough road game against a very tough, well coached Northeastern team.
This game had me thinking of the kind of defensive effort the University of Virginia displays year in and year out. The Cats have bought into the concept of defense winning games. That said, it is still frustrating to see the three ball thrown up out of the offensive rhythm. The hardworking defense deserves a more patient offense. When they are patient on offense they end up controlling the tempo much better. It was a fun game to watch...
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