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.
