Cal State Fullerton 94 Vermont 85 2OT
Vermont fell short in a back and forth affair with Cal State Fullerton. Both teams made big plays and at the same time neither could put the other away. It was a choppy game for both teams with lots of fouls and free throws. The live stats were not working so I won't be able to give exact numbers, but the Cats committed far to many fouls and many of them were a product of being a step behind and out of position on defense. What kept Vermont in the game was that for a while Fullerton was missing from the line at a high clip. The Cats came out of halftime on a big run a looked as though they were going to pull away. They couldn't put the Titans away and ended up in a tight game. Both teams struggled to capitalize and execute when given an opportunity to extend the lead until finally Fullerton pulled away in the second overtime. This one stings a little because there were so many opportunities for Vermont to win this game.
Dylan Penn showed why he was such a prized transfer and how he is going to be a big part of Vermont's team this season. Penn had a big game, slicing to the rim and getting to the free throw line. He even knocked down a few threes and tied the game at the end of regulation with a beautiful drive to the rim. He is certainly shaking off the rust now and will continue to integrate himself into the offense. Nick Fiorillo played through foul trouble but was tough underneath. He battled all night but unfortunately missed the game winning free throw at the end of the first overtime. He and Aaron Deloney have incredible chemistry in the two man game and it would be good for the Vermont offense to see more of it. Speaking of Deloney, he struggled shooting the ball but gutted and gritted his way and came up with big shots and made plays for his teammates. Robin Duncan was again tough and physical on the boards. Unfortunately much of this play was overshadowed by the excessive fouling. Finn Sullivan fouled out at the end of regulation and the Cats could have really used his defense in the overtime periods. I believe Duncan, Gibson, and Fiorillo also fouled out as well. The defense continues to be a work in progress and Penn, by virtue of his crucial role in the offense, has a lot of catching up to do in order to tighten up the rotations.
Fullerton was one of the more winnable games on this road trip and the Cats are certainly getting a season's worth of experience in a short time span. No rest for the road weary as they are right back at it against USC on Tuesday night.
Tough loss and thanks again for all the work you do! I know I’m a homer but the officiating was horrible. There seemed to be about 8-10 possessions in a row where the whistle blew against us including on the offensive end. Even with all of that, spotty shooting, turnovers, I think we should take some solace in the fact that they had that game on their finger tips. This team will fight as all Becker’s teams do and as the season goes on I suspect they’ll be on the winning side of these type games. A few observations; as much as I love Finn he has to stop getting needless fouls. I know it comes from his tenacity on both sides of the court but for him to have a great season he needs be on the court down the stretch. The thing too is half the time the fouls are away from the ball. Another thing is I’m not remotely sold on the starters or the rotations in general. I don’t think Robin and Dylan should be on the court together too much. They are both below avg 3 pt shooters and I don’t see the offense flowing as such. To be honest I know Becker loves experience and trust his veterans but I think Robin is at best the 7 or 8th guy on the team. I know he does a lot of little things especially rebounding and playing def well for a guard but I don’t see him as a starter and after 5 yrs we should accept it as such. He should lead the second unit and come in in certain situations. I’d rather start Penn Deloney Sullivan Fiorillo and Smith Jr or Verretto if he prefers the older player. I like that he’s sticking with Hurley and hope he continues to get minutes. The other player I don’t really get is Gibson, other than his experience I don’t see what he brings to the table or the upside to playing him minutes. Lastly, any word on if they plan on red shirting Jorge or Skipper? Thoughts? Thanks….
ReplyDeleteThere was a very tough stretch of officiating late in the second half for sure. The crew struggle to remain consistent as the game become more physical down the stretch. Having opportunities to win a game on the road is good for sure. I think these early season experiences will benefit them in similar situations later in the season. Finn always has to strike that balance between his defensive tenacity and not picking up too many fouls. He plays such a crucial role for the Cats, they need him on the floor. I don't think the coaching staff is sold on the current lineups either. They have been forced to play lineups which can hide the new and young players defensive difficulties and as such the lineups are currently not in their optimal form. Those tweaks will work themselves out as the season rolls on and the staff is usually pretty good at finding the right combinations. They are certainly going to earn their paychecks this season! Gibson is out there because of his understanding of the defensive system. I am assuming that if everyone stays healthy one or both of Jorge and Jackson will redshirt.
DeleteHey Lee, this season I started an instagram account following the cats. Your blogs over the years inspired me. Would be honored if you checked it out! @VermontHoops Instagram , thanks for your awesome work
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool! I am glad that you like the blog and it inspired you. I am also embarrassed to say that I don't have instagram. I had my wife show me from her account and it looks really cool! I love the graphics with the key stats. Keep up the good work! I will be sure to check in periodically.
DeleteI noticed a trend through the last couple of games that is interesting... Penn's and Deloney's offensive visions have not been overly cooperative. They need to work on better court balance a recognition of what each brings to the table. The two o them are outstanding yet when they are on the court together they don't sync well. In order for the team to burn on all cylinders they will need to work on these two important cogs having better coordination. It's all a work in progress...
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to see how the missed time from his injury is affecting Penn's chemistry with his teammates. In each game he has gotten a little better so I would expect that he will start to find a better flow. There are a lot of pieces that need to fall into place and the more game experience everyone can get the more likely that they will begin to gel and coalesce as a team.
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