Wednesday, January 25, 2023

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!

11 comments:

  1. Loved the fact that after Binghamton was down big at the half in a free flowing game, their coach decided to slow it down and get in to a Rock fight. That didn't work either. Robin Duncan continues to amaze: what a basketball player and leader.

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    1. It was great to see this team respond to differing challenges from the opponent. Felt like an anything you can do I can do better type of game. Robin is just incredible and really always has been, but he has always been more of a behind the scenes guy. Nice to see him step out and get the recognition he deserves.

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  2. There it is… we just witnessed the formula for securing a league title and the pathway to the NCAA Tournament. That was a complete offensive effort bell-to-bell, no let up of any significant amount. The defensive rotation was excellent and, for an undersized team, they defended the boards in an equitable fashion. Loved the game. And, Duncan is priceless!!! No turnovers and great leadership! He is willing his team to play hard!

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    1. Play tough D, take care of the ball, share the ball on offense, and shoot well from the perimeter. That is the formula for this team and they are showing that they are capable of putting it all together. Now it is just about finding that consistency. Robin has flat out put this team on his back and is inspiring his teammates to do the same.

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  3. It definitely felt like an announcement that this team is here, they are what they are and they are ready to get after it. Unfortunately the arena has no definite timeline. They had to rebid the project due to rising costs from inflation and they need to secure a bond to finish the arena portion. Seems like it could still be a while.

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  4. Good game vs UMBC. Robin becoming more assertive. Seems like roles are getting defined. Any work on Nick F? We are still very small. That #1 seed in conference more important than ever…. Would be nice to not have to leave Patrick in America East tournament.

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    1. Still no firm Fiorillo update. It was great to see them battle another top team and execute down the stretch. Robin was incredible. Home court is a must. The other top teams struggle mightily on the road.

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  5. This year’s tournament will be a one game at a time for sure. Even Maine is starting to put up some impressive stats. If Fiorello comes back it may only serve to disrupt the rhythm that is developing. The most notable improvement has been the ability to double down on defense and then cover on the kick out. Also been noticing that when Hurley is in and on the perimeter on offense the opposing team will not sag off him. The perimeter game is key to Duncan and Penn scoring in the paint.

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    1. It is all about home court. Teams in the league have been Jekyll and Hyde in their Home/Road splits this season. Reincorporating Fiorillo will be hard. The defensive rotations have improved tremendously and Hurley opens up the paint with his shooting ability.

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  6. Lee, I enjoy your commentary and analysis. You were out of town and didn't post for the UMBC game because you couldn't attend . Could you watch these games on ESPN+ replay and do an analysis in the future? I know it wouldn't be as accurate as a live game but I miss the analysis. Thanks

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    1. That is what I usually do. I watched the game on replay after the fact. I chose to focus on Robin for this write up. I am glad you enjoy the analysis.

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