Robin Duncan makes the leap

I am back in town and just wanted to say a few words about the game over the weekend and Robin Duncan.

Another strong performance from the Cats against UMBC. What was particularly encouraging was the way that Vermont responded to the second half charge from UMBC. Several players made clutch plays on both the offensive and defensive end. That is the type of execution that wins games in March. The big sequence for me was the multiple missed free throw offensive rebounds at the end of the game. Obviously making the free throws would have been nice but the fact that the Cats were able to get those extra possessions demonstrates the mentality, drive, and confidence that this team is playing with. The other contending teams are continuing to falter on the road and that is presenting Vermont with a golden opportunity from this point on. They have a week off to get ready and then Albany and Maine on the road. Those two road games become a crucial part of the season as they have a home heavy schedule after that. 

What more can you say about Robin Duncan? I have always loved the way Robin plays and have appreciated the way he has been able to affect the game “outside the box score” throughout his career. Did I ever think he would be able to dominate a game on the offensive end to the point where the opposing defense had to start bringing a double team? Not in my wildest and most optimistic dreams. That is a testament to not only how far he has elevated his game, but how much he has mentally locked in. Through that process this year he has been able to inspire the same mentality across the entire team and that leadership is what has helped shape and mold this team into a contender. Brian Voelkel was always one of my favorite players to watch for the same reason. I love those guys that are playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers and make themselves a central part of a team in a non traditional way. Robin has worked his way into the player of the year conversation through the sheer power of will. He has made himself into a player that you have to scheme to stop and as a result his teammates have more space and opportunities to impact the game in their own way. That is the mark of a true team leader. Watching this team feed off his tenacity for the rest of the season will be incredible.

Vermont at Binghamton 1/25/23

Vermont 80 Binghamton 55

And just like that, the Cats are back in first. 

Vermont picked up a big road win, dominating the Bearcats on both ends of the floor and moving into the pole position in the America East conference standings.  The offensive explosion continued in the first half with Vermont getting open looks at will. The movement, passing, and flow of the offense has really kicked up a notch over the last few games. The chemistry is coming together and it is a good lesson in how much time it takes to acclimate to new teammates and new roles. In the second half the defense took over and Vermont never looked back. This team is showing shades of last years team as the offensive tweaks pay dividends during conference play. Another efficient performance with 17 assists to only 5 turnovers and 12-26 (46%) from three. Winning on the road in conference is hard no matter the opponent as evidenced by UMBC and Lowell dropping games to teams in the bottom half of the league tonight. It is going to be crucial to secure home court this season as several teams have some pretty stark home/road splits. The last few games have showcased the heart of this team and the value of playing a difficult schedule. They are ready for the ups and downs of the season and have really demonstrated that with their play over the last few games. 

Finn Sullivan continued his hot streak, leading the Cats with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Throw in 2 steals and a block and you have another fantastic performance from Sullivan. He is finally asserting himself throughout the game and blending his team first mentality with confidence to take his turn. Dylan Penn has found his groove for the Cats as well. After struggling on defense for much of the season he has been very impactful on that end over the last two games. Engaged and using his quickness to disrupt passing lanes, while getting physical on the ball. He has also showcased the hooks and flips that make him so tough to stop on offense, finishing tonight's game with 18 points. A good reminder that all that time he missed due to injury set him back a bit. Matt Veretto finished with 14 points and was a big beneficiary of the slick passing from the Cats. He does a great job of catching in traffic and getting the ball up to the rim quickly. TJ Hurley and Aaron Deloney provided perimeter shooting off the bench combining to go 5-6 from three. As always and rock steady as ever, Robin Duncan finished with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and zero turnovers. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to give Vermont tremendous minutes and is fast becoming a menace on the defensive end.

Now that Vermont has climbed back to the top, they are once again going to be the hunted. Getting to play these last few games as the hunter has been great and something the Vermont team doesn't get to do very often. Another big showdown with UMBC looms on Saturday. I will be out of town this weekend so I will not be able to watch the game live and won't be able to give a recap. Enjoy the game!

Gibson & Sullivan scorch the nets

Vermont 85 NJIT 69

Vermont finally had the offensive explosion they have been waiting for, shooting 60% in the second half en route to their second straight win. The Cats started strong out of the gates, building a twelve point lead. Then, in what has become a regular occurance for this team, the offense stalled in the middle of the first half. NJIT made a big run to take the lead before Vermont responded with a 15-4 run to end the half. Vermont's offense continued to hum in the second half with both Kam Gibson and Finn Sullivan catching fire. Today's game gave a strong glimpse into the potential of this team when they are firing on all cylinders. Great ball movement, lots of drive and kick, and tough physical defense are areas where this team can shine. Today the Cats had 18 assists to only 8 turnovers in a cohesive offensive performance. NJIT was hot from three but Vermont was physical all game and won the battle on the boards. With Lowell's domination of Bryant today the River Hawks are officially the clear cut favorites and with Maine picking up their first win by dominating Binghamton, everybody in the league has at least two losses. Vermont has righted the ship and put themselves in position to compete for the regular season title. They have the ability to control their own destiny and build on this positive momentum. 

Finn Sullivan was incredible in this afternoon's game. A new career high of 28 points on 6-11 shooting from deep. Throw in 6 rebounds, 3 assists and his trademark disruptive defense and you have a dominating performance. For the second straight game Sullivan was assertive on the offensive end, attacking the rim when he had the opportunity. When he is shooting with confidence he is tough to stop. It was great to see Kam Gibson have a breakout performance as well. GIbson has quietly been having a solid season filling in where he needs to at the guard position and playing solid defense. He finished with 18 points on 4-7 shooting from deep and showed off all the tools with some nice mid range hoops and drives to the rim. Dylan Penn finally found some room to work and finished with 15 points. His energy has been great the last two games. Penn also threw down a dunk for good measure. The big story of the game was Robin Duncan also throwing it down in the first half. Die hard fans will remember that there has been a long standing challenge between the Duncan brothers and Robin's teammates about getting a dunk. I don't know if I have ever seen a bigger team bench reaction to any play ever, than for Robin's dunk. Once again he was the straw that stirs the drink, finishing with 6 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Masterful performance. Matt Veretto also had a nice all around game with 4 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. 

The Cats took care of business on their homestand and bring momentum into their road matchup with Binghamton on Wednesday. 

Home sweet home

Vermont 66 Maine 45

Vermont bounced back against Maine, dominating the Black Bears at Patrick. The Cats were back at full strength (minus Fiorillo) and it showed in a much more efficient offensive effort to compliment a vintage defensive performance. I said last week that a lot would be learned about this team based on their performance in this game. Maine is now 0-5 in conference but have been very competitive including a two point loss at UMass Lowell. The Black Bears have been an explosive offensive team and love to create turnovers and launch from the perimeter. Vermont was able to take good care of the ball (after the first two possessions) and limited Maine's chances from three. Vermont looked like the aggressor and played with energy. The offense had more quick ball movement and the balanced scoring was the result of better chemistry. Also how nice was it to watch a game with very few fouls and ZERO bonus free throws? That is the way to watch basketball. 

If there was ever any doubt about TJ Hurley's importance to this team, tonight's game erased it. Hurley exploded coming off the bench scoring a quick 11 points and helped Vermont take control in the first half. It is no coincidence that their offense stalled in the two game he was absent. He is such a dynamic offensive player and his shooting ability creates so much space on the floor. The live stats are not working otherwise I would rattle off even more statistics. Finn Sullivan also returned to the lineup and immediately impacted the game on both sides of the floor. He knocked down some threes, blocked/altered shots, and poked the ball away often in a classic Sullivan game. What was nice tonight is he also was aggressive to the rim which is something he is capable of doing more often. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to impress with his energy, shot blocking, and ability to be a threat from the outside. He has carved out a very nice role and is improving with each game. Once again tonight Robin Duncan dominated all over the court. It is hard to put into words how much he has elevated his play this season. Again I do not have the live stats but I believe he set a new career high in rebounds and has become the engine on the team on offense and defense. I keep forgetting to mention that during this incredible stretch he has become the 31st member of the 500 point/500 rebound club at Vermont. A pretty awesome accomplishment. Dylan Penn impacted the game with improved defense and nice passing on the offensive end. It was great to see Penn adapting and helping impact the game even as he struggled to get his offense going. 

Now it is time to face A surprisingly competitive NJIT on Sunday. Another opportunity to defend the home court and build momentum. 

Vermont lands their first 2023 recruit

Last night Vermont got a jumpstart on their 2023 recruiting class with a commitment from 6-9 PF Seth Joba. Joba is from Clifton Park, NY and is currently completing a prep year at Bridgton Academy in Maine. The 2023 recruiting class is the most important one at Vermont in quite some time. With so many experienced players graduating this season, the Cats will be an extremely young team next fall. It is going to be important to find players who a ready to contribute and reset the roster. Joba is the perfect start to this important group. He is a big, strong, and versatile player. After a few years of being undersized and thin in the frontcourt, the Vermont coaching staff is clearly looking to turn that weakness into a strength. In watching highlights there are a few things that jump out about Joba's game. First of all he is very dangerous in the pick and roll. With a smooth lefty stroke from distance and strong footwork and body control underneath, Joba can be a threat from inside and out. He can finish with either hand underneath and is ready to dunk the ball on every possession. He is also great on one or two dribble straight line drives to the rim, demonstrating quickness and fluidity with the ball. The second thing that jumps out and what could help him transition quickly next season is he shows some good defensive instincts. Joba can move his feet and has a good feel for shot blocking, something that the Cats desperately need. From what I have read is a smart, hard working kid who is making a big jump this season playing for Bridgton Academy. Adam Finkelstein of 247 Sports broke the news and he feels that Joba is an instant impact player in the America East. If there is any recruiting analyst to trust out there, it is Finkelstein. This season has demonstrated that predicting freshman impact is an inexact science but Joba really looks the part of a future all league caliber player. Next season is the beginning of a new and different era for the Vermont program, the first one without a Duncan on the team in a decade and the youngest team that the Cats have had in that timeframe as well. Joba looks like a great fit with the young guys on this year's team and a good place to start in building next seasons roster. 

Check out Joba's Hudl page for some highlights.

Vermont at UMass Lowell 1/11/23

UMass Lowell 80 Vermont 65

UMass Lowell used hot shooting from three to dominate the Catamounts and moved into first place in the America East with the win. Lowell has been the frontrunner for all of the non-conference before experiencing their first hiccup against Albany on Sunday. They looked the part today demonstrating depth and performing well on both sides of the ball. They cemented themselves as the league favorite in the game tonight. This Vermont squad continues to play more and more shorthanded with Finn Sullivan out for this game with an illness and TJ Hurley continuing to nurse an injury. During this incredible run over the past several seasons, Vermont has either remained healthy or been able to overcome injuries with their experience and depth. This season has not gone that way and this Cats squad doesn't have the depth to make up for the mounting absences. This is particularly noticeable on offense. Sullivan and Hurley provide such a dynamic threat from the perimeter and their absence leaves Vermont with a lack of shooters. Vermont with those guys in the lineup is a different team. The rebounding has fallen off a cliff and is the biggest area of weakness for the Cats. They need to be an efficient shooting team because they are not going to get second chance opportunities on the offensive glass. Now with a week between games, it is a chance to get healthy and get mentally ready to shake off these tough losses on the road and get ready to make a run. The last few rounds of America East games have proven that there is no dominant team and on any given night anyone can win. With the league up for grabs it will be important to be playing the best basketball of the season in March. 

Robin Duncan once again led the Cats with 16 points, 7 boards, and 5 assists. He continues to battle hard and is an important part of the offensive attack. Unfortunately for it to be most effective, the Cats have to knock down perimeter shots around him. Matt Veretto finished with 14 points and continues to be explosive in the first 4 minutes of the game. Aaron Deloney ended up with 11 points but most of those were with the game out of hand. He has really struggled as teams are keying on him defensively. Sam Alamutu had a nice stretch with some impressive dunks and finished with 7 points. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to earn himself more minutes and got the start with Sullivan out. He is bringing energy and athleticism to the defensive end and is strong from the free throw line. One thing that was noticeable today was that the new and young players are still struggling with the defensive rotations and that is where the Cats really missed Sullivan. Dylan Penn's impact on the game has fallen off a cliff in the past two games as he has really struggled to get good looks at the rim. Teams are walling him up in the paint and daring him to shoot over them. 

Losing on the road to the early conference favorite has happened to the Cats in years past and they have been able to respond down the stretch by playing their best basketball in February and March. This is a different team but during the non-conference they were able to take it on the chin, regroup, and find a way to win. The home game against Maine next Thursday might be the most telling game of the season.

Vermont at UNH 1/8/22

UNH 67 Vermont 60

New Hampshire used timely shooting to beat Vermont for the first time since 2015. The Cats looked sluggish from the start and fell victim to the classic trap game on the road. The Wildcats scorched the nets in the first half, making tough shot after tough shot. Vermont was able to tighten things up on defense in the second half but never got the offense going and UNH made big shots down the stretch. It was tough to watch Vermont slide back into a stagnant offense with too much isolation after building so much positive momentum over the past month. The Cats only managed 5 assists against 8 turnovers and were repeatedly outmuscled by UNH. The biggest takeaway from this game is how important TJ Hurley is to this team. With Hurley on the sidelines nursing an injury, Vermont struggled to spread the floor. The Cats need his shooting in the lineup. After managing to battle on the boards for much of the season despite their size disadvantage, the last two games have highlighted that potential weakness. Over the last two games Vermont is getting outworked on the boards with too many guys turning and watching instead of boxing out. They made up for it against Bryant by forcing turnovers but UNH has always been great at taking care of the ball and did a nice job limiting mistakes. I have to give a lot of credit to the Wildcats as they came out and played a very good game, making shots when they needed to and taking away what the Cats wanted to do on offense. 

Robin Duncan continued his strong season with 15 points and 8 rebounds. He continues to impress with his improvement in his offensive impact and scrapped and scraped trying to get Vermont back into the game. Finn Sullivan finally broke out of his slump with a great stretch in the second half. He finished with 14 points but got himself in foul trouble with some silly reaches. That had a huge impact when Vermont was trying to claw ahead down the stretch. Aaron Deloney finished with 13 points but made several crucial mistakes down the stretch. Deloney missed two front ends of one and ones and then threw a pass into the bench on a crucial possession where Vermont had a chance to take the lead. Very uncharacteristic mistakes for Deloney who has now had tough nights in two out of the three conference games. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was another bright spot for Vermont finishing with 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block. He played well in the second half and had some crucial plays grabbing rebounds and creating havoc on defense. 

Sports fandom has some high and lows and the last two games are perfect examples. Serves as a good reminder to stay level headed and take it one game at a time. No time to dwell on the tough loss as Vermont now heads to UMass Lowell on Wednesday in what will be another very difficult game on the road against the conference leader. The early conference results so far suggest that every game is going to be a battle and it might take a while to get a clear idea of the conference pecking order. 

Becker becomes the all time wins leader at Vermont

Vermont 74 Bryant 64

A big congratulations to Coach John Becker on becoming the winningest coach in Vermont history. It felt fitting that his big win came in a ugly grinder of a game as a nod to the Vermont teams of Becker's early years (but did it have to be that ugly?). An incredible accomplishment and a testament to the program that he has helped build over the last twelve years. 

Vermont dominated the game from start to finish and used their trademark defense to hold Bryant well under their season average and force 21 Bulldog turnovers. The game was a masterclass in scouting, preparation, execution, and a team first mentality. The Cats forced the uptempo Bryant team to play at a slow pace and frustrated them with physical defense and a deliberate offense. Bryant was welcomed to the America East with the trademark foul plagued second half. It was a throwback performance for Vermont on a night where they struggled to make shots and break through on the offensive end. Tonight was the night this team started looking like a championship caliber team. They never wavered in a game with tension and high emotions, never got caught up in the moment, and executed the game plan. The Cats only turned the ball over 4 times despite relentless Bryant pressure and with both their primary ball handlers in foul trouble. Vermont continues to hound three point shooters, holding Bryant to 4/21 (19%) from three. A huge start to conference play for the Cats, and a big statement against another conference contender.

Aaron Deloney bounced back from his tough game against UMBC to lead the Cats with 19 points. Deloney shot 5-7 from three and provided his trademark spark off the bench. Matt Veretto once again roared out of the gates with the first seven Catamount points and finished with 13. He continues to impress and played a team high 31 minutes in tonight's game. Kam Gibson and TJ Hurley both used big nights from the free throw line to round out the Cats double figure scorers with 11 and 12 respectively. Hurley played well on the defensive end as well with a couple a steals and 4 rebounds. He was a little banged up at the end of game but hopefully it is a minor tweak. Robin Duncan once again set the tone and provided calm leadership on the court while chipping in 9 points of his own. The defensive rotations were really solid in this game and a reliable rotation is beginning to develop as players are settling into the system. 

The atmosphere in Patrick was great, especially considering the choppy play. This team is really coming together and playing with great poise since they returned from their marathon November road trip. On to New Hampshire on Sunday before the big showdown with UMass Lowell next week. 

STATEMENT win to open conference play

Vermont 74 UMBC 61

Dylan Penn exploded in the second half and Vermont used their trademark defense to open conference play with a big road win. With all the ups and downs of the non-conference and such a long and unexpected break between games, this game was going to serve as a measuring stick for the Cats. They passed the test with flying colors against a hot UMBC team. Vermont leaned on their trademark defense to shut down the UMBC three point attack. The Retrievers are one of the better three point shooting teams in the country and the Cats held them to 7/30 (23%) from distance. After giving up some uncharacteristic offensive rebounds, the Cats tightened things up down the stretch and were able to gain the rebounding edge. On the offensive side of the ball the Cats knocked down 11/25 (44%) from three and shot 53% from the field for the game. Vermont played with poise and responded to every UMBC challenge. A big road win against one of the challengers in conference is a great start and sets up a huge showdown at Patrick with Bryant on Thursday. 

Dylan Penn led the Cats with 19 points and 9 rebounds. He threw in a couple steals and was the most engaged he has been in a Catamount uniform on both ends of the floor. He took over the game in the second half and showed off the entire arsenal of finishes around the rim. Matt Veretto took care of things in the first half, finishing with 15 points on 3-6 shooting from three. He looks better and better every game, shaking off the rust after three years away from college basketball. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was the unsung hero of the game, coming out of nowhere to play big minutes. He altered shots, disrupted passing lanes, and knocked down 6-6 from the free throw line. Hard to overstate how out of nowhere this performance was after Ayo-Faleye had not played outside of garbage time since the Lyndon game on December 2nd. Robin Duncan was once again the heartbeat of the Catamounts with 4 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds. Finn Sullivan and TJ Hurley hit timely threes and finished a combined 5/8 from from distance. Aaron Deloney struggled mightily with his shot finishing 1-9 from the field, but played the role of distributor down the stretch with some nice assists. 

Getting road wins in conference is always a tall task and this year's teams has faced more adversity than most. This was a huge game in building momentum to use the experiences they have had thus far this season and apply them to make a run at a championship. The Bryant game will be intense and filled with lots of emotion in what should be a great environment at Patrick. 

P.S. Sorry about no extra conference preview. Time gets away sometimes but I am beyond excited for conference play. Happy New Year!!!