Vermont vs Elms College 12/30/24

Vermont 121 Elms College 37

Vermont closed out the year with a dominant performance against overmatched Elms College. Normally there would be little to take away from a game that featured this much of a talent gap. However, this season has seen Vermont struggle mightily even in games against non division one opponents. On top of that, with the challenges that the Cats have faced so far, it was good for the team to have a game where basketball was fun and to see the ball go through the hoop. The effort and intensity was there throughout and the offense made shots, falling one point short of tying the program single game record set against NVU-Lyndon in 2018. Vermont will grab on to this positive momentum and get ready for the road gauntlet to start the 2025 year and the conference schedule. The game on Saturday against New Hampshire is the biggest game of the season so far as I think opening the conference schedule with a strong performance will make a statement not only to the rest of the league, but to the Cats themselves. With the vulnerability that they have shown so far this year, every team will be licking their chops and Vermont will be looking to reassert themselves.

Everyone that played scored and there were eight Catamounts in double figures. Nick Fiorillo continues to look sharp from the perimeter and filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Shy Odom looked healthier, quicker on the court, and finished with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 blocks. With more familiarity with the system and improved health, he could be impactful during the conference portion of the season. It was really important for all the Cats to get their chances and make the best of them, allowing the players to exhale and believe that they can make it happen when called upon. 

Closing the book on a difficult non-conference schedule, the season starts anew on Saturday. No matter what has happened to this point in the season, every team starts 0-0 on their quest for a conference title. Can't wait to see how Vermont comes out and plays this weekend. Happy New Year!

Vermont at Dartmouth 12/21/24

Dartmouth 84 Vermont 54

The Jekyll and Hyde season continues for Vermont as they were run out of the gym by Dartmouth this afternoon. One step forward, two steps back at every turn has the Cats hitting rock bottom and searching for answers. The things that stands out now reflecting on the non-conference is how the lack of team identity has meant that every time the Cats right the ship in one area, another area becomes a concern. Defense is strong, offense is weak. Offense starts to get going, defense disappears. Fix the turnovers, transition defense falls flat. I guess I jinxed today's game with my praise of the Cats perimeter defense as Dartmouth scorched the nets from three. It really has been Murphy's law in Catamount country this season. In a sequence that encapsulates the luck so far, TJ Long gets a nice steal, goes in for a layup, gets blocked, re-injures his knee, and Dartmouth comes down on the other end and knocks down a three. Snakebit. Maybe the Cats need to make a sacrifice to the basketball gods to reset their karma. Going to be a lot of refection and soul searching over the holiday break as Vermont again tries to hit the reset button and salvage the season with a run in the America East. 

Happy Holidays to everyone!!

Vermont vs Miami OH 12/18/24

Vermont 75 Miami OH 67

Vermont snapped their losing streak with a win over Miami OH. In the first half, the Cats were firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball. The offensive movement was crisp and they were able to generate good shots. On the defensive side of the ball, the Cats did a great job containing the Redhawks perimeter shooting. The Cats opened the second half with another nice run to extend the lead. Then once again the offense hit a wall and the full court pressure from Miami OH rattled Vermont. This time however the Cats were able to hang on by virtue of red hot free throw shooting. There were flashes of that Catamount resolve and this was a huge win for Vermont. This is the type of game they have been coming up short in and despite the continued issues with the press, it was great to see them dig deep and pull out the win. Vermont absolutely lived at the free throw line as they took advantage of the Redhawks high pressure, frenetic defense. The Cats finished a whopping 29-32 (90%) from the free throw line. There were some very bad turnovers in the pressure situations down the stretch but overall the Cats only turned the ball over 9 times, which is a significant improvement. The defense continues to impress, particularly on the perimeter. Vermont held the Redhawks to 1-15 shooting from three and that is now the third time this season they have held a team to 1 or fewer made threes. The game was a step in the right direction and gives the Cats some solid footing to build upon. 

Nick Fiorillo continues his inspired play, finishing with a team high 21 points by virtue of a 14-15 performance from the line. He was really aggressive off the dribble and helps space the floor with his shooting ability. He has book-ended his injury absence with an incredible three 20 point games over his last 4 games played. Great to have him back. TJ Hurley also scored 20 points, continuing to attack closeouts and pull up in the mid-range. He is evolving into more and more of a go to scorer. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. He attacked the rim more in tonight's game and hopefully continues to expand that part of his game. Shamir Bogues made some clutch free throws and finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. The Bogues and Ayo-Faleye blocks down the stretch were the game saving plays. Jace Roquemore finally got a three to drop and finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. I thought Shy Odom showed some nice flashes and looked quicker and more decisive. He finished with 5 points in 12 minutes. 

A nice win at home before taking the short trip down 89 to try and build off this momentum against Dartmouth. Also what an awesome atmosphere recognizing the incredible NATIONAL CHAMPIONS Vermont Men's soccer team. What a run. What a game Monday night. The greatest sports moment in Vermont history. 

Vermont at Colgate 12/15/24

Colgate 65 Vermont 60

Colgate answered every Catamount run and executed down the stretch, snapping their losing streak with a win against Vermont. In the first half Vermont struggled to get going on offense, falling behind early. Then with a surge at the end of the half the Cats went into halftime down two. The Cats responded to an early second half Colgate run with an explosive 12-0 run of their own to take the lead. The game went back and forth from there with the Raiders executing down the stretch. The turnovers and choppy execution reared their ugly heads once again for Vermont. There has been such a Jekyll and Hyde nature to the Cats this season with stretches of well executed offense and then stretches of balls bouncing off feet and stalled movement. Another 15 turnovers this afternoon and several crucial ones down the stretch. Before the season the perimeter shooting was the big concern, and while they are not lighting it up, it has been passable. The real culprit of the offensive woes is finishing around the rim. Before this afternoon's game the Cats were shooting an abysmal 46% (304 out of 364 teams) from two point range. Again this afternoon they were 46% (12-26) from inside the arc. So many of their games have come down to one or two plays and the difficulties at the rim combined with the turnovers have caused them to be on the wrong side of the close ones. The close game execution is an area where they really miss TJ Long. So many times last season he was the one rescuing them and making the big shots when Vermont needed them. 

Nick Fiorillo returned and picked up where he left off, setting another career high with 23 points on 5-7 shooting from three. He also pulled down 6 rebounds in a strong effort. TJ Hurley finished with 19 points and has become the Cats most reliable scorer. His ability to take defenders to the rim and create space has been a great addition to his arsenal. Shamir Bogues was the other Catamount in double figures with 10 points and he added 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Unfortunately his struggles to finish at the rim are a large contributor to Vermont's two point shooting struggles. Bogues finished 2-12 from the field and is still missing the dynamic speed that made him effective last season. Jace Roquemore's effectiveness in his first few starts has come to a screeching halt as he is shooting 1-16 over his last three games including going 0-13 from three. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 6 points and 6 rebounds before fouling out. 

The Cats will be looking to grab onto any positive momentum they can over the next two weeks as they try to close the book on the non-conference portion of their schedule and look to start over during conference play. 

Until then, how about Vermont soccer playing for a national title? Not in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine a Cats team with that opportunity. What an incredible run and I can't wait for the game tomorrow night!

Vermont at Yale 12/7/24

Yale 65 Vermont 50

Yale took over with a decisive second half run and handed Vermont its second Ivy League defeat this week. The first half was a classic Yale/Vermont grinder with both teams playing tough defense and making offenses use the entire shot clock. Vermont came out in the second half and took a 6 point lead before Yale responded with a big run to take control of the game.  The parallels to the 22-23 season continue as this game was a near mirror image of the last time Vermont played at Yale when they let a halftime lead slip away before losing big. Once again the offense struggled to find a rhythm and finding consistent, effective lineups is continuing to be a tough task. This week is really a pivotal moment for the Cats. They have a week to maybe get healthy and find a rhythm before a stretch of winnable games to close out the non-conference. With the adversity and struggles so far this season, any sort of reset or positive momentum before the conference schedule will be huge. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 21 points on 5-8 shooting from three. It was nice to see him get some shots to go after struggling mighty against Brown. Shamir Bogues finished with 12 points as the only other Cat in double figures. Bogues is struggling to get that burst to the rim that made him so effective last season. Sean Blake finished with 5 points, 4 assists, and 7 rebounds. Unfortunately the turnovers (and free throw shooting) continue to make it hard for him to make a consistently positive impact. However, his rebounding is impressive. Jace Roquemore and Ileri Ayo-Faleye struggled mightily in this one, combining to go 1-19 from the field, including 1-13 from three. 

The conference portion of the season is still king and there is time to make some headway before January.  

I wish I could keep up with all the comments but I do not have the time. I also hope that we as the fanbase can find a way to support this program even when things are not going as planned. Vermont has had a crazy amount of success and if we are going to be there when they are on top, we have to be ready to lift them up when they are at the bottom. 

And while we wait.....GO SOCCER CATS!!!!! COLLEGE CUP!

Vermont vs Brown 12/3/24

Brown 60 Vermont 53

In a well played game on both sides, Brown came out on top. Looking down the boxscore, it is uncanny how even almost every category finished out. Two good teams, locked in a chess match. The first half was back and forth with neither team pulling away and smooth shot-making on both sides. Brown came roaring out of the gates in the second half and the Bears took at 12 point lead. Vermont used a strong defensive push to cut the deficit to two. It was back and forth from there and then Bears star Kino Lilly Jr took over down the stretch to pull out the victory. Have to tip your cap to Lilly Jr as he hit some very tough shots down the stretch. Both teams played really strong defense and had to work for every point. That was a great college basketball game and an exciting atmosphere. 

Noah Barnett got the Cats off to a hot start and finished with 8 points and 6 rebounds. He is really stepping up and learning on the fly filling in for the injured Cats. Sean Blake led the Cats with 13 points and was electric during the second half comeback. He gives them such a valuable dimension on offense with his creative finishing ability around the rim. Blake and Barnett are seizing their opportunities and are showing improvement every game. Shamir Bogues battled throughout and finished with 11 points and added 3 steals and 2 blocks in a team high 35 minutes. Ileri Ayo-Faleye struggled for much of the game, drawing Becker's ire, but responded with a strong finish, making some big stops on defense and hitting a crucial three. He finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Seth Joba made some nice plays and continues to improve his physicality on the boards. Gavin Perryman played all seven of his minutes during the second half comeback and provided energy and hustle that fired up the Cats. TJ Hurley struggled mightily with the Bears physical defense. Brown was committed to making his night difficult and he finished 1-10 from the field. 

The injury bug continues to tamp down Vermont's ceiling, but the improvement from some of the young players is a promising sign if Vermont ever gets to play a game with their full team.  Now the Cats head down to Connecticut for a tough road game against Yale. Should be another hard fought physical game with the Bulldogs out to avenge last seasons miracle finish. 

Vermont vs Northeastern 11/30/24

Vermont 68 Northeastern 64

Shorthanded Vermont took down Northeastern with a gutsy defensive effort in a physical Saturday afternoon game at Patrick. After an early time out, the Cats exploded with a 15-0 run and maintained that lead for much of the first half. The offense was humming and Vermont put together their best all around half of the young season. Then in a microcosm of how the season has gone thus far, Shamir Bogues went down with an injury on the final play of the half. The Cats came out of the half a bit flat as Bogues tried to gut it out through the pain. It was clear that he was not 100% so the coaching staff turned to Sean Blake. Blake was up to the task and electrified the crowd with some tough buckets. Then he committed his fourth foul so Bogues again hobbled his way through the end of the game. Northeastern made a really great adjustment, going to a much larger, physical lineup to close out the game. The Huskies scrambling, frenetic press forced the Cats into several turnovers, cutting it to a one possession game. In a wild final possession Northeastern had three shots to tie the game but the Cats defense held and they emerged victorious. This was a huge win for the Cats. Northeastern had been playing very good basketball to start the season and with Vermont missing TJ Long, Nick Fiorillo, Shy Odom, and then Bogues playing on one leg, the Cats had to dig deep. I said after last game that this game would say a lot about this team and they put together a solid effort. This was a victory forged with mental fortitude. In particular the Cats did an excellent job on Harold Woods who came in averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds on 55% shooting, but was held to 8 points and 3 rebounds on 4-13 shooting. Vermont made hustle plays, matched Northeastern's physicality, and held the Huskies to 1-15 shooting from three. A very gutsy effort that saw guys step up when their number was called. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with a career high 23 points. He has been playing with so much more aggression and assertiveness on the offensive end. He worked hard for every shot against the very physical Huskies defense. As he takes on a larger role the turnovers have crept up as well but those are part of the growing pains in a new role. Everyone knows Ileri Ayo-Faleye is a great defender, but in the game this afternoon, he was otherworldly. Ayo-Faleye finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, and SEVEN blocks. Absolutely incredible. He is such a joy to watch on the defensive end. Jace Roquemore continues to step up in place of the injured Cats and finished with 13 points and 5 rebounds. He has been shooting the ball with confidence and running the offense smoothly when needed. Sean Blake took over during the most crucial stretch of the game. He attacked the rim relentlessly and finished through contact. Blake finished with 9 points and only 1 turnover in his best all around effort of the season. Seth Joba got knocked around early but responded to the Huskies physicality and got huge rebounds in the second half. He finished with 3 points and 7 rebounds. Sam Alamutu filled several different roles and once again played a strong all around game with 3 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Bogues fought his way to 7 points and 4 rebounds. Hopefully he can get through this nagging injury. 

Any win the Cats can claw out while dealing with so many injuries is a big one. Hopefully there is a silver lining in building depth with guys stepping up into larger roles. At some point the stars will align and a fully healthy Vermont team will have a chance to play together and build momentum. 

Vermont vs Plattsburgh State 11/27/24

Vermont 78 Plattsburgh State 55

The walking wounded Cats gutted out a victory over Plattsburgh State. With three starters out (Shamir Bogues, TJ Long, Nick Fiorillo) this game served as an "audition" of sorts for some of the bench players to have an opportunity to build confidence and potentially play themselves into a larger role. The first 75% of the game was tough sledding for the Cats as they were a bit sluggish and had a hard time breaking through the very physical and foul prone Cardinals defense. Turnovers were abundant as the Cats tried to build chemistry on the fly with some new and different lineups. Everything finally clicked with the closing group of guys as they finally were able to drive to the rim and get some easy buckets for what felt like the first time all season. These games are all about getting some things to go right for the Cats and there was certainly a sense of relief at the end of the game as their play finally provided that release. This homestand feels like an absolutely crucial stretch for Vermont and I think the game on Saturday (health permitting) will provide a lot of information about the mentality of this team. 

Noah Barnett led the Cats with 15 points. He does a great job of keeping it simple with one quick move to the hoop. It is also so valuable that he is a good free throw shooter (5-5 from the line). As he continues to adjust to the speed of the game and lock down the defensive rotations, his role could grow. I really felt before the game that this was an opportunity for Shy Odom to get some positive momentum and start to build confidence. For the first part of the game it was still a struggle for him to get going. Then he finally broke through and made some nice plays. Odom finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds and did a great job on baseline cuts, making himself available for the drive and dish. With Fiorillo likely out for a bit, Barnett or Odom will need to play a larger role. Gavin Perryman saw his first extended action and finished with 11 points. He plays with good energy and is not afraid to get into the thick of things. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Sean Blake had a tale of two halves game. In the first half he struggled mightily on defense and turned the ball over several times. Then the coaching staff had him start the second half and he was promptly involved in a turnover.  It was clearly the plan to let him play through the mistakes as he regrouped and had a strong finish. He stuffed the boxscore with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Hopefully this can be a jumping off point for him as well. Jace Roquemore continued his strong play with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Sam Alamutu also stuffed the stat sheet with 5 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Hall of Fame Basketball Tip-off: Game 2

Fairfield 67 Vermont 66

Fairfield held off Vermont in a back and forth game that saw neither team lead by more than seven. In the first half both offenses were humming along, with Fairfield going into the break with a two point lead. The second half saw more defensive pressure from both teams and Fairfield made key plays to pull away. Vermont battled hard despite being shorthanded. Shamir Bogues missed the game with an injury, Seth Joba was in street clothes as well, and Nick Fiorillo took a hard foul with 2 minutes to go. Without Bogues the turnovers cropped up again, particularly down the stretch when the game was getting tight. The Cats first half defense also suffered without their anchor as Fairfield was able to get high percentage shots throughout. The Stags really punished Vermont on switches. The defensive rotations were not quite as sharp this weekend.  The injury issues continue to interrupt the chemistry building process for the Cats. Hopefully Fiorillo is okay and Bogues is a short term issue, but the process of bringing the team together continues to experience delays. This team has really had a "snakebit" feel to it so far this season with some tough breaks in games and the injury bug continuing to crop up. It has been a tough start but the team has been right there under some difficult circumstances. 

TJ Long led the Cats in his "revenge game" against his former team. Long finished with 18 points and almost brought Vermont back from the brink with a late three. Teams are forcing him to work very hard on both ends of the floor as he is often the focus of the opposition's defense. TJ Hurley exploded for 15 first half points but struggled to get going in the second, finishing with 17 points. Unfortunately he also had some crucial turnovers late in the game. Jace Roquemore played a great game filling in for Bogues, finishing with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Similar to around this time last year when Bogues was out, Roquemore really provided the Cats with a calm, steady presence which is quite a luxury for the Cats to have on their bench. Nick Fiorillo didn't carry over the shot making magic from yesterday but was playing another solid game before going down. Fiorillo finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists before injuring his left arm in a fall after getting undercut on a dunk. Hopefully it is not serious. Ileri Ayo-Faleye struggled to find space on offense but finished with 2 blocks and 2 steals. Sam Alamutu finished with 4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in a solid performance off the bench. 

I previously compared the beginning of this season to the start of the 22-23 season and in another parallel, the Cats will be looking to use the non DI game as a kind of reset button for the season. This team has been right there despite the challenges that they have faced so far this year. Hopefully they can get healthy and build some momentum. 

NICK!!!

Vermont 75 Delaware 71

Vermont opened the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-off Tournament with a strong performance against Delaware. The game opened with Vermont locking up the Blue Hens, who didn't make their first shot from the field until 6 minutes into the game. Then both offenses got going for an exciting half of basketball, with each team trading mini runs. In the second half, the Cats defense shut down Delaware as they maintained a solid lead for much of the half. Then the Blue Hens started to press and made things interesting, charging back to within one possession. Vermont executed and made their free throws down the stretch to pull out the victory. The Cats were able to get good dribble penetration and it really opened up their offense. It was great to see more flow and chemistry on that side of the ball. The defense continues to force opposing teams into difficult shots. The press is giving the Cats fits this season but they made plays when they needed to in this one. The rotation really shrunk with only one starter playing less than 30 minutes. 

Nick Fiorillo poured in a career high 20 points, including shooting 4-6 from three. He also chipped in 8 rebounds and 3 assists. It was great to see some shots go through for Fiorillo after struggling to start the year. His ability to stretch the floor can really open things up for everyone else. It was also great to see the backdoor passes out of the high post return. That was such a weapon last year with Aaron Deloney in particular and it has taken some time for others to find that chemistry. Shamir Bogues finished with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. He had that relentless energy back and was a disruptive force on both ends of the floor. A healthy Bogues changes everything for Vermont. TJ Hurley had a tough shooting game but finished with 14 points and 4 assists. He did a great job attacking when he had a mismatch. Ileri Ayo-Faleye battled foul trouble and finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds. He knocked down another 2 threes and they always seem to come at crucial moments. Sam Alamutu made big plays around the rim and finished with 6 rebounds. Sean Blake continues to provide short bursts of offense but teams are really targeting him at the defensive end. TJ Long is in a bit of a rut offensively but is working very hard on the defensive side of the ball. 

A good win to start the weekend in a fun atmosphere at Mohegan Sun. Can't wait for tomorrow's game!

Vermont vs Buffalo 11/19/24

Vermont 78 Buffalo 67

Vermont used a strong defensive effort in the second half to end their three game skid with a win over Buffalo in the home opener. It was awesome to be back at Patrick and it was a great atmosphere. The offense was clicking from the start which was a welcome sight for Catamount fans. The Cats were able to generate more opportunities at the rim and made the most of their perimeter looks. In the first half the action was back and forth as both teams attacked the rim. Buffalo made a charge at the end of the half and cut the deficit to three. Vermont opened the second half on a 9-0 run and really dug in defensively, getting crucial stops. The Cats had a response for every run from the Bulls and salted the game away at the line. The big improvement in tonight's game was taking care of the basketball. The opening road trip featured games against high pressure, physical defensive teams and it caused uncharacteristic mistakes from the Cats. Vermont finished with 12 assists and only 5 turnovers in a much cleaner effort. 

Ileri Ayo-Faleye led the Cats with 18 points on 3-6 shooting from three and 7-8 shooting from the line. All of his offseason work has him shooting with more confidence. He warms up with both the guards and the post players before games and the early returns are good. Adding a perimeter scoring threat to his tenacious defense is great. TJ Hurley knocked in three from downtown as well en route to 17 points. He was more aggressive on the offensive end, shooting with less space from three and driving to the rim. Taking on that scorers mentality will be key to unlocking the Vermont offense. Shamir Bogues stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. He created well driving to the basket. Sam Alamutu played a little more as the small ball big in the second half when Buffalo went to a smaller lineup. He had several physical drives to the rim and finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds. TJ Long finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists on a night where Buffalo made it hard for him to get good looks. Sean Blake scored 8 points and continues to provide dynamic drives to the rim. He is really good in short bursts as he learns the speed of the college game. Nick Fiorillo played a tough, physical game finishing with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks. He finally got some nice backdoor passes in the flow of the offense. 

A great win at home to get the Cats back on the winning track. I am so excited to head down to Mohegan Sun this weekend!!! Going to be an awesome atmosphere and some great basketball.

Vermont at Iona 11/15/24

Iona 62 Vermont 59

Vermont blew a 15 point second half lead as Iona ratcheted up the pressure and handed the Cats their third consecutive loss. For the first 3/4ths of the game Vermont's defense was locked in and the offense was efficient. Then the dreaded scoring drought took hold and the Cats were reeling. Iona capitalized and imposed their will, pressuring the Cats and relentlessly attacking the basket. The coaching staff is struggling to find the right combinations and there were stretches where the lineups felt somewhat awkward. The inconsistent rotation is definitely affecting the offensive continuity. Once again the turnovers piled up and several came at crucial junctures in the second half. In the most shocking development, the Cats gave up 15 (!) offensive rebounds and were dominated on the boards 38-18. That is the most un-Vermont stat of the young season. The Vermont program has long been one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country and it is absolutely shocking to see them in this predicament. This stretch is very reminiscent of the 22-23 season when the Cats started the season 1-6. Similarly, in that season Dylan Penn missed the preseason with a injury and struggled to get up to speed. They managed to right the ship that season and the home opener will be an opportunity to hit the reset button. 

The TJ's continue to be a bright spot for Vermont. TJ Long led the Cats with 18 points on 4-8 shooting from three. He also made some nice defensive plays, finishing with 3 steals. TJ Hurley finished with 16 points on 3-5 shooting from three. Shamir Bogues continues to struggle with finishing at the rim and was in foul trouble for much of the night. He finished with 7 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds. He still doesn't seem like he has his burst back. Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Sam Alamutu finished with 3 blocks each but struggled to make an impact on the offensive end. The rest of the rotation is begging for someone to step up and seize control. The minutes are there for the taking and right now no one is distinguishing themselves.  

It certainly has not been the start the Cats were looking for. The one positive from this game is the defense looks good and they are going have to lean heavily on that side of the ball while the kinks get worked out of the offense. Hopefully getting back into Patrick Gym will be the spark they need to get the season back on track. 

Vermont at Merrimack 11/9/24

Merrimack 65 Vermont 51

Outhustled, outworked, outplayed.

Merrimack dominated Vermont with their matchup zone and handed the Cats a shocking loss. This was the poorest performance by a Cats team in recent memory. They were sluggish and played with little to no energy or excitement. For the second straight game the turnovers were plentiful as Vermont has been uncharacteristically loose with the ball. The offensive adjustments and plans have not clicked so far and the Cats look tentative and unsure. The coaching staff is struggling to find the right combinations and the shifting lineups seem to be making the roles undefined and murky. Becker is trying to light a fire under the veterans and find the right groups but the young players are not quite ready for the larger roles. Over the first few games the biggest shock has been how much the Cats have struggle to get and finish shots at the rim. After tonight they are shooting 34% (!!!!) from two point range. That is an almost unfathomable number for a Vermont squad. Quite a bit of soul searching after a busy week full of ups and downs. Interestingly enough as far as the record goes, 1-2 at this point was what was expected but Vermont got there in quite the backwards fashion. 

TJ Long led the Cats with 22 points, including the 1,000th of his career. He kept the Cats afloat but no one else got going offensively. TJ Hurley finished with 11 points as the other double figure scorer. The elephant in the room is how poorly Shamir Bogues has played after his early explosion at against UAB. He does not look 100% and the missed time is clearly affecting him. Vermont does have strong depth but Bogues is such an important player that it is a uphill battle with him playing so ineffectively. Nick Fiorillo and Sam Alamutu have also struggled mightily to start the season after looking very good during the offseason/preseason. Ileri Ayo-Faleye, Seth Joba, and Shy Odom struggled to make an impact. Sean Blake was thrust into an even more prominent role and fell victim to the ups and downs of freshman inexperience. He grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 5 assists but struggled defensively and committed 4 turnovers. He is not quite ready for the full reins of the offense. Noah Barnett continues to show flashes with his hustle, finishing with 5 points and 5 rebounds, but he too showed some inexperience in the post. 

What a difference from the beginning of the week. It is going to be a long week for Vermont as they try to right the ship before heading to Iona on Friday. 

Vermont at Auburn 11/6/24

Auburn 94 Vermont 43

A good old fashion beatdown

Auburn overwhelmed Vermont with their pressure defense and handed the Cats their first loss of the season. The Tigers are a top 10 team with national championship aspirations and played like it from the start. Vermont's offense never got off the ground as Auburn's full court press and perimeter ball pressure completely disrupted everything that the Cats tried to do. The Tigers forced 16 Catamount turnovers and smothered everything at the rim. After holding UAB scoreless from three, the law of averages swung back in a big way as Auburn couldn't miss from deep. It is never fun to lose a game that badly, but going 1-1 on the road trip can be viewed as a success and this game will give Vermont plenty to look at and use as motivation to get better. 

Noah Barnett and Seth Joba's development was a big time bright spot during the road trip. They both showed flashes and are going to give the Cats the frontcourt depth they have been desperate for the last few seasons. Barnett's rebounding and hustle are going to be a huge asset and Joba looks comfortable offensively. His ability to stretch the floor and knock down threes is going to be really valuable. Sean Blake was active on the boards and gives the Cats another scorer off the dribble. He will have to clean up the turnovers but those freshman mistakes will likely become fewer as the season goes on. Outside of the first few minutes against UAB, Shamir Bogues really struggled to get to the rim and finish. Feels like the missed time during the preseason created some rust and he is still getting back into the swing. Same for TJ Long. Ileri Ayo-Faleye's offseason work to improve his shooting looks good so far. He also had some great blocks, continuing to establish himself as an elite defender. Becker used this as an opportunity to send a message to the struggling starters and get the deeper parts of the rotation more minutes and a chance to show what they can do. Shy Odom made his Catamount debut and continues to try and get back to his old form and adjust to the Vermont system. He hit a nice three early and tried to establish himself down low in the second half. He is still getting comfortable with when to push within the offense and was a little loose with the ball. 

Now the Cats head back up north and get ready for a game at Merrimack on Saturday. It will be really interesting to start to see the rotation forming and how the coaching staff uses what they learned on this opening road trip. 

Opening night statement

Vermont 67 UAB 62

Vermont used an explosive first half followed by a signature gutsy second, to take home the win on opening night. What a way to start the season for the Catamounts. Not only was it a great game but it showcased all of the things that make Vermont such a tough team. Tough D? Check. Timely shooting? Check. Low Turnovers? Check. Unexpected contributors? Check. Just an absolutely awesome team win to open the season with contributions from everyone. In the first half Vermont found success against the UAB zone both finding lanes to the rim and knocking down threes. They really muscled up on the boards in the first half as well, making life difficult for Blazers star Yaxel Lendeborg. The second half was a different story. Lendeborg played like a man possessed and absolutely dominated Vermont. UAB switched to a physical man to man defense and took away Vermont's driving lanes. They had no answer. The Cats never panicked, never backed down or hung their heads, and kept fighting. The defense clamped down on everyone else and kept UAB from making a single three (0-10). Vermont iced the game at the line and came away with a huge win. The defense looked phenomenal and the Cats were even able to play some lineups with *gasp* three big men on the floor at one time. A tremendously gutsy effort with big plays up and down the lineup. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 20 points and hit the big shot to put the Cats ahead for good in the closing minutes. With the departure of Aaron Deloney, Hurley was the most natural fit to take on that perimeter scoring role and boy did he excel. Always poised and under control, Hurley picked his spots and make great decisions throughout the game. He hit 4 threes (including one from the parking lot) and played really tough defense, making life difficult for the UAB guards. Shamir Bogues got Vermont out to a hot start, absolutely exploding in the first 5 minutes of the game. After that he struggled to make shots as UAB focused their defense on stopping Bogues going to rim. Bogues finished with 13 points and was a huge part of the stellar perimeter defense. Noah Barnett waited a whole year to make his Catamount debut and he did not disappoint. He completely changed the game in the first half with his hustle and high motor play. Barnett finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 huge block in 22 minutes. He has a nose for the ball and it was great to see his hard work have an impact on the game. TJ Long struggled in his first game action but as always hit a huge three to break a 55 all tie. Long finished with 10 points to round out the double digit scorers for the Cats. The bank was open late for Ileri Ayo-Faleye as he banked in not one, but two threes in a crucial second half stretch. The Cats offense had stalled and Ayo-Faleye reignited the Cats with a tremendous four point play. He played his typical tough defense, finishing with 6 rebounds and 2 blocks. Seth Joba played a physical and tough 17 minutes and hit a nice corner three. Sam Alamutu didn't score but played tough defense. Sean Blake struggled with a few turnovers and Nick Fiorillo had a tough game, getting out muscled in the post. Fiorillo did come up with the crucial rebound to begin the free throw shooting at the end of the game. Just an incredible all around performance by the Cats. 

What a great way to open the season and Vermont can go into the Auburn game loose and ready to shock the world. 

Also what a great win for the Vermont women's team in their opener against Missouri. Fun times in Catamount country!!

Vermont 24-25 season preview

Basketball is officially back and after all of the waiting, obsessing, projecting, and researching, it is time to write about the upcoming season. With this being the last of the extra COVID year eligibility across college basketball, it feels like a peak year for the sport. There is so much veteran experience across the country and after this season teams are going to get much younger. These post COVID years have felt like an era all its own with all of the changes around eligibility, conference realignment, and player compensation. That makes this year so exciting and one to appreciate.

With so many returning pieces, there is a real excitement about what this Vermont team can accomplish this season. Players in the Vermont program very often make significant year to year improvements and now that the coaching staff has a large group of returners, there is an opportunity to to take another step forward. Integrating a large number of new players year to year over the last few seasons has meant there have been less opportunities to look ahead and add new wrinkles as most of the work has been just getting players integrated into the system. This year the Cats have a group who have already put in that work. This team has an opportunity to be very special. 

The one caveat to all this excitement is health. Every year teams are always battling the unpredictable nature of player health and this season the Cats have had a run of tough luck to start the season. Becker mentioned in his media day appearance that Shamir Bogues has not practiced very much due a surgery to remove bone spurs and TJ Long has only been available for about 25% of practices thus far dealing with a nagging foot injury. Considering those are the Vermont's two preseason all conference players, that is a cause for concern. It was nice to see Bogues back for the final exhibition but you never know how that missed time will affect teams. I think about When Dylan Penn was injured for the entire preseason during his Catamount season and it look him and the team a while to get going after all that missed time. Last season Nick Fiorillo also had a bit of an adjustment period coming out of his preseason injury. I am approaching this preview with bountiful optimism and as such am going to assume full health. Here. We. Go.

Projected Record: 25-6 (14-2) 1st in America East, NCAA tourney berth

This team has a ridiculous amount of potential. First off, they could be the best defensive team Vermont has ever had. In my preview last season I mentioned how exciting it would be to see Shamir Bogues in the Vermont defensive system and it did not disappoint. The Duke game left a sour taste with the offensive struggles and TJ Long's injury but underneath it all, Vermont's defense was fully validated as a force to be reckoned with. Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye are elite defenders no matter the level of competition. The Cats are going to be able to wear their opponents down in a big way. The first two games against UAB and Auburn will be fun to watch and are a great measuring stick. They are not just two great teams, they also have great individual players. Yaxel Lendeborg for UAB is a the preseason conference player of the year and Johni Broome from Auburn is rated as the best player in the country on evanmiya.com. Two dominant frontcourt players to kick off the season. With the preseason injuries, these games are going to be even more difficult. After that big road trip, the Cats have a chance to go on a pretty big winning streak. The rematch with Yale in early December will be absolute must watch, can't miss college basketball after last season's miracle. That game last season solidified Yale/Vermont as the best rivalry in Northeast mid-major basketball. The conference schedule starts with a bang as Vermont begins with three tough road games and that will set the tone for the rest of the conference season after those early Bryant/Lowell tests. 

Depth 

During this incredible run of success the most significant advantage that Vermont has had over their opponents is their incredible depth. The Cats have a group of players on the bench that if they were broken off as their own team, they would be a competitive squad. That is a luxury that very few teams have. This was really put on full display last year with the time missed by Bogues, Matt Veretto, and TJ Hurley. The "next man up" mentality in the Vermont program is really incredible. I think back to the 21-22 season opener on the road at Northern Iowa when Vermont was facing opening the season without its star Ryan Davis. Even the most optimistic fan was understandably feeling down about their chances.  The Cats went out and blew the doors off Northern Iowa anyway, kicking off an incredible season. Overcoming injuries is always a challenge but Vermont is a program that has a pattern of players stepping up when called upon. This year, the Cats have already seen the results of this with Sean Blake seizing his opportunity while other players have been out. 

Leadership 

Last year Aaron Deloney returned to be the program ambassador to a group of newcomers. This year the Cats have quite a wealth of experience and leadership. Nick Fiorillo is in his 6th season with Vermont, Jace Roquemore is in his 6th season of college basketball, Shamir Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye are in their 5th. Sam Alamutu, TJ Long, and Gavin Perryman are in their 4th. For a program with the goals and aspirations that Vermont has, there couldn't be a better setup. With so much knowledge, this group is prepared for the inevitable ups and downs of the college basketball season. 

Breakouts incoming?

Even with so many returning pieces, the Cats are still looking to replace important production. Losing Aaron Deloney and Matt Veretto leaves a big gap in scoring and perimeter shooting. This puts TJ Hurley square in center of replacing production. He is the most natural candidate to replace this perimeter scoring. Three point shooting was a real slog for the Cats last season and they will need a better season from beyond the arc to reach their full potential. Hurley has the ability to step into that role. Nick Fiorillo is finally fully healthy and looks ready to capitalize. He plays such an important role in the offense with his passing ability. Other players like Bogues and Ayo-Faleye have been working in the offseason to improve their perimeter shooting ability. One could say that Sam Alamutu already broke out last season. If the preseason is any indication, he was only scratching the surface. He has looked transformed moving into a guard role and is poised for another step up this year. At the media day Becker talked about how Seth Joba and Noah Barnett have shown steady improvement and have an opportunity to carve out a role. Both showed flashes in the exhibitions. This opportunity for improvement is the biggest benefit of the programmatic continuity. 

Newcomer impact

Even with so many returning minutes there is opportunity to the few newcomers to make an impact. Shy Odom has already established himself as a very good college basketball player and is looking to recapture that magic with Vermont. A 100% healthy Odom is a major impact player. His progress toward reclaiming his pre-injury form will be a huge storyline for Vermont as he is a player who can impact the game in many different ways. Without injury concerns, the rest of the new faces were looking at a tough road to minutes. The door has been opened for Gavin Perryman and Sean Blake to make an impact this season. Sean Blake has been an absolute revelation so far with his dynamic ability to get to the rim. He has forced his way into a role this season. Blake will certainly have some growing pains but he will likely have some explosive performances this season. 

Offensive improvement

The Vermont defense can always be counted on and helped the Cats thrive last season despite a very inconsistent offense. Looking at the analytics on www.barttorvik.com, last season was one of the worst offensive seasons by adjusted offensive efficiency in the Becker era. The defense saved the day as it was the one of best seasons by adjusted defensive efficiency in the Becker era (so when Becker says this year might be his best group on the defensive end, he is on to something). Every coach, every preseason talks about offensive tweaks and playing faster. This year is no different for the Cats. For Vermont it has always been hard to increase the number of possessions and play faster because their defensive system dictates a slower paced, lower possession game. I do think after last season's difficulties, the coaching staff will work to install some new wrinkles to unlock the full potential of this group. It will be interesting to see if that translates to a faster pace of play. The Cats have nowhere to go but up as they finished 350th (out of 362) last year in tempo. At the very least the offense will have to be far more efficient on a per possession basis this season. 

Exciting Basketball

The last thought for today is how exciting this team will be to watch. Last season was full of insane moments with big shots from Long, huge dunks from Ayo-Faleye, and jaw dropping sequences from Bogues. Toss in what Blake and Alamutu have shown in the preseason and this group has explosive energy and a killer mentality. The level of skill, IQ, and athleticism on this team is going to make for must watch basketball this season. There will likely be wow moments in every game this season. Bogues in particular (hopefully shaking off his nagging injury with his procedure) is poised to explode this season for Vermont.

There is no better sport than college basketball and I cannot wait for the season to officially begin. As always thanks for coming along on the ride with me, reading the blog, sharing thoughts, and enjoying Catamount basketball.  

Exhibition: Vermont vs St. Michael's

Vermont 80 St. Michael's 55

Vermont swarmed the shorthanded Purple Knights from the opening tip and kept their foot on the gas, cruising to a win in the exhibition finale. The Cats clearly were not going to let the game turn out like the last one and played with more purpose and energy throughout. The players and coaches do an excellent job of using losses or inefficient games as fuel. Early on the defense was intense as Vermont held St. Mike's to only two made field goals in the first 10 minutes. The offense was firing on all cylinders with quick cuts and the perimeter shooters finding success. In the second half, the Cats played more in the halfcourt and were trying different looks and finding different combinations. Vermont really dominated the boards throughout the game and played with a fire and intensity in the paint. Night and day from the first exhibition and a great way to go into the prep for Monday's opener against UAB. 

What was the big difference? Well for starters Shamir Bogues was back. It was great to see him out on the court and he made an immediate impact as he always does. His energy is infections and just like last season the on/off court splits for Bogues are incredible. His teammates seem to feed off of his intensity and there is an electricity to his minutes (unfortunately the box score has disappeared so there will not be exact stats for this write up). Bogues looked really good and it is awesome to see him ramping back up into game shape. Sam Alamutu continues to impress and looks reborn so far this season. Finally getting a chance to play his natural guard position, he is flourishing. He was a rebound shy of a double double and impacted every aspect of the game (ignore the free throws). His defense was absolutely smothering to start the game and his energy off the charts. Flying all over the court including some nice dunks. Seeing how he carves out a role this year is going to be so fun. Sean Blake was electric once again. The improvement over the course of this last calendar year from his final high school season to now has been astronomical. He truly has gone from a possible redshirt to a player who could carve out a nice scoring role off the bench. That is a testament to his hard work. His ability to burst through the gaps and rise to the rim are special (again, ignore the free throws).  The post player crew bounced back in a big way. Nick Fiorillo led the Cats with 12 points and jumpstarted the offense with a couple threes early. He is a tone setter for this group and handling a larger shooting role from the perimeter is crucial to the Cats success this season. Seth Joba showed flashes of his potential throughout the game. He too knocked down a couple threes and had a beautiful pull up jumper off the dribble. He battled for rebounds underneath and played with more aggression. Shy Odom flashed his potential in this one too with some nice offensive rebounds and played with more purpose. Everyone that played in the game scored in a really well rounded team effort.

Now on to the real thing. I am super excited for the game against UAB on Monday. I hopped on a UAB podcast to talk about the matchup and you can join the Patreon($) if you would like to listen. Click here for the link. My Vermont season preview will be posted in the next few days so be on the lookout. Regular season here we come!

Sean Blake instant legend

Vermont 68 St. Anselm 66

The Cardiac Cats are back!!

Freshman Sean Blake rescued the Catamounts in his debut with a late game tying layup and game winning free throws one possession later in the exhibition opener. Nothing like jumping right into the action. No Shamir Bogues or TJ Long, giving some other Cats an opportunity to see more minutes. The first half looked like a half of basketball where a team has been dealing with injuries and is missing some key contributors. Similar to last year Vermont could not find success from the perimeter and struggled to get shots at the rim. With no Bogues, the Cats struggled to find driving lanes. Vermont found some energy late in the second half and closed the gap. The second half was back and forth with both teams finding more offensive success. Josh Morissette was absolutely scorching for the Hawks, hitting tough shots from all over the court and finishing with a game high 27 points. Late in the game, Vermont made some key plays and emerged from the hectic action with a win. These exhibitions are designed to give the team an opportunity to smooth out the kinks before the season starts and that was certainly the case today. The offense is very much a work in progress as the coaching staff is trying to make some changes and find out what can unlock this group. The coaching staff will certainly have a lot of material for the Cats to work on in practice. 

One of the big bright spots for the Cats was freshman Sean Blake. In the second half, he was the player that helped Vermont break down the defense and find driving lanes. He has electric speed and finishing ability around the rim. Blake finished with 13 points and was a catalyst for the improved offense. He looks like the future star point guard at Vermont and might carve out a role this season. Sam Alamutu was also very impressive with the coaching staff placing him in the Bogues role as the initiator of the offense. His played with incredible speed and looked very comfortable in the open floor. Amazing to see how much he as improved from a defensive specialist at this time last season. It also clear that the coaching staff wants to get him some minutes in more of a guard role this season. Alamutu finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals including a crucial one with about 4 minutes left. Ileri Ayo-Faleye had a strong game finishing with 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He made some clutch perimeter shots while playing his signature tough defense. Ayo-Faleye warmed up with both the guards and the post players as he has clearly been working on improving his perimeter shooting. TJ Hurley led Vermont with 17 points and 5 rebounds. He struggled shooting in the first half but knocked down some big shots in the second half. The post player crew (Nick Fiorillo, Noah Barnett, Seth Joba, Shy Odom) had an up and down game with some nice moments but usually followed by some not so great execution. It looks like the roles in that group are still to be defined. 

Not the prettiest game but some incredible second half action to get everyone back into the swing of things. Chris Santo almost stole one from his buddies! Can't wait until Wednesday!

24-25 America East conference preview

Preview season is upon us! With exhibitions around the corner it is time to start looking at how the teams might finish. Last year at this time much of the narrative centered around the significant amount of new players and coaches around the league. With so many teams reloading through the transfer portal, there was significant unpredictability going into last season. Only one year later and things look very different. No coaching changes in the America East this offseason and while there was still quite a bit of player movement in the portal, several teams return their cores and the transfer portal additions seem to be predominately supporting role players rather than huge stars. The league as a whole was interesting last season with more uptempo teams for the first time and at the same time the top tier teams all finding success on the defensive end. It will be interesting to see if that carries over to this season or if the changes will continues to manifest. The statistic that I keep going back to when digging into previewing this season is the league wide three point shooting last year. It was abysmal. Only one team shot 35% (UMBC) and the league finished at 1916-5960 (32%). Well below average and the question is: was it the good defense around the league? or was is a lack of quality perimeter shooting? When digging into the new additions for this season around the America East, most teams did not add a whole lot of shooting and several teams lost shooting to graduation or the portal. I am excited to follow this thread as the season progresses. Lets dive into to each team.

Vermont

    Vermont is once again in the familiar position of the favorite. They have been when they are reloading and they certainly will be this season when they are returning so much of their core. The Vermont program continues to push to raise their ceiling and this offseason, they were successful in doing so. After a couple of seasons with a fluctuating roster, this year the coaching staff has been blessed with strong continuity. That leaves this group oozing with potential as players who stay in the program multiple years during the Becker tenure have very often seen strong year to year improvement. This year Vermont will be looking to use that continuity to improve their offensive chemistry and rhythm. The defense will once again be very tough with all league defensive team returnees Shamir Bogues and Ileri Ayo-Faleye as the anchors. Last season was a tough one on the offensive side of the ball as the roster turnover (and injuries) really affected the Cats ability to find an offensive identity. The three point shooting will have the most significant impact on their offensive efficiency. It will be exciting to see which players step into new roles and how the coaching staff adds new wrinkles to unlock the potential of this team. TJ Hurley and newcomer Shy Odom are the two "swingmen" as their potential improvements/new roles influence the widest range of outcomes for Vermont. The bottom line for this season's Cats is that a healthy Vermont team will have a high ceiling not just in the America East, but across the national landscape. I will dig in with greater detail in my Vermont season preview which will be posted sometime before the opener against UAB. 

Bryant

      The Bulldogs made significant strides last season with a new coach and more familiarity with the America East. Much like Vermont, they were able to retain a significant part of their core during the offseason. During their two seasons in the league, Bryant has had some of the best pure talent in the league but has struggled to turn that talent into consistent on court performance. Last season the Bulldogs made huge strides on the defensive end and found success wearing teams down, paring frenetic defensive with their signature uptempo offense. They, like the rest of the league, struggled with consistency from their perimeter shooters and are hoping that Rafael Pinzon thrives in a more featured role and transfer (and Vermont native) Kam Farris can give them a lift from three. Earl Timberlake is back to lead the Bulldogs and make a player of the year push. He is a very unique player who provides both offensive and defensive versatility. Barry Evans comes over from St. Bonaventure as defensive minded big man ho will help offset the loss of Daniel Rivera. The biggest question mark for the Bulldogs is who will earn the minutes at the guard spots. Having Timberlake as a distributor takes some of the pressure off the Bryant guards but they will be looking for big leaps from newcomers Jakai Robinson and Devean Williams to shore up their backcourt. The Bulldogs will likely be playing with some unorthodox lineups throughout the season due to the fluctuating guard play. If Bryant can find more consistency and perimeter shooting they will push Vermont for the top spot. 

UMass Lowell

    The River Hawks have established themselves as the other consistent, winning program in the America East. Lowell has made three out of the last four title games but has come up short each time. They return a strong core and are once again poised to push for the top spot. Max Brooks, Cam Morris III, Quinton Mincey, and Yuri Covington give the River Hawks an experienced group who know what it takes to win. Mincey in particular is poised to move into a starting role after winning 6th man of the year last season. The loss of Brayden O'Connor and Ayinde Hikim leave Lowell with big question marks at the guard position. Mekhi Gray comes over from NJIT, giving the River Hawks an experienced guard who knows the league well. Lowell will be counting on transfers Quincy Clark and Caleb Murphy to fill out their guard minutes. One of the biggest struggles for Lowell last season was a lack of perimeter shooting. They were one of the lowest volume three point shooting teams in the country and struggled to cash in those limited opportunities. The River Hawks will need to find a spark from the perimeter in order to reach their full potential. 

There is a pretty significant gap in between the top teams and the rest of the league. This next tier of teams could really finish in any order as each are still looking to build programmatic momentum. 

Maine

    Maine has finally found some consistency and continuity in the program, but is still on the outside looking in. They are a strong, physical defensive team led by two time defensive player of the year Kellen Tynes. Returners Jayden Clayton, Quion Burns, and AJ Lopez along with Tynes, give the Black Bears a deep and dynamic backcourt. The frontcourt is full of question marks and Maine is hoping Appalachian State transfer Christopher Mantis will be able to give them good minutes. The biggest hurdle that Maine has had to overcome as they try to reestablish the program is their lack of offense. They have really struggled to score the ball and are one of the other team besides Vermont that continues to play at a slow tempo. The Black Bears are going to have to find more consistent offensive production if they are going to emerge out of the middle pack. 

Albany

    Another year, another Albany team that has added talent through the portal. Dwayne Killings has been able to get talent to join the Great Danes but has struggled to put a cohesive group out on the court. Last season they were able to push the tempo and win games with a frenetic, isolation heavy offense led by Sebastian Thomas. Replacing the departed Thomas will be a tall task for Albany as he almost single-handedly kept them in games last season. The Great Danes were able to retain Amar'e Marshall and he is poised for a big season as the featured offensive option. Joining the team are a strong group of transfers. DeMarr Langford comes over from USF/Boston College to give Albany a tough, physical guard. Kacper Klaczek comes over from St. Josephs and should give Albany a strong frontcourt presence. Justin Neely will attempt a return after two season lost to injury and Sultan Adewale joins the team after spending a season at Iona to try and give the Great Danes a physical post presence they have been lacking the last few seasons. As with the past few seasons, Albany has the talent to emerge from the middle of the pack but they have to prove they can get the pieces to fit together. 

UMBC

    Jim Ferry has brought his high flying offense to the America East over the last few seasons and it has made for some incredibly exciting shootouts. Unfortunately their struggles on the defensive side of the ball have kept the Retrievers from breaking through. Once again they look like an uptempo offensive team who will struggle to get stops at the defensive end. Losing Dion Brown to the portal was a big hit as he did so many things for the Retrievers. Marcus Banks Jr returns to lead the charge as the Retrievers perimeter sniper. Bryce Johnson, Ace Valentine, and Devan Sapp will be looking to make a big jump this season. Regimantas Ciunys showed flashes and will look to give UMBC some frontcourt production. The Retrievers are going to need big seasons from some unlikely sources to keep up with the pack. 

Binghamton

    In the spring Binghamton famously did not have a single player enter the transfer portal. One of the reasons for that is that most of their minutes were lost to graduation. Tymu Chenery and Nehemiah Benson return to lead this group of Bearcats. They will be looking for big jumps from returners Gavin Walsh and Chris Walker to improve their offense. Binghamton was another team in the league that did not take or make very many three pointers last season. The Bearcats will be looking for Stonehill transfer Jackson Benigni to help give them a boost from the perimeter. With the loss of leadership and experience to graduation this group will be looking to establish a new identity.

NJIT

    The Highlanders will be one of the youngest teams in college basketball with 7 freshman and 6 sophomores. They return dynamic talent and freshman of the year Tariq Francis which gives NJIT a nice piece to build around. Last season the Highlanders were able to shock both Vermont and Lowell but their performance outside of those two games was a struggle. It will likely be a similar season for NJIT with a few exciting games but creating consistency with such a young team will be a tall task. 

New Hampshire

    It is almost an entirely new team in Durham and with the graduation of player of the year Clarence Daniels, the Wildcats are looking at a significant rebuild. Trey Woodyard and Rex Sunderland are the one returnees who played significant minutes. University of North Georgia transfer Giancarlo Bastianoni and Temple/Wake Forest transfer Emmanuel Okpomo will get the first crack at frontcourt minutes and JUCO transfer Jawarie Hamelin will look to make an impact. It is nearly impossible to predict where the minutes and production will come from this season. It will likely be a long season for the Wildcats.

Basketball is just around the corner!

Season Ticket Pickup Scrimmage

Finally some basketball!!!

Every year the season ticket holder event kicks off basketball in Patrick Gym. It is always awesome to see the teams for the first time and get pumped for the season. The biggest takeaway from the last few seasons is how the overall intensity and focus of the players in the program has become razor sharp. With the increase in depth, talent, and expectations, these scrimmages have become so intense and competitive. The players are competing with a game level intensity on every play. It is a credit to the coaching staff and how they have continued to move the program forward and how the players continue to buy in to the attention to detail and the championship mentality.

Ileri Ayo-Faleye was great on both sides of the ball and continues to look better and better. He impacts the game in so many different ways. In the scrimmage he showcased the whole repertoire, knocking down threes, throwing down a dunk, blocking shots, and being a leader on the floor. He is really set up to have a special season. Nick Fiorillo looks healthy and continues to make great plays passing from the perimeter. Those two give the Cats quite a versatile frontcourt. The scrimmage gave fans their first look at Shy Odom. He still looks like he is working his way back to 100% but fits in perfectly in the Vermont system. He is a very willing passer and has great court mapping and anticipation when distributing the ball. He has great touch around the rim and is a creative finisher. Odom is a player who does the little things like setting good screens and making smart cuts. He really could be an x-factor for the Cats this season. Sam Alamutu continues to build and expand his game. He looks more confident on the offensive end and is always impressive with his physicality and rebounding. Freshman Sean Blake is lightning in a bottle and is poised to make a big impact during his Catamount career. He is incredibly explosive to the rim and has the athleticism to finish over and through defenders. Minutes are at a premium this season but he has all the tools to be the point guard of the future. Seth Joba has so much offensive versatility and it will be great to see if he can make a leap on the defensive end with a year in the program under his belt. Late addition Gavin Perryman has a nice shooting stroke and looked as though he could provide some depth if called upon. Jace Roquemore brings that steady, do it all, veteran presence that every good team needs. TJ Hurley will be the other x-factor for the Cats as he is going to be tasked with more offensive responsibilities this season. Walk-on Sincere Clemons had some nice moments getting to the rim. Ben Wesson and Drew Bessette struggled a bit with the speed of the game. Noah Barnett, TJ Long, and Shamir Bogues were in street clothes for the scrimmage and Bogues was in a walking boot so that will be something to monitor throughout the pre-season. 

It was great to see some basketball and it was clear even from the shorthanded scrimmage that this team is going to be very tough and physical on the defensive end (no surprise there). They have very good length and versatility on that side of the ball. No easy buckets. The two biggest questions marks going into this season are going to be health and three point shooting. With a few players already sitting out those fears are certainly not squashed. The three point shooting in the scrimmage today was eerily similar to last season as there were long stretches without a make. It will be interesting to see who steps up and takes on that perimeter shooting role for this year's Cats. 

Make sure to get out and catch as many Vermont Women's basketball games as you can this year. They looked great in their scrimmage today and are again going to be a team fighting at the top on the conference. 

So excited for the season!!

Vermont gets their first 2025 commit

With the season just around the corner, Vermont gets a jump start on the future with a commitment from 6'3 guard Momo Nkugwa. He is currently attending The Governors Academy in MA and is the first commitment for the 2025 recruiting class. What jumps out immediately about Nkugwa is his tremendous athleticism. Smooth and shifty getting to the rim before rising up and dunking everything. He has great length and excels getting out in transition. The offensive similarities between Nkugwa and Shamir Bogues are striking. He is also a threat from the perimeter, a strong defender, and plays with a high motor at both ends of the floor. This is a very strong start to the 2025 group. Nkugwa is going to be a fan favorite and will bring excitement to Patrick. He is a highlight waiting to happen (and another lefty!). The versatility that Nkugwa brings to the program is so valuable. With his length and athleticism at he can play multiple positions and gives the Cats a player that can impact the game in so many different ways. The coaching staff continues to identify hard working, high IQ players, who are all in on winning and do the little things to make themselves and their teammates better. The 2025 class will be a big one for Vermont as the pendulum in recruiting swings back in the direction of high school talent and as the Cats graduate several important pieces. The 25-26 group will be a kind of pioneer group in the new landscape of college basketball. I cannot wait for the season ticket event next week to kick off basketball season. So close!

Schedule release!

Wow! It has been forever since there was anything to report on. It seemed like this off-season would never end and now the excitement can ratchet up in earnest with the release of the full schedule. This year's non-conference schedule has some really great games that will give this group opportunities for strong wins. It starts with a bang as Vermont heads down to UAB and Auburn, two perennially strong programs, who will give the Cats a huge test right out of the gates. No rest for Vermont with a Northeast road trip for two tough mid-major matchups with Merrimack and Iona. The Patrick Gym faithful will finally see the Cats at home on November 19th against Buffalo. Then it is off to Mohegan Sun for the Hall of Fame Tip-off tournament against Delaware and Fairfield. I am particularity excited about that tournament as I will be attending. Home for a stretch against Plattsburgh State (DIII) and then regional rivals Northeastern and Brown. Two more difficult road games against mid-major darlings Yale and Colgate.  Miami (OH) comes to town before the final road game against twin state rival Dartmouth. The Cats finish with another home against against Division III Elms College. I love the two games to open down in Alabama and the schedule is chuck full of strong mid-major programs. There are a lot of tough but winnable games. I know that the lower division games are always a controversial topic and this year there will be two. This is an unfortunate trickle down effect of all of the conference realignment and race for TV money. Schedules are being consolidated at the higher levels and many lower levels are sticking with regional games to lower costs. The options for home games are steadily shrinking and schedule releases have pushed later and later as teams hold out in hope of finding something. I am in the camp of just wanting to watch basketball so any game is a good time for me. The conference schedule sets up pretty well for Vermont as well. I love starting the conference season with the tough road games. It really sets the tone for the conference season. Starting with at UNH, at Lowell, and at Bryant is a heck of a measuring stick start to the season. The rest of the schedule has a good balance and the other big week is the Lowell/Bryant home back to back February 20th & 22nd. Time to get excited for the season! It is almost here!

P.S. Vermont has an official visit with F/C Will Goode out of the New Hampton School this weekend so send good vibes. The weather is certainly cooperating!

Vermont rounds out their coaching staff with Braeden Estes

Vermont has filled the director of basketball operations position to round out their coaching staff. Braeden Estes joins the Catamounts after spending the last three seasons at Dartmouth. This is another strong hire for Vermont. During Becker's tenure, he has done a great job hiring assistant coaches and his coaching tree is pretty diverse as Vermont has become a strong jumping off point for a coaching career. The director of basketball operations is a wide ranging job that has been expanded even further for this season as the NCAA now allows more coaches to head out on the recruiting trail. It is rare to fill this position with a candidate who has so much experience. Estes is a local guy growing up just over the border in Lebanon, NH. He was the student manager at UNH for four years before spending a couple of years at South Florida. He has experience in all aspects of the job and it is particularly nice that he already has recruiting and player development experience. Becker is always quick to point out how important his coaching staff is to the success of the Vermont program. Estes looks like a great fit in Catamount country and will further strengthen the Vermont coaching staff.  

Vermont completes their 24-25 roster

Today Vermont filled their last scholarship for the 24-25 season with a commitment from Gavin Perryman, a 6'1" transfer guard from Dallas, TX who has spent the last three seasons at Texas. With the late decommitment from Jayhlon Young it is good to get some veteran experience to fill the spot. Whereas wth Young the coaching staff was most certainly excited about his defensive value, Perryman is a pivot to give the Cats some insurance in the shooting department. Perryman redshirted in the 21-22 season and did not see very much game action over the last few seasons. Vermont will give him an opportunity to prove himself at the Division I level. In high school at Jesuit Dallas Prep, Perryman was an absolute sniper from long distance, shooting 42% over three varsity seasons on a very high volume (228-582) from three (Jesuit Prep actually has high school stats on their website. You can even check out his baseball stats as well!). Going to Texas was a legacy move as his father, Brandy Perryman, was a star shooting guard for the Longhorns in the mid nineties (1994-1998). After graduating in three years from Texas, Perryman has a chance to make an impact with what I would assume is two more years of eligibility. I actually got a chance to see Perryman play during his visit on the first day I went down to camp last week (before he tweaked something and sat out). He is comfortable with the ball in his hands and has a nice stroke from the outside. He is physical, smart, and looked like a good fit. I see him as having a range of outcomes this season and filling the Brenton Mills role. Perryman will bring a veteran presence and push the competition in practice while being able to fill in if needed due to injury or ineffectiveness. A nice job by the Vermont coaching staff filling the last scholarship for this season in a less than ideal situation. This will help take some of the pressure off any of the young players who may have been forced into a role if there were any injury difficulties similar to last season. With the roster fully set fans can now get excited to this season's group of Catamounts in the fall. Can't wait!

Derryk O'Grady gets a promotion

The Cats found their new assistant coach just one chair down the bench as longtime Catamount bench fixture Derryk O'Grady has been promoted. O'Grady steps into the assistant coaching position after 11 seasons on the bench in various roles. What an awesome move for the Cats as O'Grady has been an integral part of the program during its rise. O'Grady has always had a knack for injecting humor and personality into every season. The mic'ed up moments have become a much anticipated tradition and he has done a great job of building positive relationships with players and community members alike. Seemingly able to learn quickly, juggle responsibilities, and excel in whatever role he has been in, I have no doubt he will continue his positive impact as he moves up the bench. It is great to see his hard work and dedication to the Vermont program pay off with this new role. Congratulations for sure!!

Summer scrimmage: Part Two

More summer basketball? Yes please. I had so much fun I decided to head back down and catch another post camp scrimmage. Once again the games were fun to watch and the intensity was up a few notches from the action I saw on Monday. I won't rehash any of the obvious and similar observations like Shamir Bogues is just so awesome, or Nick Fiorillo looks ready for a big year, etc. I got to see Sam Alamutu for the first time this summer as he was not there on Monday. Alamutu showed tremendous flashes last season and continues to look better and better. In the games today he looked smoother and was looking for his offense more. He looks primed to play that "swiss army knife" role where he can do a little bit of everything at any position in the lineup. Seth Joba looked more assertive today, playing through physicality in the post and finishing with either hand. Drew Bessette also played with more grit and played harder after looking a bit tentative and passive on Monday. One thing I will say about Bogues today is that you can see that he has put in some serious work trying to become a more consistent shooter from the perimeter. He made a handful of threes today and if that translates to the regular season, watch out. Once again it is so impressive the amount of talent that Vermont is able to bring in year after year in these changing times. Without the money or luxuries of other programs, they continue to identify players that want to win, work hard, and become the best players they can be. This team has the talent and drive to push for another title and I am already looking forward to the fall.

Summer Scrimmage

Hello all!

I made my yearly trip down to the post Becker basketball camp team scrimmage to get my basketball fix. Today was extra cool because I got to meet the guy behind vermonthoops on instagram and had a fun chat about Catamount basketball. If you haven't already, check him out! Watching the scrimmage was fun as always and anytime there is basketball to be watched I am having a good time. This year was a little different than the last two seasons as Vermont has a strong returning core instead of a slew of new players. That returning core certainly builds a ton of excitement for next season. As far as the returners go, Shamir Bogues looks ready to build on last season's success. So smooth and strong around the rim and that relentless motor running at all times. If he can stay healthy I think he has a player of the year run in him. Nick Fiorillo looked great playing without a knee brace as he too hopes for an injury free season. He was aggressive on the offensive end, knocking down threes and a poster dunk for good measure. He is in a good position to put together a big time senior campaign as the elder statesmen enters his 6th season with the Cats. Ileri Ayo-Faleye looked stronger finishing in and around the rim. TJ Hurley looked healthy and has a shot to make a big leap, particularly with the minutes available after losing Jayhlon Young back to the portal. Jace Roquemore also stands to have a shot at some of those minutes and was aggressive getting to the rim. Sam Alamutu and TJ Long are set to arrive later in the week. Seth Joba has put on some muscle as he looks to make a jump this season. Noah Barnett plays with reckless abandon and had some nice moments working hard on the boards. Newcomer Shy Odom did light work on the side as he works to get healthy. The real gems of the scrimmage were the two freshman Sean Blake and Ben Wesson. Both were extremely impressive and Catamount fans should be very excited about their futures. Wesson was the star this afternoon, shooting the lights out from three and displaying a strong feel for the game. He looked confident and comfortable with the ball in his hands and attacked the rim well off the dribble. Blake is lightning quick and is comfortable finishing creatively and thru contact at the rim. His athleticism really pops and he plays with tremendous poise. They also could be beneficiaries of the Young decommitment as now there are a few more rotational minutes than Vermont originally expected. I had so much fun watching today I will likely go back later in the week to catch another round!

Jayhlon Young decommits from Vermont

Yesterday Memphis transfer Jayhlon Young decided to reopen his recruitment and decommit from Vermont due to personal matters. It is an unfortunate blow to the guard depth at Vermont with only a short time before the players are back on campus for the summer session. Young's defensive prowess was such a good fit for the Cats and I was looking forward to some Bogues/Ileri/Young defensive lineups. I wish Young well and hope that he finds the right fit to complete his basketball career. On the positive side, this is the area of the roster that has the most depth and there are many candidates to push for the vacated minutes. It was unlikely that Vermont was going to escape the portal era unscathed and this is the first time where the rapidly changing landscape has hit the Cats in a negative way. Now it will be interesting to see if/how Vermont decides to fill the open scholarship. With good depth the Cats might be able to be patient and see what is available or they could make a mad dash to fill the spot. I am looking forward to getting a look at the team in a few weeks during the Becker camp week. 

Vermont adds a walk on

Sincere Clemons a 6'2" guard from Ithaca, NY by way of Northfield Mount Hermon announced his commitment to the Catamounts as a walk on. With all of the walk ons from this past season departing to continue their careers elsewhere, there are spots available. These roster spots are such important parts of building team culture and making practices even more competitive. Vermont has always found creative ways to fill these roster spots with guys who are ready to compete. It is a win win for guys who are looking to take their shot at the college game and be a part of winning, and the Vermont program gets players who can help fill in the practice gaps. Clemons is a high IQ, playmaking guard who will be looking to get stronger and give himself a chance at finding a scholarship down the road. Great opportunity to play in a program with a great reputation for player development. 

Vermont rounds out their 2024 recruiting class

Vermont finished their 2024 recruiting cycle with a commitment from 6'4" G Ben Wesson from Charlottesville, VA. Wesson played his high school basketball at Albemarle High School and was named the regional player of the year this past season. He is only 17 years old and was considering a potential prep year to get ready for the college game. Vermont swooped in and offered him the last 2024 slot and he will have a chance to redshirt this season and hit the ground running the following season. The coaching staff has done a great job this cycle adding immediate impact transfers (Jayhlon Young and Shy Odom) and future contributors (Sean Blake, Drew Bessette, and Wesson). Due to their strong veteran rotation, all of the freshman next year will be able to sit for a year and adjust to the college game, giving them a leg up for the 25-26 season when they will have minutes available to potentially add depth to the rotation as redshirt freshman. Freshman across the country are about to have their chance to impact college basketball again as teams get much younger following this season. This feels like a return to the previous era when the Vermont coaching staff always added a combination of freshmen and transfers (when they used to have to sit out) to balance and plan for current and future seasons simultaneously. The Vermont program has had a strong track record with redshirt season development. Now back to Wesson. He is a great fit in the Vermont program. A bit of a late bloomer who has elite shooting potential and playmaking instincts. He plays with a strong motor and has good defensive fundamentals. With a prep year to get stronger and adjust to the college game, he is set up to have an impact early in his career as a shooter. Pick your comparison over the years (Cam Ward, Stef Smith, TJ Hurley, etc.) and Wesson's skill set has often blossomed in the Vermont system.  A plug and play Catamount. Another successful recruiting season with loads of potential and for the first time in a few years, completed in early May so the coaching staff gets a little bit of a break before the summer program. Another exciting season in Catamount country is on tap!

Shy Odom commits to Vermont

Vermont received a commitment from 6'6 F Shy Odom, a native of Roxbury, MA who played two seasons at Howard and has two years of eligibility remaining. This is an absolutely massive add for the Catamounts. Odom had a huge freshman season at Howard where he won MEAC rookie of the year after averaging 10.9 points and 4.6 rebounds and then led the Bison to a NCAA tourney berth, winning the MEAC tourney MVP. In Howard's first round game he finished with 15 points and 8 rebounds against Kansas. This season he was named the MEAC preseason player of the year before struggling a bit while battling injuries. Prior to Howard he played at top tier Sierra Canyon HS with Bronny James and others. The Vermont coaching staff has been scouring the portal looking for a player who can add a post presence to the current roster. Odom fits that role perfectly. He is at his best attacking the rim and using his strength and physicality to finish through contact. Odom can score with his back to the basket or attack off the dribble. He is a strong rebounder who has been particularly effective on the offensive glass. Defensively he is able to wall up opposing players, good shot blocking instincts, and has versatility to guard multiple positions. He also has strong playmaking skills as he averaged 2.4 assists last season. Odom is going to be a dynamic player for Vermont. This is the third season in a row that the Vermont coaching staff has landed a player to put an already strong roster over the top (Dylan Penn, Shamir Bogues, and now Odom). With the addition of Odom, Vermont has the depth and versatility to once again make a championship run and beyond. Odom will provide the physical post presence that Vermont has been looking to add the last few offseasons. With two more seasons he will also provide a great veteran presence when Vermont gets very young following the graduation of all of the COVID year players. One more scholarship to go for Vermont and my guess is that it will be filled with an eye to the future as opposed to an impact for next season. 

Jayhlon Young commits to Vermont

Vermont begins their portal season with a commitment from 6-2 guard Jayhlon Young from Dallas, TX. Young has gone from Grambling State (Redshirt) to Baton Rouge Community College to UCF to Memphis and is ready to spend his final year in Catamount country. His calling card is his strong defensive ability and is going to be a great fit for Vermont. Young had a very strong career at Baton Rouge CC, starting all 25 games his sophomore year and averaging 15.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. After that season he transferred to UCF and had a good season for the Knights, first as their starting point guard, and then as the backup. Young then played last season at Memphis in a similar role. His on and off ball defense have drawn praise throughout his career (the analytics agree with the eye test) and he plays with a high motor and relentless energy. Offensively he is a solid shooter who likes to get out in transition and has shown good playmaking ability from the point guard position. He will be looking to get that offensive efficiency bump that the Vermont program has been so good at fostering. A lineup featuring Shamir Bogues, Ileri Ayo-Faleye, and Young will be a nightmare for opponents. Young and Bogues will give Vermont the ability to harass opposing guards for a full 40 minutes night in and night out. Last season really demonstrated the importance of having strong depth with Bogues, TJ Hurley, and Matt Veretto all missing chunks of time. Adding Young to an already strong group of guards will once again give the Cats the versatility that was crucial to their success this season. Another tremendous job by the coaching staff finding an under the radar player that fits their style and system so well. I expect Young to make a big impact and bring energy and excitement to Patrick next season. 

P.S. Young is also a lefty so Vermont will continue to have the most lefty heavy team ever. 

Vermont falls in the WNIT semifinal

St. Louis 57 Vermont 54

St. Louis came out in the second half and shot the lights out while the Cats offense never quite found a rhythm and Vermont came up short in the WNIT semifinal. What a magical and inspirational run. Patrick Gym was packed and rocking from the opening tip. The game didn't go Vermont's way but what a great send off for Emma Utterback and Delaney Richason. Personally I can't thank Emma and Delaney enough for how they have inspired young Vermonters around the state with their incredible careers on and off the court. Big shout out to Bella Vito with another double double and playing with reckless abandon. What an amazing place for Vermont to be, with both basketball programs playing at such a high level. I feel lucky every time I walk into Patrick gym because I know I am going to see a great basketball game. What a wonderful winter of basketball for the Cats. 

Chris Santo departs for a head coaching gig

It was announced today that Vermont assistant coach Chris Santo has accepted the head men's basketball coaching position at Saint Anselm. What an awesome opportunity for Santo to head back to his alma mater and take the reins of the program. Santo went a perfect 3 for 3 during his time on the bench as an integral part of the three-peat. Congratulations to him and the best of luck! Vermont has done a tremendous job of seamlessly moving from one assistant to another during Becker's tenure. It is always interesting to see what direction they go in as far as area of expertise or regional connections. One of the things that has contributed to the consistency of Vermont's success is building a great staff that Becker can rely on. Several of the assistants that have left have been able to springboard from Vermont to a higher level position. Just like the winning culture is attractive to prospective student athletes, it is equally attractive for those looking to further their coaching career. 

Vermont charges to the WNIT final four

Vermont 67 Purdue 59

The Cats are still dancin'

The Vermont women's team exploded in the second half and punched their ticket to the WNIT Fab Four. That was the best game I have seen this group play during this incredible three year run of success. This team and this group have been so fun to watch and they have inspired my daughters to fall in love with basketball. What a testament to Coach Kresge and the players to resurrect the program. This win was such a great team win, Everything clicked in the second half. In the first half, the nerves were real and play was choppy. Vermont's tops in the nation defense kept them in the game while the offense was disjointed. Purdue was winning the battle on the boards and forcing Vermont to take tough shots. Then the Cats came out in the second half and put on a clinic. They started to smother Purdue on defense and turned the tide in the battle on the boards. Shots began to fall and pretty soon Vermont was cutting up the Purdue defense with precision passing and clutch shotmaking. A perfect 12-12 effort from the line sealed the deal and the Cats are off to their first WNIT Fab Four. 

The leader, as she has been throughout her career was Emma Utterback. She overcame a jittery first half with an amazing second. Electric in the open floor, knifing through the defense to the rim, and finding teammates for easy buckets. Utterback finished with 20 points and 6 assists in a huge performance. Keira Hanson's emergence this season has been fun to watch. At the beginning of the season, the Cats were looking for someone to step up and fill the void left by Catherine Gilwee's injury. Hanson has just blossomed into Vermont's best shotmaker and fuels so many runs with her creative shotmaking. She finished with 17 points (3-4 from three) and 5 rebounds. Bella Vito is so often the unsung hero of this team. Quietly doing a bit of everything to help the team win. Tonight she was absolutely dominant scoring 14 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and grabbing 3 steals while playing a team high 39 minutes. So many great plays from her in this game. Anna Olson came up big with 14 points and 5 rebounds while playing great defense on the inside. Delaney Richason didn't have a big box score game but she showed off her number two all time in career blocked shots ability with 2 huge blocks and other big time defensive stops. 

What an incredible run and a amazing moment for Utterback and Richason to go back to their home state and pick up a huge win. I cannot wait for the next one. Bring on St. Louis!!