Vermont at Princeton 12/30/25

Princeton 75 Vermont 69 OT

In another exciting and close game Vermont came up short in overtime, falling to Princeton to close out 2025. It was a fitting way to end the non-conference schedule as Vermont was one or two plays away from winning or losing at the end of just about every game so far this season. The game had conference schedule vibes with it being the second match-up of the season between the two teams. Princeton came out red hot to start and through the first 3/4ths on the game, remained in control. The Cats defense then kicked into gear and they fought their way back to send the game into overtime. The Vermont offense stalled out in OT and Princeton emerged victorious. The non-conference was largely successful, with Vermont getting tested regularly and playing in just about every game situation. After a long layoff and being down double digits in the second half, it would have been easy to mail it in and get ready for conference play. Vermont really dug deep and made big plays to force the game into overtime. This team still has areas for improvement, but I would say is about as prepared for conference play as they could hope for. 

TJ Long finally had his breakout game after struggling for the last month. Long finished with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 steals in a strong all around performance. He knocked down 6/12 from three and was very tough on the defensive end. Gus Yalden finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists before leaving with an injury. Hopefully it is nothing serious (cramps or calf injury) because he is a crucial piece to the offense. It is not a coincidence that the offense struggled without him in OT. TJ Hurley struggled to get going in this one, finishing with 10 points and 5 rebounds. It feels like the offense is due to fire on all cylinders at some point soon. Sean Blake struggle to find driving lanes and finished with 7 points and 4 rebounds. Lucas Mari had his best game since returning from injury, finishing with 6 points and 6 rebounds in 35 minutes. He made a couple crucial errors down the stretch but was much more engaged on both ends of the floor. 

Now the real season begins. The Cats open at New Hampshire on Saturday which Cats fans know is always a tough road game no matter what. How Vermont shows in up in that game will go a long way in setting the tone for the conference season. See you all in 2026!!

Vermont vs Iona 12/20/25

Iona 83 Vermont 78

In another exciting game, Iona used a monster second half from Toby Harris to race past Vermont and pick up the victory. Harris was awesome in the second half, reading and reacting to the defense and scoring at all levels. In the first half, it was nip and tuck early before Iona pulled ahead midway through. Then Vermont went on a huge run and went into half up four. Vermont was able to extend the lead before Iona made good adjustments on both sides of the ball. The Gaels went to a zone defense which slowed down the Cats offense and on offense they found success running Harris off screens and creating mismatches. Vermont had several possessions with good looks to keep the pressure on Iona but went cold at the wrong time. The Gaels made plays and executed to pull out the win. It is too bad the end result looks like another not so great defensive effort from the Cats becasue there were lots of moments of really tough, physical defensive stands throughout the game. They just couldn't quite sustain it for the full forty minutes. The perimeter shooting has taken a bit of a hit as the Cats have struggled to knock down their open looks consistently over the last few games. Some of this is likely the increased defensive effort as the energy expended has ratcheted up. The biggest issue on defense for the Cats is with no rim protector, there is a lot of pressure on the perimeter defenders to keep their man in front of them. I don't usually mention the referees as bad calls and good calls are part of the game, but the crew yesterday got caught up in the energy and emotion from the benches and the players and influenced the game more than they should have. 

Gus Yalden led the Cats again with 24 points and 7 rebounds while providing energy and excitement. He can shift the momentum so quickly and opens up the whole Catamount offense when he is hot. He forced a few possession in the second half but that is more evidence of how despite his success so far, he has room to get even better. Yalden is still a young player learning when to go and when to defer. I can't wait to see him in America East play. TJ Hurley finished with 16 points and 9 rebounds and made tough shots throughout. It wasn't his most efficient game but as I said he is bearing a much more significant defensive load than he has in previous seasons. Sean Blake had another strong game that included some incredible finishes at the rim. He stuffed the stat sheet once again with 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. He has grown into the floor general of this team over the last month. TJ Long remained in his shooting slump and missed several shots down the stretch he normally makes. He finished with 6 points and 4 rebounds on 2-11 shooting and doesn't have the same confidence and swagger that he has shown during his Catamount career. His defense was incredible throughout and again the demands on that end are having an effect. He is due for a hot streak. Ben Johnson chipped in 5 points and although his defense still has a ways to go, his effort and physicality have steadily improved. Teams really try to attack him when he is on the court. Trey Woodyard made his Catamount debut and scored his first points. With David Simon's injury sounding like weeks not days, Woodyard has a chance to make an impact if healthy. He has positional versatility and gives the Cats more veteran experience in the rotation as a 5th year player. Ben Michaels too has a chance to step up with Simon out. Lucas Mari has struggled to get back into the flow of the game after his multi game absence.

One more game to go in the non-conference with the rematch with Princeton on the 30th. A nice well deserved holiday break for the Cats after grinding out a tough first half of the season. The non-conference can be viewed as a success as they steadily improved, found defined roles on the team, and are forming a cohesive identity. As is said every year, you want to be playing your best basketball come March and this team has felt right on track for that goal. They were able to grind out wins and gain experience in every different type of game while still learning about themselves as a team. Can't wait to see how this group continues to progress. Happy Holidays to all!!

Vermont vs Siena 12/17/25

Vermont 83 Siena 69

In their most complete game of the season, Vermont dominated from start to finish, taking down Siena at home. It really was a complete all around effort form the tip. In the first half the energy was high and the Cats were getting all the 50/50 balls and the hustle plays. Instead of flashy huge runs, it was a methodical effort to build a big lead headed into the locker room. The Cats came out the same way in the second half, stretching it to a 23 point lead. Siena chipped away and made a charge but Vermont never let it get within single digits. The big story over the last few games has been the improvement on the defensive end. The hands are getting more active, the communication a little better, and the energy a little higher. It is great to see the chemistry and buy in start to take shape. The offense has been well balanced and the benefit of having a post game is creating great offensive flow and allowing Vermont to grind out tough buckets. 

Gus Yalden was phenomenal in his best game in a Catamount uniform. Particularly in the first half when he scored 19 of his career high 29 points. He finished 10-15 from the floor including 3-5 from distance in only 24 minutes. His efficiency is off the charts and he is such a luxury to have when the Cats need a bucket. Guarding him one on one is a risky proposition for opposing defenses. Speaking of defense, Yalden was much improved on that end in this game as well, getting his hands on the ball and moving more efficiently in rotations. Fun to watch. Sean Blake continued his rapid rise with another dynamic performance. Blake is looking so decisive and confident with his decision making. He finished with 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. The rebounding this season has been particularly impressive as he is just pursuing the ball at such a high rate.  TJ Hurley chipped in 13 points in a team high 33 minutes. Noah Barnett stayed hot with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He is showing improvement on offense and is benefiting form the improved chemistry as teammates are finding him in good spots. TJ Long continues to get the lock-down defensive treatment from opposing teams but he found other ways to contribute with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and was quite disruptive on the defensive end. Ben Johnson led the bench crew with 5 points and 3 assists in 20 minutes. Lucas Mari had a bit of an uneven showing but finished with 4 points and 3 assists. He flashed his potential once again with some beautiful assists and a big dunk. 

This was a huge win over a team that had won 7 in a row and was playing very well to start the season. The Cats have great momentum going into another tough matchup against Iona on Saturday. Can't wait!

Vermont vs Merrimack 12/14/25

Vermont 66 Merrimack 59

Vermont led wire to wire in a full 40 minute team effort. Merrimack always presents a unique challenge as a team that plays a style that is unique only to them. Their wild, frantic zone turns teams over and prevents threes at a high rate. Prepping to play them is unlike any other game prep throughout the season. The Cats did an incredible job remaining patient and finished with only 7 turnovers, despite constant full court ball pressure. The defense has really started to turn a corner with better coverage on screens and a more concerted effort at staying connected. In the first half the Cats were able to get great dribble penetration and it resulted in efficient shots at the rim. Merrimack made a defensive adjustment at halftime and it contained the dribble penetration but Vermont was able to continue to generate shots at the rim. The depth is really showing through as it feels like a new player steps up with a new career high every game. This is allowing Vermont to play the match ups and overcome down games from their leaders. 

Noah Barnett was the man in this one, scoring a career high 16 points to go along with 5 rebounds. He always plays with such a high motor and his hard work really paid off this afternoon. It also included an 8-10 effort from the line and what a luxury it is to have a big man who is so solid from the line. Sean Blake was dynamic once again finishing with 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists. He also committed only 2 turnovers in a spectacular game against the tough Merrimack pressure. He really sliced up the defense in the first half and is improving so rapidly. TJ Long went from having a very difficult game where nothing was falling, to scoring the last 10 Catamount points to seal the win. Long finished with 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. He is just so good at stepping up when needed. Gus Yalden fouled out but finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds in only 16 minutes. His per minute efficiency continues to be incredible. Congratulations to Ben Johnson, who passed one thousand points for his career. Johnson finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 26 minutes off the bench. He continues to provide incredibly solid, veteran minutes off the bench. Lucas Mari returned but struggled with the Merrimack zone. TJ Hurley struggled through a tough physical game on both sides of the ball and finished with 5 points. 

Now Vermont welcomes two very tough teams in Siena and Iona to Patrick. Both of those games will be challenging matchups and the Cats will be tested yet again. I will miss Wednesday's games but hope to be able to watch it after the fact. 

SIMON SAYS WIN!!!!

Vermont 65 Pepperdine 56

Vermont used a strong second half on both sides of the ball to grind out a big road win in their first ever meeting with Pepperdine. The first half was a tough watch. Both teams struggling to make shots and lots of turnovers and sloppy play. The Cats survived and were able to enter halftime down just two. Then as the second half began, it felt like each team was waiting for a breakout, with neither team scoring for the first two and a half minutes. It took a whole 4 minutes for Vermont to score but after the first shot fell, the floodgates were open. The Cats made a three on three straight possessions and then continued the onslaught with three more to finish with six second half triples. The Cats defense held strong down the stretch and they came away with a hard fought road win. Cats fans were treated to the old rock fight, defensive grinder that they know and love from the Becker era. Like a warm blanket. The ball movement and passing in the second half was what really turned the game around and Vermont finished with 17 assists on 24 made field goals. Vermont showed a lot of guts bouncing back from the tough first half. This was a really important win to give the Cats a boost of confidence going into the upcoming three game homestand. 

This game was all about the David Simon breakout. What a performance from an unexpected source. He must have felt the vibes in his return to the west coast. After playing an effective 21 minutes on Wednesday, Simon exploded for 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, a block, a steal, and two threes in 23 minutes. You name it, he did it. His length allowed the Cats to change their screen coverage in the second half and was a big reason why they were able get more stops. TJ Hurley matched Simon with 18 points of his own, including 4/8 from three. Hurley also chipped in 4 rebounds and 4 assists in a strong all around game. Sean Blake rounded out the Canadian attack with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. That's 44 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists combined from across the border. Pretty nice, eh? Blake struggled mightily in the first half but was dynamic down the stretch. The turnovers are a concern but ultimately the Cats really miss Lucas Mari's playmaking and point guard play to take the pressure off Blake. TJ Long made it three whole halves without scoring before breaking the ice for the Cats in the second half and finishing with 9 points on 3/8 shooting from three. He is in a bit of a slump and I bet is looking forward to the friendly confines of Patrick. Gus Yalden struggled with the double teams from Pepperdine and his struggles in screen action opened the door for the Simon breakout. He finished with 7 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists and was part of a perfectly executed offense/defense switch by Becker, converting a big three point play in crunch time. Ben Johnson now sits 3 points away from 1,000 for his career. 

The Cats get a well deserved week off before a three game homestand as they prepare for Merrimack next Sunday. 

Vermont at Oregon State 12/3/25

Oregon State 80 Vermont 58

Vermont opened their west coast swing with a clunker against Oregon State. The Cats started slow and couldn't dig themselves out of an early hole. Oregon State shot the lights out from three and for the first time this season the Cats offense couldn't keep pace. The length of Oregon State really bothered the Cats. Lots of pass deflections and the Beavers finished with 8 blocked shots. Vermont struggled to establish the low post or the drive and kick game and as a result were forced into many tough shots. 

Gus Yalden led the Cats with 16 points, He struggled in the first half but was able to bounce back and have a nice second half. Ben Johnson came off the bench and made 4/6 from three to finish as the other Catamount in double figures with 12 points. That leaves him 5 points short of 1,000 for his career. Noah Barnett finished with 4 points and 7 rebounds in a physical effort underneath. David Simon got his first extended minutes in a while and looked good offensively, scoring 6 points to go along with 3 rebounds. Jackson Skipper chipped in 7 points off the bench. Sean Blake struggled to finish over the Beavers length, finishing 3-10 from the floor. That was the big story of the night for the Cats, as the starting guards never got going. TJ Hurley finished with 4 points on 1-8 shooting and TJ Long put up a goose egg on 0-4 shooting. Pretty tough to win games when two of your top scorers make one combined shot from the field. I thought the Cats really missed Lucas Mari's size in this one. 

No time to dwell with another tough matchup against Pepperdine on Saturday. With some home games on the horizon, Saturday is an opportunity to regroup and try to build some momentum for the homestand. 

Vermont vs Yale 11/30/25

Yale 77 Vermont 74

In another exciting back and forth college basketball game, Vermont came up just short against Yale. I know it would be nice to have won a few more but to be one or two plays away against 8-0 Buffalo, 6-2 Liberty, and 7-1 Yale during a stretch where the team is still finding itself points to a breakthrough at some point. This game continued the trend of the Cats digging deep and not letting a game get away from them as they battled back from a 10 point deficit in the second half. Three straight Yale offensive possessions at the end of the game had the ball hanging in excruciating fashion on the rim before falling for the visitors. Sometimes they don't roll your way. Yale was the best three point shooting team in the country going into the game today and Vermont did a great job limiting those perimeter opportunities. Defensively they still need to figure out how to improve their paint defense as teams are relentlessly attacking them at the rim, but they made some strides and even got a big stop before a questionable final play call that Becker took responsibility for at the end of the game. Vermont having a post presence to dump it into on offense is really opening up that end of the court and there is a lot to like about just how efficient this offense can become this season. 

Gus Yalden led the Cats once again, scoring 22 points to go along with 7 rebounds in a team high 32 minutes. He continues to be the hub of the Catamount offense, either scoring underneath, playing the pick and pop, or kicking out to open shooters. He looks better and better each game. Congratulations to TJ Hurley for surpassing 1,000 points. In the age of the transfer portal, Hurley is a throwback to the four year player, developing and growing within one program. Incredible accomplishment. Hurley finished with 19 points and looked much better following a bought with the flu in Florida. TJ Long came off the bench due to disciplinary reasons but finished with 18 points, including some highlight level shotmaking. Sean Blake was the other Catamount in double figures with 10 points and chipped in 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. He is really growing into his role in the offense and it feels like he is on the verge of a breakout game. He did finish with 5 turnovers, the last one being costly, but he had more of a playmaking burden with Lucas Mari in street clothes. Momo Nkugwa continues impress on the boards finishing with another 4 rebounds and he also played a little point guard this afternoon. 

Nothing easy for these Cats as they continue to face challenge after challenge early this season. A west coast swing for two tough games before the schedule finally calms down and gives the Cats a chance to take a breath. 

ESPN Invitational: Vermont vs Princeton

Vermont 79 Princeton 74

GusBus turbo charged!!

In a roller-coaster of a game, Vermont went on an 8-0 run down the stretch to pull out a much needed win. It is hard not to overstate how important of a win this was for the Cats. After looking like a well oiled machine in the first half, Vermont disappeared and blew a 23 point lead. They needed to find a way or it would have been quite a demoralizing trip north. In the first half, the ball was flying around on offense and the Cats built a big lead. They finally had both sides of the ball working and were really hustling, diving for loose balls and looking good on the boards. Then all of sudden, Vermont was completely deflated and Princeton could not be stopped. All of the struggles the Cats have had on defense manifested at the same time and things looked grim. Then the Cats did just enough to pull out the win in the end. Vermont sure learned a lot about themselves on this trip and they responded just enough in this one. It is definitely taking some getting used to seeing a Vermont team where the offense is the side of the ball coming up with plays to win games. 

Gus Yalden was an absolute force on the offensive end, finishing with a career high 27 points on 11-14 shooting (in only 22 minutes). He hit the game tying three and then the go ahead bucket on back to back possessions to rescue the Cats. He showcased his inside outside game and beautiful touch around the basket. The coaching staff is in an interesting position as Yalden is so key to the offense but much of the run that Princeton went on to get back into the game was putting Yalden in all the screen actions and taking advantage of his defensive limitations. That will be an interesting battle for Yalden during the season. In this one, the offense won out and he was fabulous getting Vermont buckets when they needed them. TJ Long chipped in 17 points and 8 rebounds. He did a nice job picking his spots and taking what the defense gave him. Sean Blake earned the start as the Cats went with the smaller lineup to get more scoring punch and Blake continued his stat stuffing start to this season. Blake finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. TJ Hurley battled the flu all week and finished with 7 points. Every Catamount that played scored in an all around team effort. Jackson Skipper scored two big buckets when the offense was struggling and Momo Nkugwa continued an impressive tournament with 4 points and 5 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.

Now Vermont is home for a tough game against Yale before another big road trip to the west coast. If nothing else the games this season sure have been full of excitement! I am going to miss the game on Sunday but will try to watch it later in the evening and get a post out. Until then have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

ESPN Tournament: Vermont vs Rhode Island

Rhode Island 80 Vermont 65

That one’s on me. Blogger jinx. 

After praising the Cats ability to not let games get away from them….they let one get away from them. Rhode Island came out in the second half and switched to a scramble, trapping defense that overwhelmed Vermont and changed the complexion of the game. The Cats were back on their heels and never really recovered, getting out-worked in the second half. They particularly struggled with the Rams physicality on the boards, getting absolutely dominated in the trenches in the second half. Going in, the chief concern was Rhode Island getting to the line and that played out in that exact fashion. The Rams made more free throws (26) than the Cats attempted (23). These three games in three days tourneys push teams to their limit and will test their mental fortitude. There was definitely some frustration and exasperation in this one. Tomorrow’s game will say a lot about how this team is going to handle this difficult stretch of games.

With the GusBus parked in the second half, and Becker trying to find a combination that had the gusto to compete with the Rams physicality, the bench got a lot of run. TJ Long led the Cats with 13 points but struggled to get much going against the relentless Rhode Island defense. Ben Johnson was the other Catamount in double figures with 11. Ben Michaels finally got some extended time in the second half and chipped in 9 points and 4 rebounds. It was good to see him get some positive minutes. Momo Nkugwa played well again, grabbing 5 rebounds in 22 minutes. Noah Barnett battled hard with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Gus Yalden and Lucas Mari struggled with the frenetic defense early in the second half and did not play much afterword. 

This is the first real dig deep moment of the season and it will be interesting to see how the Cats respond. No gimmies during this stretch and this game was incredibly physical so it will be a good test to see who has something left in the tank tomorrow.  

ESPN Tournament: Vermont vs Liberty

Liberty 79 Vermont 73

Hello from sunny Florida!!

I am writing this up on my phone while exploring Disney Springs! In another very exciting game the Cats fell short to the Liberty Flames. The script was similar to most games so far this year. Slow start followed by keeping it close and then a much improved second half. Liberty was as good as advertised and used an ultra efficient offense to keep Vermont at arms length. I thought Vermont played well and the defense made some incremental improvements. I continue to be impressed by the grit and fight this team has displayed this season to not let games get away from them and they are consistently responding to runs from the other teams with runs of their own. This stretch of games coming up is going to be very tough and they may take their lumps. This will be the most difficult few weeks of the season. As long as they can keep their mentality intact and focus on the ultimate goal, there will be a big payoff at the end of the season.

TJ Long bounced back from a very tough game at Buffalo and led the Cats with 19 points and added 5 rebounds. His shot wasn’t falling but he found other ways to score. Gus Yalden added 17 points in only 19 minutes as the coaching staff tried some offense/defense switching with Yalden in a tough spot defensively against a guard heavy Liberty team. His growth throughout the season will have a huge impact on the ceiling for the Cats. Lucas Mari finished with his first career double double, contributing 10 points and 11 rebounds. Mari, like Yalden, has so much room to grow within the Vermont system and has already improved significantly. His ceiling is sky high. Momo Nkugwa earned 27 minutes on the back of his tough perimeter defense and continues to impress as a true freshman. TJ Hurley, as always, chipped in a businesslike 15 points as he closes in on 1,000 career points. Sean Blake found little room to work on the offensive end but finished with 4 rebounds and 5 assists as he is finding ways to impact the game beyond scoring.

The early season this year is certainly quite process focused with an eye toward the future, and I think Vermont keeps taking steps in the right direction despite a few tough results. Each game this season has had moments where Vermont was teetering on the edge of letting a game get away from them and has battled hard to stay within striking distance. That is a good sign as they continue to build toward the conference season. Can’t wait for the game tomorrow! In the meantime, fun in the sun!

P.S. Ken Griffey Jr. was in the crowd! Pretty cool!

Vermont at Buffalo 11/18/25

Buffalo 94 Vermont 90

In a high flying and exciting game, Buffalo used a red hot second half to hand Vermont their first loss of the season. Daniel Freitag took over in the second half and led the Bulls to victory with 33 points. Boy these games have been fun to watch to start the season. The Cats came out on the wrong end this time but it was another game where there is a lot to be excited about. The shooting is very real. In a game where TJ Long struggled mightily the Cats still knocked down 12 threes and shot 55% from the field. This offense is very versatile and the spacing has finally opened up to give players driving lanes. The passing on this team is at a very high level. Multiple play-makers on the floor at most times and today 23 assists on 30 made baskets. The better spacing is creating more ball movement, which in turn is creating great looks at the basket and from three. After a few seasons of struggling to stay in games offensively, it will be nice to have the reverse experience. Which brings the discussion around to the defense. Buffalo did a great job exploiting the Cats defense and there is obviously room to grow on that side of the ball. The rotations are not quite there and this year they lack a rim protector to erase shots when guards get beat on the perimeter. This has left players out of position and as a result Vermont is fouling too much. It allowed Buffalo to hang around in the first half and down the stretch they couldn't quite get the stop when they needed it. I will take this offense any day and trust that the defense will pick up as the year goes on. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Always makes the right play and never tries to do too much. Sean Blake was electric again, finishing with another new career high of 20 points and 8 assists on 9-12 shooing. His improved shooting is forcing defenders to close him out and the extra spacing is giving him room to work. The breakout is on. Gus Yalden chipped in 17 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Once again he showed great versatility and the ability to play from the block or the perimeter. He was exposed several times on defense and will need to lock in on the defensive rotations. Lucas Mari finished with 8 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. He knocked down another couple of threes and continues to make progress in getting comfortable int he system. Noah Barnett is providing good physicality in the post and finished with 7 points and 5 rebounds. Teams have been throwing lots of attention toward Long after his explosive game against Brown and he finished 1-6 from the field for 4 points. The pendulum is probably going to swing back and forth as teams try to figure out which player on Vermont they want to stop. 

A tough hard fought loss on the road between two hot teams to start the season. The quality of basketball has been high so far and it is only going to continue as the Cats travel down to Disney for a very tough tournament. The field down at the ESPN Wide World of Sports is absolutely loaded and Vermont starts off with Liberty, who might be the best mid major team in the country. In exciting news, the family and I will be there! We decided to go down for a little Disney vacation and watch some basketball. Fun in the sun, here we come!

Vermont at Northeastern 11/15/25

Vermont 85 Northeastern 74

All aboard the Gus Bus!

Vermont used another explosive second half to pick the win in the final game at historic Matthews Arena. In an eerily similar game script to Brown, Vermont came out slow and struggled to get their offense going. Once again the defense kept them in the game while they ground through the first half, going into the break down three. A slow start out of the gates in the second half until the Cats offense started to flow and they went on a 21-3 run to take over the game. Besides a little bit more "hold the lead" drama at the end, the Cats were able to close out a tough road win. Picking up another road win while tinkering with lineups and building chemistry was really impressive. The second half turnarounds are a credit to the coaching staff and the players for making adjustments and executing a plan of attack. Even thought the personnel was different this time, the second half adjustment was the same: put more shooters on the floor and spread out the defense with good ball movement. The offensive flow in the second half was tremendous and Vermont finished 13-23 (57%)  from three, largely because of great open looks off kick outs. This game was all about the bench with the subs outscoring the starters 46-39. The depth started to show through in this game with contributions up and down the lineup. 

Gus Yalden made his Catamount debut and changed the entire dynamic of the Catamount offense. He drew tons of defensive attention on the low block and passed out of the double team very effectively. The Cats also used him as an offensive hub out of the high post, where he found backdoor cutters. The Cats finally got the back to the basket scoring dimension they have been looking for. Yalden finished with a career high 18 points and also had 5 rebounds and 5 assists. He is full of emotion and intensity and completely took over the game in the second half with his scoring and passing. Absolute game changer for Vermont. Sean Blake continued his strong start to the season, scoring a career high 16 points, including 3-5 from three. He is learning how to dial the speed up and down while running the offense. Every part of Blake's game looks like it is taking a step up this year and it is a testament to his hard work in the offseason. Jackson Skipper played some more point guard in this one and continued his hot shooting to start the year, going 3-3 from deep for his 9 points. The TJs were hounded by the defense all afternoon, but fought through it to finish with 14 (Hurley) and 12 (Long) points. Both continue to play really strong physical defense. Ben Johnson has provided very solid minutes for the Cats, making the right play and knocking down shots when he is called upon.  

The excitement continues to build as Vermont has flashed some serious potential over these last couple games. A long road trip ahead to Buffalo on Tuesday before heading down to Disney for Thanksgiving. 

TJ LEGEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vermont 89 Brown 84 Double OT

College basketball is the best. What an incredible game. Part of me wanted to write this post in all caps because I am so full of adrenaline. 

TJ Long went full legend mode after halftime scoring 34 of his career high 40 points after the break. On top of that he pulled down a career high 13 rebounds in an all time Catamount performance. Just insane. Lets recap. 

The Cats started the game stuck in the mud, struggling to make shots on offense while Brown started the game hot from three. The defense did just enough and the Cats were strong on the boards, keeping the game within reach going into halftime. Coming out of halftime, things were looking bleak. Vermont continued to struggle from the field and Brown kept the lead hovering around double digits. Then with about ten minutes to go in regulation, the TJ Long shot making bonanza began. He scored 17 points over the next 6 minutes, putting Vermont up 12 with 4:30 left. Then Brown came roaring back, flying around on defense and making big time shots. With the game tied, Becker called a questionable time out before the Long missed a corner three and the game went to OT. In the first overtime, the shot-making was off the charts. Each team answered every call and back and forth it went. With the Cats down two, Long let the potential game winner fly, no good, off the rim. Noah Barnett grabbed the rebound and was blocked on his putback attempt. Ball out of bounds to the Cats with .6 seconds left. With the whole gym looking at Long, the coaching staff drew up a great play to get TJ Hurley at the rim with a scoop shot to tie the game and send it to a second overtime. In the second overtime, legs started to shake and for the first two minutes, no buckets either way. Then......who else. Long put the Cats on his back, this time with relentless drives to the rim, finishing every which way to give the Cats the lead. Hurley finished the game off at the free throw line, blood pouring into the gauze in his nose. The TJ's scored every point from two minutes left in the first OT until the end. The last 17 Catamount points. Absolutely incredible performance. 

Long was all over the game from the start. Even though his shot wasn't falling in the first half, he affected the game with his rebounding and defense (3 steals), all the while lying in wait until his offensive explosion. He did all of this while playing 45 minutes to lead the Cats. A monster all around performance. TJ Hurley battled through a bloody nose with tough physical defense and finished with 18 points. The game tying shot was a thing of beauty and perfectly executed. Ben Johnson wins the unsung hero award with 9 points in 31 minutes, taking over after Sean Blake fouled out. He spent most of that time guarding Brown's 6'10" forward as the Cats small lineup was giving the Bears fits. Lucas Mari also gets a beyond the box score award for playing 40 minutes, calmly running the offense, and holding his own on the defensive end. Noah Barnett was tremendous as the lone post player for much of the second half, scoring 10 points and pulling down 6 rebounds before fouling out. Before Blake fouled out, he was having a nice floor game with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. David Simon used his length all over the court after Barnett fouled out, disrupting the Bears offense in the second OT. Jackson Skipper hit a huge three from the corner to give the Cats their first lead of the game.

An incredible performance that showcased some serious heart from the Catamounts. Now a week to rest up before heading down to play old rival Northeastern on Saturday. Again, what an electric game!

Something in the water

Vermont 113 Plattsburgh 62

Apparently the lids are off at Patrick over the last two days. 

After the Vermont women's team scored 137 points last night, the Vermont men came out and scored 113 of their own. Epic back to back nights of shotmaking in Patrick. In the early going, it looked like the struggles were going to continue for the Cats. More missed defensive assignments and miscommunications. I don't know who gave the halftime speech but kudos to them because the Cats came out an entirely different team in the second half. Engaged on both ends, playing connected, and getting out into the open floor. Vermont exploded for 69 second half points and everyone who was dressed got in on the action. The Cats definitely exorcised some of the early season demons and it was great to see the players having fun playing basketball. With the slightly extended "exhibition" season finished, Vermont couldn't have picked a better time to find a little energy, chemistry, and excitement. 

Lucas Mari got his first career start and stuffed the stat sheet with 16 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals. His performance included an electrifying 4/5 shooting from three. He was able to get out and run in the open floor where he is most comfortable. He loves slinging passes to open shooters and plays with tremendous energy. The coaching staff even got to experiment with Mari at the four and playing him and Sean Blake at the same time. The sky is the limit as he continues his adjustment to the program. Tonight was validation for my initial "Lightning & Thunder" Blake & Mari dynamic point guard duo (although Blake did bring the thunder with a huge dunk to close the first half). Blake came off the bench and stuffed the stat sheet as well with 11 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. He also did a great job finding cutters and getting good looks for his teammates., His free throw shooting also looks much improved. The TJs did their thing, making tough shots look easy and getting physical on defense. Long led the Cats with 18 points and Hurley finished with 13. Noah Barnett and Momo Nkugwa chipped in 9 points apiece. Ben Michaels looked the most inspired after the halftime speech, shaking off a sluggish first half to finish with 4 points and 6 rebounds. He was far more engaged and energetic in the second half. Drew Bessette and Ben Wesson scored their first ever Catamount points and Wesson exploded for a crazy 13 points in only 6 minutes of action.

A great way to go into the weekend and get ready for Brown on Sunday. They are going to have to replace the nets at Patrick after these last two games!

Season Opener

Vermont 75 Western New England 68

The Cats held off a pesky Western New England squad and opened their season with a win. It was another mixed bag with stretches of good play and tough stretches playing through mistakes. In the first half, the Golden Bears came out firing and took an early lead thanks to strong three point shooting. The Cats responded with some shooting of their own and took a ten point lead into the half. In the second half. The Cats were locked in for a stretch and began to expand the lead. Late in the game the physicality got a bit out of hand and the free throw parade began for both teams. This created quite a choppy end of game and the Cats struggled to make their free throws. With Gus Yalden, Trey Woodyard, and Chris Kuzemka in street clothes on the bench, Vermont is still trying to find time playing as a healthy unit to build chemistry. It is clear on the court when combinations are just not clicking yet due to inexperience and a lack of time playing as a single unit. Hopefully this slow ramp up to the Division I opener against Brown this weekend will give the Cats the reps they need. 

TJ Long led the Cats with 18 points in a team high 32 minutes. He looks decisive and quick with his release from the outside. TJ Hurley chipped in 14 points and played tough on the defensive end. David Simon was the other Catamount in double figures with 10 points, including a massive dunk. He also blocked 4 shots on defense and looks like a solid rim protector. The unsung hero as usual was Noah Barnett. He continues to be an endless source of energy and momentum. Barnett finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He is one of those players that charges up his teammates when he is on the court. Lucas Mari flashed some potential with a team high 9 rebounds, 5 assists, and finished with 6 points. His court vision is very good and he has great size and athleticism. It was a bit of an uneven performance with 4 turnovers but his energy was good on defense and he was more comfortable running the offense. Jackson Skipper chipped in 9 points and Ben Johnson knocked down his first two threes as a Catamount. Sean Blake dished out 4 assists but struggled on the defensive end. 

A quick turnaround for their final tune-up on Wednesday before diving into the season proper. With the Women's opener tomorrow as well it will be a Patrick Gym heavy start to my week. Basketball is life!!

Vermont season preview 25-26

Time to dive into some thoughts about the season with college basketball returning tomorrow. Let's get the first part out of the way. The exhibition games were tough games that shed some light on some concerns for Vermont to start the season. With the offensive struggles from last season, the coaching staff has made a shift in their approach and are relying on their track record of teaching defensive principles. With that much flux in personnel and skill set there are going to be some challenges to the beginning of the season, particularly with injury concerns once again rearing their ugly head. This season more than ever, making predictions about performance across college basketball is going to be a challenge early in the season. Lets dive in to some thoughts.

Making predictions

One of my typical processes when getting ready for the college basketball season is to check out the computer predictions on kenpom, t-rank, evanmiya, etc. This year that is honestly pointless for most mid major teams. There are errors all over and with so many teams completely overhauling rosters, those predictive systems are out of whack for the lower tier conferences like the America East. Honestly neither humans nor computers have much of an idea how these teams will perform. As a result, this year I am not going to make a specific prediction on record and more talk about factors that will influence the outcomes of the season. This will result in some absolutely crazy early season results with what I think will be a large performance variance from game to game. I know the saying is always that conference play is what really matters in the one bid leagues, but this year I think that is more present than ever. Teams performance in the non conference and performance in conference are going to likely seem unrelated. 

Team rosters

Just to illustrate that point a bit further, it is hard to know who is even going to be playing for the the teams in the America East. Lets take UMass Lowell as a case study. The River Hawks have been a top tier program for quite a long time but return ZERO of everything. Zero minutes played. How can anyone make a realistic prediction about that team? There are many teams in a very similar situation. The only teams that can say they are returning significant pieces are Vermont and UMBC. Time will tell.

Shooting

Now I can understand how the first two exhibition games may not have highlighted all of the best qualities of the Cats, but they have much, much more shooting than last season. Last year once TJ Long was basically out for the season (so minus his career makes), there were roughly 272 made threes in college on the roster. That is abominably low and it played out that way during the season. Spacing was tough and shots were hard to come by. This season to start with (fully healthy of course), there are 716 made threes in college on the roster. So regardless of whatever initial struggles are ahead, there should be significantly more spacing and shot making ability on this years roster. 

The TJ and TJ show

One thing that was clear during the exhibitions is both TJs are going to give it all they have. Both in their final season and both with something to prove. The revenge tour is going to be a fun ride. TJ Long looks to overcome health challenges that stole his season away and TJ Hurley wants to erase the memory of the America East semifinal. They are as dynamic of a scoring backcourt as there is in mid major basketball. I am crossing every finger, knocking on every piece of wood, praying to every god, for good health for the two of them this season. Watching them out there together is going to be so fun. They give the Cats incredible shot making potential and multiple players to go to when they need a bucket. 

Defense

Through the exhibitions, the defense has been the most glaring difference between this years team and Becker teams of the past. I do think there is some room for hope long term. Most of the errors were with understanding coverages and being out of position. Those are things that can be corrected with time and practice. Long and Hurley are both good defenders with positional size and David Simon has some potential as a rim protector from an off ball position. Without Gus Yalden they are thin in the post, but his return could give them some more physicality.  The rest of the lineup is in a "play defense or don't play" scenario and once there is a consistent rotation of guys that understand the system the defense will improve. Not to the level of the past few seasons, but likely to a serviceable level. 

Betting on talent

This group does involve some big swings on unproven players. Gus Yalden, David Simon, and Lucas Mari are all players that have sky high ceilings but are looking for an opportunity to prove themselves. Yalden's absence with no information is concerning, but when he gets to the court, he will be a big time swing player for the Cats. His ability as a screener and passer out of the high post is what will ultimately unlock this offense. That is still all speculation as he has not had a featured role yet at the college level. Simon is in a similar boat and he did have stretches across the two exhibitions where he flashed the potential. With him the key will be if can he consistently be engaged on both ends of the floor. 

Lucas Mari

Understandably, Mari was the most interesting addition in the offseason and fans have been excited to see the on court performance. After the two games there was a lot of confusion on his lack of impact. It bears repeating that he missed the entire summer program, arrived two months ago with a significant language barrier, and add in the massive adjustment to the college game, which for any young player can be challenging, and you have a recipe for difficulty. Another factor is he is a pass first player whose impact relies significantly on chemistry and comfort within a system. Robin Duncan is a good comparison in the sense that his shooting ability is much further behind his other skills. I watched several international games and he is a guy that impacts the game by trusting his teammates and creating plays off the dribble. Missing that time over the summer to get up to speed on the system is a huge obstacle. Not to mention that defense, unrelated to his offense impact, was going to be a big learning curve. I still think with a few more months the talent will show through but despite his international success, he is still an unproven player at the college level. 

Defining roles

I know I am a broken record and I talk about this every year at the beginning of the season but it is that important, especially with the significant roster turnover. It was clear in the second half of Saint Anselm that when Becker shortened the rotation and there were more defined roles, the overall play improved. Like I mentioned at the begin of the post, everything is in flux on every team. There is going to be a never ending process of finding the pieces that fit. For Vermont, the frontcourt minutes and the point guard role and going to be the most interesting playing time battles throughout the season. 

What does it mean?

I still think that Vermont will be fighting for the top spot in the America East come March. Time and time again, the Cats figure it out, and the coaching staff finds the right roles for the right players. Why bet against it now? Even last year with a rag tag, never fully healthy roster, they gutted it out and put themselves in a position to win. The rest of the America East is dealing with similar challenges and I will take the team that has been able to consistently create an all in, winning culture. 

So there you have it. A few thoughts on the upcoming season and my favorite time of year just around the corner. I started this blog 12 years ago and it has grown into something I never thought it would. That is thanks to you readers. I will never be able to thank you enough. With graduate school, my children's sports schedules, and potential career transitions on the horizon, I am not sure how many more seasons I have in me, but at the very least I am ready for this upcoming season. I will be turning off the comment section as the season gets going becasue I struggle to read and respond and it weighs on my mind to leave questions unanswered. I truly apologize if that is going to affect your experience as a reader but it is the only way I can continue to manage the time in my schedule for all of the things life is throwing my way. I can't wait for the season to get going!! See you at Patrick!! Let's go Cats!!

Exhibition: Vermont vs Saint Anselm

Vermont 80 Saint Anselm 78

Vermont used a much improved second half to steal a victory in their second exhibition. Coach Santo must be pulling his hair out with two straight narrow losses to his old crew. The game started with a flurry and the Cats looked motivated to put the tough game behind them. Then it looked like the cord was unplugged from the wall and the Cats energy disappeared. Saint Anselm took advantage and pulled ahead. Becker was particularly heated, calling 3 timeouts early and really getting after guys. The Hawks continued to roll and took a lead into the half. The second half was back and forth with each team pulling ahead and responding to every run. The Cats became more physical down the stretch and were able to assert themselves enough to pull out the win. The lack of chemistry and inexperience with the system continued to show as Vermont tries to jump start their season. It is particularly strange to see a Becker team still struggling to make the right reads on the defensive end. There are some real concerns on that side of the ball to start this season. The second half was far more engaged and the Cats showed more grit and toughness. It was that step in the right direction that ultimately made the difference. After the heated first half, Becker shrunk the rotation and it improved in the connectivity of the group. 

TJ Hurley returned with a bang as he poured in 34 points to will the Cats to victory. It was the most impressive Hurley performance I have seen as he dominated by relentlessly attacking the basket. He looked so calm and totally in command. On the defensive end he was spectacular as well. TJ Long chipped in 15 points and also played very tough, physical defense. The TJ squared show is going to have some big moments this season. Noah Barnett really energized the team with some hustle plays and big rebounds in the second half. Sean Blake continues to play with more assertiveness and finished with 8 points. Freshman Momo Nkugwa had another impressive performance, knocking down 2 threes to go along with a massive dunk. He is playing his way into a role this season. He is very smooth and effortless with his movements on the court. David Simon started fast and finished with 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks. He has a lot of potential if he can continue to get engaged in the system. Ben Michaels played the second most minutes for Vermont and chipped in 7 points. 

Time for the real thing next week and it is a good year to have basically two more exhibitions as this group needs more reps together. I think patience is going to be the name of the game early in the season as this group builds chemistry. 

Basketball is back!!!!!

St. Michael's 79 Vermont 74

Basketball is back and so am I! 

After a wonderful summer full of travel and a beginning of fall full of quite a significant grad school workload, it is time for another year of blogging. While I am in the middle of quite a few life changes, I am still ready to give my thoughts on the Cats for as long as humanly possible. So lets get to it!

The result was not on the side of the Cats but it was an excellent game to welcome basketball back. To start with, a tip of the cap to St. Mike's who played a great game and was probably to most well rounded Purple Knights team I have seen. One of the trickle down effects of the player movement era is Division II teams have the ability to get a significant amount of Division I talent to fill out their rosters. The zone defense was very good and there was some big time shot making in the second half. Becker has reiterated in every preseason interview that they are behind the eight ball due to injuries and that the beginning of the season was going to be a bit of a grind. It was clear in tonight's game that the group had not played together very much with lots of miscommunications that resulted in turnovers on offense and missed assignments on defense. The defense is going to be a work in progress as they try to get replace some very strong defenders from a year ago. In a very similar situation to last year, injuries are rearing their ugly head early in the season. TJ Hurley was out with a toe injury and Gus Yalden was not in the building. It has been quite a long time since a fully healthy Cats team has taken the court. 

On the positive side, what a wonderful moment to see TJ Long back on the court. It was a long road back and I am sure at times he didn't know if he was going to make it, but Catamount country is thankful to have him back. He wasted no time in putting on a show and reminding everyone just how electric he can be. Long exploded for 29 points and 8 three pointers as he tried to single-handedly will Vermont back into the game. All I want for Christmas is to see TJ and TJ play together. Sean Blake had some nice moments looking stronger and more decisive. David Simon had a roller-coaster debut with big dunks and some tough buckets but struggled with ball security and missed some bunnies at the rim. Freshman Momo Nkugwa really impressed with speed, finishing around the rim, and even knocked down a three for good measure. I don't know what his opportunities will look like with a fully healthy roster but he certainly showed some potential in this game. Lucas Mari played hard but you could see the effects of missing the summer session in getting up to speed with the system and missing time to create chemistry with teammates. His passing will be a huge asset once he makes the transition to the college game. Ben Michaels and Noah Barnett struggled to make an impact as they too are playing catch-up after missing time due to injury. 

A tough way to start the season, especially for a team looking to get a fresh start after a tough finish last year. With the exhibitions and then two non-DI games to start the season, hopefully they have the slow ramp they need to get healthy, work out the kinks, and build chemistry. 

I am not going to do an America East preview this year as my time is limited and honestly with all of the player movement in the league, it is basically impossible to make a real prediction. I will try to put out my Vermont season preview right before the first game of the season. Welcome back!

Open practice....and so much more!

Hello all!!!

       As you may have heard, the Cats will be hosting an open practice on July 17th from 5-7. In an exciting turn of events..... it will be so much more!! Instead of a regular open practice, it will actually be a formal game between the current Catamount squad and the Green Mountain Men, the Vermont alumni team that will be playing in TBT the following week in Syracuse, NY. It should be a fun and exciting atmosphere and a great chance to see Catamounts old and new. The cost will be 10 dollars per person and it will be CASH ONLY. One half of the entry fee goes directly to the NIL fund, which is the best way to directly support the Catamount program. The other half goes to cover the travel expenses for the Green Mountain Men in their quest for a TBT championship. This is a really fun and unique opportunity to see a high level basketball game in the summer and support past and current Catamounts at the same time. I highly encourage everyone to spread the word and lets try to pack Patrick as much as possible for this event. If you are a super basketball junkie you may also be excited to see a game using the Elam Ending (TBT uses this end of game format). If you are unfamiliar with the Elam Ending, it is a end game method developed to get rid of the late game fouling that is the scourge of many a game's final minutes. Check out an explanation here. I will be traveling and will be unable to attend but I am hoping that this basketball community can spread the word, drum up interest, and get butts in the seats! Lets go Cats!

Summer Updates

This week I beat the heat and headed down to Patrick to watch the post Becker camp pick up. I was able to watch the new players twice this week and boy did it feel good to watch some live basketball. It is always exciting to see the new players for the first time and get a feel for the new roster. This year it will be a little bit more individual talent reactions because not all of the players were playing in the games so it is hard to get a gauge on how the full roster will fit together. Ben Michaels (Great Britain) and Lucas Mari (Spain) are off readying for the U20 EuroBasket tournament in July. TJ Long is in the final stages of recovery from last years injury and newcomers Trey Woodyard and Chris Kuzemka were out as well. On to the reactions! First reaction is that this group has a feel more like the days of old when high school recruiting was king and it was exciting to see all of the developmental potential without any context from previous college stops. I think about the summer Canadian tour in 2018 and seeing the Ryan Davis, Robin Duncan, Isaiah Powell crew for the first time. There is that type of potential on this roster. The coaching staff will be looking to unlock and develop the significant talent that is present on the roster. The Vermont program's fabled player development will be on full display as they tease out what previous programs missed. Gus Yalden's talent really popped, particularly his ability to run the offense out of the high post as a screener and a passer. He is a true back to the basket big man with good touch around the rim. He is a good example of a guy who has not put it together at previous stops and if the coaching staff can mold and shape that talent, he will make a significant impact. True freshman Momo Nkugwa has effortless bounce, finishing above the rim and flashing great speed. With a loaded roster he is more of a future impact player but he is already a tough defender and is well rounded offensively. Ben Wesson, much like last year in the camp pick up, is a lights out shooter from deep. He continues to look like a great fit in the future. David Simon's length really jumps out as he towers over everyone on the court. He has tremendous potential as a shot blocker and a rim runner while also showing off a nice stroke from deep. He is still developing offensively but has an incredibly high ceiling. Ben Johnson is every bit the shooter his career at Bellarmine would suggest and looked good making decisions with the ball in his hands. It was great to see Jackson Skipper back and he looked good running the offense and scoring from different spots on the court. Sean Blake looks stronger and more physical this year as he looks to compete for point guard minutes. Noah Barnett's hustle, tenacity, and physical play continue to put him in good spots and he is a major disruptive force at both ends. TJ Hurley looks ready to cap off a strong Catamount career as the quiet leader and longest tenured Catamount. Drew Bessette continues to impress physically and he looks more comfortable on the court. When all is said and done and this roster is fully put together, they are going to be a well rounded group and have more high major size across the board than any time in Vermont history. There are potential lineups where one of the TJ's will be the "smallest" guy on the floor. This group will be a work in progress defensively but after struggling offensively over the last few seasons, I think the coaching staff will welcome a new and different challenge. This team has offensive weapons and threats up and down the roster. With more shooting, driving lanes will open up and with more traditional post options, the offense will be more multi-dimensional. Looking at the talent that the coaching staff has to work with and thinking about how effectively they have been able to develop and get buy in from players, this team has major potential. I can't wait to see how different this group looks in the fall after getting acclimated to the system and working with the coaching staff on a development plan. Get ready Catamount country, this team is going to be fun to watch. 

P.S. Fun Fact! The Catamounts have two players (Noah Barnett and Ben Michaels) who were high school teammates of the second and third picks (Dylan Harper and VJ Edgecombe) in the NBA draft. 

Vermont lands Lucas Mari

WHOA

Vermont finished up their 25-26 roster with a bang today as they added 19 year old Spanish pro player Lucas Mari. It is hard to overstate how huge a moment this is for the Vermont program. This is Vermont's first foray into the international player waters, a practice that has been made possible by the new NIL landscape and is becoming increasingly popular. It reinforces Vermont's reputation as a destination for players who want to improve and win. Mari is 6'7” point guard who was being heavily recruited to the P5 level. I read an article from the beginning of May that had possible destinations listed as Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Gonzaga and Arizona. Needless to say the potential and upside here is off the charts. Mari is a top prospect in the Spanish national team system and has been playing pro ball for the last few years. He played this last season at Le Horta and averaged 10.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. He is a stat stuffing machine who will be a regular triple double threat. He played in the Adidas Eurocamp this past weekend and if you want to watch the type of potential he has been flashing check out this game where he finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 9 assists (#31). He has major size and athleticism and uses it to get to the rim and see passing lanes all over the court. His court vision and mapping is particularly impressive and has great play-making instincts. He runs the offensive with a calm, commanding presence and is excellent at running the pick and roll. He has a nice off the dribble pull up game and has made improvements as a spot up shooter. Mari has great leadership intangibles and Spain's youth development program is widely considered one of the best in the world. Valenica, the team that currently holds his rights, is one of the top teams in one of the top leagues in the world. He gives the Cats a do-it-all player that will be able to play multiple positions and impact the game at several levels. The idea of Mari spraying the ball to all of the shooters that the Cats added this offseason is tantalizing. I am ready to start calling the Mari & Sean Blake PG duo thunder and lightning. The cultural adjustment and learning the defensive system will be big challenges, but this has the potential to have a monumental impact on the Vermont program. Making connections to international pro basketball is going to be crucial moving forward in the post amateurism world and demonstrating the ability to develop pro players is an incredible feather in the cap for any program. This is the cherry on top of an incredible offseason for Vermont and the Cats have the potential to be appointment television this season. 

Vermont gets another big commitment

The offseason reload continues for Vermont with a commitment from San Diego transfer David Simon. He is a 6'11 F/C from Windsor, Canada who will have 3 years of eligibility remaining. This is a high upside commitment for the Cats who have completely remade their frontcourt this offseason. Simon was the Canadian player of the year in 2023 after a big senior season at Royal Crown Academy (same school that Sean Blake attended, different years). Simon had a medical redshirt year at San Diego before averaging 4.9 points last season. He is already an accomplished shotblocker and rim runner. With a 7'4" wingspan he makes a huge impact defensively and can be a big time lob threat at the rim. Last season he showed flashes of adding a perimeter element to his game, shooting 15/48 (31%) from three. Simon has incredible upside and potential and is a perfect compliment to frontcourt pieces that Vermont has already added. He is going to be an all court wrecker at Patrick and is a highlight waiting to happen. The coaching staff will be able to mix and match lineups and have possibly their most deep and versatile frontcourt. Vermont has hit on all cylinders this offseason, checking off the most significant team needs and then some. The fact that they were able to both rebuild their frontcourt AND reload with perimeter shooters is some serious portal work. This potential fit of the pieces that the coaching staff has assembled this offseason is huge. One more scholarship to go and I would imagine the only need left on the checklist is adding a point guard to compliment Sean Blake. This team has a chance to be electric. 

Two posts in an hour! Chris Kuzemka commits to the Cats

I am back so soon! Did you miss me?

Vermont gets their second commit of the last hour with Chris Kuzemka joining the Catamounts after four years at Loyola (MD). Kuzemka is a 6'0 guard who has had a challenging college career so far. He didn't play much as a freshman and then had a very strong sophomore year, averaging 6.5 points per game and knocking down 45 threes at a 39% clip. Since the 22-23 season he has only played in 17 total games as his junior year was cut short by injury and his senior year was cut short by illness. This commitment kind of reminds me of Matt Veretto where the coaching staff took a chance on a player who has only really had one full season of college basketball. Kuzemka has two years of eligibility remaining and will fit like a glove in the Vermont system. Crafty, quick, and moves well without the ball. A career 38% shooter from three, I can double down on what I wrote about  in the post about Ben Johnson's commitment and the Cats will certainly not lack shooters this season. During his sophomore and shortened junior season he rated as Loyola's best player by Evan Miya's metrics (evanmiya.com) and was their best defender both years as well. Getting two four year college players to join the Cats is a huge bonus in a year where teams are getting younger. 

*EDIT* Kuzemka is joining as a walk-on so still two more scholarships to go and it is time to get excited about next year's team!

Ben Johnson commits to the Catamounts

The 2025-2026 Catamounts continue to take shape with a commitment from Bellarmine transfer Ben Johnson. He is a 6'3 guard who has spent the last 4 years on the Knights roster. He was teammates with previous Bellarmine to Vermont transfer Dylan Penn during the 21-22 season (redshirt year). Since that redshirt year Johnson has put up some big numbers. He made the Atlantic Sun all freshman team in 22-23 and now sits at 937 career points and 175 made threes (at a 37% clip) in 77 career games.  This is after a prolific high school career in Kentucky where he was named Mr. Basketball in 2021. He is a flat out bucket. In the gym range and loves to play off two feet when he gets into the paint. A low turnover leader on the floor, Johnson will be able to give that Cats a big boost at both guard sports. He has also demonstrated a knack for clutch shots during his college career. Between Johnson and the TJ's, the Cats will have some lethal shooting options from deep. By the end of the season, the Cats will likely have three 1,000 point scorers at the guard position (Long: 1,070, 205 career threes at 36%, TJ Hurley: 877, 141 career threes at 38%, and Johnson). The message with this year's Catamount recruiting class is clear: the offense will be improved. This may come at the expense of some defense as that is not the strongest part of the new Catamounts' game, but the coaches are clearly prioritizing making improvements on that end of the floor. I think back to when this decade of dominance started and the quote from Becker was that he decided to "get offensive minded players and teach them how to play defense". The coaching staff is clearly leaning back into that strategy as they craft next season's roster. A really strong addition and the current roster is one that puts the Cats right back in the drivers seat for a run at a title. They still have two scholarships available and it will be interesting to see what the coaching staff does as the rotational minutes are looking pretty solid.

Jackson Skipper is back!!!!

In transfer portal terms, Vermont got a "Marfo" commitment today from Jackson Skipper. Skipper returns to Vermont after a year at Oral Roberts. I love Skipper's game and am very excited to see him back in the green and gold. He is one of those players who has a nose for the ball and plays with excitement and joy. At Oral Roberts, he averaged 4.9 points per game and shot 36% from three in 16 minutes a game (including 11 starts). He gives the Cats a versatile option as a player that knows the system and the program. His shooting ability will be a particularly nice addition. The Cats have really used the portal to add positional size and length. Skipper has two years remaining and continues the trend of Vermont signing players with multiple years remaining. This is a strong portal strategy as it serves two significant purposes. It gives the Cats a chance at continuity and a potential to retain players for more than one year. It also gives the players entering the program who are looking to increase their value and improve their earning potential motivation to buy in and work hard to expand their game. Goal 1a can be to develop and retain players and goal 1b can be to pitch prospective players on your developmental successes. It reflects strongly on the program for a player to return (particularly after they transferred to their hometown). So happy for Skipper to be back! Vermont has three more scholarships to fill and the last major need is at point guard with Sean Blake being the only true point guard on the roster. 

Trey Woodyard joins the Catamounts

Vermont added another piece to next season's roster by securing a commitment from Trey Woodyard, a 6'6" wing from London, OH. Catamount fans will be familiar with Woodyard as he played the last three seasons for New Hampshire. He spent his freshman season at Valparaiso before his time in Durham and has one season of eligibility remaining. Woodyard excelled in his junior season at UNH and was on his way to a strong senior season before suffering a season ending injury after just 6 games. Woodyard will be a great fit on the Catamounts as he bring versatility and experience. He is the ultimate glue guy who can do a little bit of everything. He is a creative and efficient finisher around the rim, using an array of fakes and footwork to get clean looks which has made him a career 57% shooter from two point range. He also has the ability to step out and knockdown open looks from three. Woodyard is a strong rebounder and has developed as a passer during his career. A solid and reliable player who can play any position and will provide the Cats with a versatile option off the bench, or in the case of last season, a spot starter due to injury. Woodyard will be taking the Sam Alamutu/Jace Roquemore role of the past two seasons. This is the type of addition that can really elevate a team as Woodyard brings a "do what the team needs to win" attitude along with experience and leadership that can be hard to come by for mid-majors during the portal era. The coaching staff continues to hit on the recruiting trail and is inching ever closer to the complete team they are looking to create for next season. This coming week will be a big one with visits, the portal closing, and teams beginning to take shape as the commitment dominoes start to fall. 

Vermont secures another commitment

The 25-26 Vermont frontcourt is taking shape. The Cats got a second commitment of the week from Ben Michaels, A 6'8" forward from Ipswich, UK who just completed his freshman year at Buffalo and has three years of eligibility remaining. Michaels had a strong freshman year which saw him average 8.1 points and 4 rebounds in 22.4 minutes per game, including 15 starts. This is another awesome addition to the Catamounts and already gives them a formidable core group. Michaels played his high school ball at Long Island Lutheran (NY) where he played with big time NBA prospect VJ Edgecombe, who just completed his freshman year at Baylor. Michaels freshman season culminated with a spot on the MAC all-conference freshman team. He has great size and athleticism and plays with a high motor. This past season he showed some strong shooting potential, knocking down 24 threes. There is room to grow, but Michaels has all the makings of a reliable stretch four. He also proved to be a disruptive defender, racking up 19 steals and 23 blocks. He was coached this past season by former Catamount assistant coach Hamlet Tibbs so you know the coaching staff was well informed while pursing Michaels. With Michaels and Yalden joining Noah Barnett, it has the potential to be a complete 180 from the difficulties in the post this past season. Time will tell, but this looks like a home run start to the offseason roster reload. 

Sunset, Sunrise

For the first time in a while the reflections of the season include a bit of uncertainty and goals that were left unachieved. This season was a true test for the Vermont program as adversity was plentiful and the forward progress was slowed. It is easy to look at the past season and pick apart the things that went wrong and the disappointments that were endured. The season was a roller coaster full of ups and downs and certainly puts more pressure on the offseason than in past years. However, the fact that the Vermont program has reached a point where a 21 win season that fell short of a championship is a "down year", should provide some solace for how strong this program has become. The grit and mental toughness that this group demonstrated down the stretch was incredibly fun to watch and inspiring.

I think back to the season opening win against UAB and that win maintained its worth the whole season through. It showed where Vermont could have been if they had been able to field a consistently healthy team throughout the season. Nobody wants to make excuses, but the fact is that the roster was ever changing and it made finding that classic Vermont program continuity and chemistry that much harder. Despite those challenges this team was still able to rattle off a 10 game win streak and was playing their best basketball of the season until the Shamir Bogues injury was one too many. In a weird way, this season was a herculean effort by the players and staff to take this group and overcome their flaws to put themselves in a position to compete for a title. 

The main culprit this season was the difficulty in finding consistent offense. It was the worst offensive performance by a Becker team after a somewhat difficult offensive year the season before. Roster building is always a complicated process and the new NIL/portal era of recruiting has thrown a major wrench in the offseason. Finding pieces that fit and filling team weaknesses has never been both easier and more complicated at the same time. There are more options available but more competition for available players. There will assuredly be a concerted effort this offseason to give the Cats more balanced offensive options in an effort to get back the offensive efficiency that started this run of success. 

I will miss the incredible defensive intensity and excitement that Shamir and Ileri brought to every game and it will be weird to see the team without Nick after a half dozen years at Vermont. It will be exciting to see the TJ and TJ show (health permitting) one more time. The America East has been decimated by graduation and the portal so far with I believe only TJ Hurley returning from the all conference teams. The rosters across the league are barren and the league will be wide open. Despite Vermont's own roster needs, they are the only team returning an all conference player and if TJ Long comes back healthy they would return two. 

On a personal note, as you know I stopped responding to the comments during this season. Don't worry!

Ultimately this was for a good reason as I have gone back to school part time to get my Masters degree in Sports and Performance Psychology. With the extra time devoted to school I had to make some time cuts somewhere and I wanted to make sure I could continue writing the blog. I think I will be able to return to answering comments over the summer as the recruiting picks up. I am very excited for the potential of a midlife career change and have been really enjoying the classes thus far. 

Speaking of recruiting, NIL has finally come to the Green Mountain State! In honor of the late Barry Stone, a celebrated former player, alum, and Catamount superfan, the Cats now have an NIL fund that we the fans can directly contribute to. This will help Vermont Men's and Women's teams compete for players, particularly with other mid-major programs who have already dove in to the NIL deep end. With University resources being squeezed across the country, this is the best way that Catamount country can directly contribute to the success of the program. 

Here is the link if you would like to donate: Barry Stone Fund

Spread the word!

Once again thank you for reading and reaching out. This blog continues to be an amazing experience that has created community connections and given me a wonderful opportunity to share my love for basketball and Vermont. 

Vermont gets their big man

Hop on the Gus Bus!

The first portal commitment of the offseason for Vermont comes from Gus Yalden, a 6' 9", 260 lb forward from Appleton, WI. The Cats have been looking to add a big on the portal over the past few off-seasons and they have found their guy in Yalden, who has three years of eligibility left. Yalden has had quite a circuitous journey on his way to arriving at Vermont. Early in high school, he drew major power 5 interest and was rated as a 4 star prospect. He then went to IMG Academy (FL) where he struggled through foot injuries. Then after stops at the Asheville School (NC) and La Lumiere (IN), he committed to play basketball for his hometown Wisconsin Badgers. I remember following his recruitment at the time because he played for the Albany City Rocks AAU team and Vermont had expressed some interest. He red-shirted his freshman year at Wisconsin and ran into a few off-court issues. After the season he transferred to Seton Hall where he played 8 minutes a game across 26 games. Yalden comes to Vermont with a tremendous opportunity to step in a play a big role for the Catamounts. There were a few things I remember when following his recruitment. One was I thought the "Gus Bus" nickname was awesome and there was also a lot of "Baby Jokic" talk about his style of play. Being compared to the greatest basketball player of all time is a big swing but it gives an impression of how diversified his game is at his size. I love the fit at Vermont. Minutes are plentiful and he has a well rounded game. Watching interviews with Yalden, he describes himself as a "glue guy" who can do a bit of everything to help his team. He has a true back to the basket game, finishing with both hands around the hoop. He has a nice shooting touch on a little one-legged turn around and could develop into a good outside shooter. Yalden shines as a passer and is capable of playing off the dribble. He also plays with a ton of personality and fire. This is the type of post scorer the Vermont coaching staff has been searching for and Yalden gets a chance to prove himself at the college level. I think about how Ileri Ayo-Faleye had similarly red-shirted and not played much before coming to Vermont (also with 3 years remaining). The coaching staff was able to unlock his potential and he became a great player. This is a really good start to the offseason and gives the Cats some recruiting momentum as they reload. The America East will be more wide open than ever next season and adding Yalden to the returning group of guards is a great start. So excited to see the roster take shape!!

Shy Odom enters the portal

 Here we are again!

Another portal entry for the Catamounts, this time it is Shy Odom. It is unfortunate that his health never got right this season and he did not get the opportunity to showcase his skills. A healthy Odom would have been a fun player to watch in a Catamount uniform and I wish him well wherever he finds a home. This is going to be a crucial offseason for the Cats as they try to retool their roster to fill the departing defensive holes and get more dynamic on offense. To me the biggest portal needs are a post scorer and a player or two that can break the defense down off the dribble. The largest contributor to the choppy offense in my opinion was the difficulty in breaking defenses down off the dribble. If the Cats can find that more consistently, I think it will lift a lot of the other offensive areas as well. Losing Shamir Bogues, Ileri Ayo-Faleye, and Sam Alamutu leaves a pretty big hole on defense and they are going to have to address that this offseason as well. The entirety of the America East will be rebuilding this offseason as an insane amount of minutes across the league are leaving due to graduation or the portal. The league will be completely different next season.  Full disclosure, I LOVE portal season. I know that the system as it currently sits needs some tweaks and it is a crazy headache for coaching staffs, but it is really fun as a fan to see who teams are going after. The chase and search for information is addicting. I am sure I will be posting again soon!

Sam Alamutu enters the portal

Today the portal officially opened and Sam Alamutu became the second Catamount to enter the portal. Once Alamutu was recognized on Senior day, I thought this was a likely possibility. As I have said with previous grad transfers (Stef Smith, Aaron Deloney), after putting in four years and earning a degree is the perfect time to explore all of the options that might be out there. A normal process for a regular student and a great opportunity for Alamutu. During his time as a Catamount, Alamutu worked hard to carve out a role and became an indispensable player over the last two seasons. A Swiss army knife who's versatility allowed him to play and guard every position on the court. He is also a good example of the time it can take to adjust to the college game. Alamutu worked hard after his redshirt year to make the leap and remained patient when he did not crack the rotation right away. I wish him the best of luck at his next destination! With the portal officially opening today I would expect information to be coming fast and furious over the next month as teams restructure their rosters for next season. 

Seth Joba enters the transfer portal

The offseason has officially begin with the first portal activity for Vermont. Seth Joba has entered the portal after two seasons with the Cats. Joba struggled to crack the rotation and it makes sense that he would be exploring his options. He is a talented player who I think could be productive with the right fit. I wish him well and hope he finds the program he is looking for. His decision to move on continues a portal era trend of Vermont struggling to consistently find and develop post players. In the portal era, the Cats have been kinda stuck in the middle, with portal big men almost always going to a higher level and high school big men not being quite ready to be big contributors. Due to graduation and the portal, it is going to be a new era across the America East and for Vermont. This is going to be a big year for the Cats on the recruiting trail with minutes and spots up for grabs. With the offensive struggles this season, Vermont is certainly going to focus on that side of the ball in the offseason. The portal officially opens on Monday and I can't wait to see what players end up where. 

America East Semifinal: Down and Out

Maine 57 Vermont 42

After winning three consecutive championships, overcoming injuries and adversity, winning 10 games in a row down the stretch, and if you can believe it for the first time since 2015 (again throwing out the COVID year), Vermont will not be in the title game. It is someone else's turn. I say it a lot and it bears repeating, Vermont has had an unprecedented and frankly mythical run of success and to expect to never lose or have another team rise up is unrealistic. This was a roller-coaster season full of twists and turns and going all the way back to Jayhlon Young's de-commitment in June, it felt like the basketball gods were signaling that this year was going to be one full of challenges. Losing Shamir Bogues was the straw that broke the camel's back and the Cats season came to a close. 

First and foremost, a tip of the cap to Maine, who beat Vermont for the first time since 2010 (that is quite a run). They absolutely dominated the game and executed on the defensive end like I haven't seen in a long time. The Cats had their struggles but most of the turnovers and missed shots were due to an insane defensive effort from Maine. Kellen Tynes played like a man possessed and dominated end to end. Maine came in and said "we are going to smother TJ Hurley and make someone else beat us" and boy did they execute that strategy. Hurley had no space and no time as Maine threw everything but the kitchen sink to stop him. The Black Bears were hungry. Vermont came out flat for the second straight game and this time they could not recover. Maine was all over them from the tip and forced the Cats into 17 turnovers which turned into 21 points for the Black Bears. Vermont was back on their heels and played very tentatively as it seemed like Maine defenders kept coming out of nowhere to get steals and swat shots. The Cats shot 25.9% from the field and 4-26 (15.4%) from three. The Cats defense was very good as well holding Maine to 38.6% shooting and 4-17 (23.5%) from three. They could not get anything to fall against the highly motivated and energetic Maine defense. 

One incredible highlight was Sam Alamutu pulled down an herculean 21 rebounds! He worked very hard to initiate the offense and finished with 8 points. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds but shot 4-15 from the field. Hurley finished 1-15 from the field as he fell victim to three time defensive player of the year Kellen Tynes. I look forward to the Hurley revenge tour next season. Jace Roquemore went out with a bang, delivering quite an impressive poster dunk. 

I will reflect and recap the season in the coming weeks but I wanted to thank to the team for another exciting season in Catamount country and now on to cheering for the Vermont Women's team on Friday!!

America East Quarterfinal: Just win baby!!

Vermont 64 New Hampshire 57

Vermont overcame a sluggish start with a gutsy second half and closed the game on a 10-0 run to advance to the semifinals. In the first half the Cats were a bit tentative and New Hampshire was ready and raring to go. The Wildcats exploded out of the gate and took the fight to Vermont. The action was pretty choppy on both sides of the ball, but New Hampshire rode hot shooting from three to an eight point halftime lead. In the second half the Cats defense really dug in and took away the Wildcats perimeter scoring. Eventually Vermont's own perimeter shots began to fall and they battled their way back to emerge victorious. The big storyline was the three point shooting. First half: UNH 7-15, Vermont 1-10 from three. Second half: UNH 1-11, Vermont 6-12 From three. Honestly that pretty much sums up the difference between the two halves. Vermont's defense was tough throughout, holding New Hampshire to 36.4% shooting, finishing with a 36-24 advantage on the boards , and blocking 8 shots.  New Hampshire was very physical on the defensive end and were determined to take TJ Hurley out of the game. The Wildcats played their hearts out and executed their game plan for much of the game. The difference in this game was Vermont's mental toughness and belief in themselves. All of the adversity faced this season challenged Vermont to be mentally tougher and learn how to win close games. 

Hurley was tremendous in the second half, scoring 14 of his 18 points. When Vermont needed a big play on offense, he was there. He opened the second half with a personal 7 point flurry. His offensive rebound and bucket gave Vermont their first lead of the night and he had a quick 5 point spurt to take the lead for good. Big time performance in the face of relentless defensive pressure. Ileri Ayo-Faleye also made clutch shot after clutch shot and finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 blocks. In the second half, he switched on to New Hampshire's leading scorer Sam Pissis and kept him from scoring the rest of the game. Nick Fiorillo knocked down the dagger three to give the Cats a two possession lead and stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points (3-6 from three), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. He has become the Cats physical enforcer in the post and isn't backing down from anyone. Sam Alamutu struggled at times with the defensive pressure but finished with a solid 8 point, 7 rebound performance. Sean Blake had some nice moments and injected energy in the Cats, but had some freshman mistakes down the stretch that allowed New Hampshire to creep back into the game. Jace Roquemore finished with 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

A gritty, gutsy performance to open the playoffs and now they await their opponent on Tuesday night. Playoff atmosphere at Patrick is the best. 

Nine in a row!

Vermont 79 Albany 71

Vermont exploded offensively in the second half and secured their ninth straight victory to close out the regular season. The Cats also reached the 20 win mark once again which Coach Becker and staff have achieved every full season of his tenure (COVID season doesn't count). An incredible turnaround and a huge credit to the players and the staff who really put in the hard work this season to overcome adversity. With the two seed locked up the Cats can look forward to hopefully two more games in Patrick and with an upset maybe a third. What a great way to send off this group of seniors who have given so much to the Catamount program. 

The first half was a bit choppy and very physical. Albany stayed in the game thanks to red hot shooting from three, which was good because they only shot 3-19 from inside the arc. Thanks to a late three the Cats went into halftime with a one point lead. Out of halftime both offenses exploded with shots falling all over the gym and both teams trading runs. The Cats were able to execute down the stretch and come away with a win. The Cats finished the game shooting a scorching 58.3 % from the field and made 11 three pointers. They dominated the paint, outscoring the Great Danes 34-24 and also blocked 9 shots. After uncharacteristically giving up several offensive rebounds and second chance points in the first half, the Cats dug in and evened up the rebounding battle. This was a significant win because it marks the first game this season where you can say that Vermont won with their offense. This is the type of game the Cats were losing for much of the year. When an opponent was hot, the Cats struggled to keep up. In tonight's game they responded to every challenge with shotmaking and team offense. This will give the Cats a big confidence boost going into the playoffs knowing they have become a more complete team. Not much more you can ask for than going into the playoffs as the hottest team in the conference. 

TJ Hurley led the way with 24 points on 6-8 shooting from three. That is 17 made threes over his last 4 games at a 51.5 % clip. Scorching. Albany threw their best defender at him from the start and in the first half it limited his opportunities. Right out of the gate, the Cats made a concerted effort to get Hurley the ball and his three to open the half was a sign of things to come. Tough shot after tough shot and each one responded to a big shot made by Albany at the other end. Sam Alamutu also remained red hot with his third double double in the last four games. Alamutu finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 blocks all while playing point guard. Stepping up big in in the absence of Shamir Bogues. It has really all come together for Alamutu down the stretch as his offense has grown leaps and bounds over the last few weeks. Jace Roquemore continued his strong play, also stepping up without Bogues. He finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds and did a nice job being disruptive on the defensive end. Nick Fiorillo played with tremendous energy on his senior night, stuffing the stat sheet and battling hard in the post. Fiorillo finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. His blocks were particularly impressive (Must be getting tips from Ileri). Also, his three at the end of the first half was huge. What a great way to cap off six regular seasons at Patrick. Speaking of Ayo-Faleye, he finished with 10 points 4 rebounds, and 2 blocks of his own. Noah Barnett had 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists in 18 minutes. Both of his baskets were at big moments in the second half and swung the momentum in the Cats favor. His hustle continues to pay dividends for Vermont. Sean Blake scored a bucket in his 14 minutes of the bench as every Catamount who played scored. 

Playoff time is here and Vermont is playing their best basketball at the right time. Can't wait to kick things off on Saturday!!

Reflections on the week

I am back!!!

After an amazing week with my family at Disney World, I have caught up by watching all three games this morning. Just an dominant run by this group, showing incredible heart and resilience. Whatever happens the rest of the way, the response to adversity by this group has been nothing short of amazing. The fact that a perceived "down year" has resulted in a top two seed and a team playing their best basketball down the stretch is something to be admired. They have done it through the tried and true Vermont way with incredible defense and rebounding. Since the calendar turned to 2025 the Cats have been the 3rd best team in the country in defensive rebounding percentage (per barttorvik.com). This is a statistic that Vermont has finished in the top 25 of for the last eight straight seasons. Incredible consistency. Also, since giving up 80 and 75 points in back to back losses before the winning streak, the Cats have given up 59.6 points per game. They have been absolutely locked in on that end of the floor and are dictating and controlling the tempo with incredible poise. The offensive movement in the UMBC game was the best it has been all season. A big shout out to the bench which has been inconsistent all season, for scoring 19 points in the UMBC game as well. That is going to become more important now as Cats fans wait for word on the injury to Shamir Bogues. It did not look good at all (I am no doctor but there was no contact and he was in a lot of pain). That is the only downer at this point and Catamount country is collectively sending healing thoughts his way. 

As far a individual performances, Sam Alamutu was a real standout this week. He averaged 11.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and only 3 total turnovers in 31.6 minutes over the three games. All while playing a ton of point guard and initiating the offense. Alamutu has really come on strong during conference play and in particular his rebounding and hustle have been game changing. He is incredibly disruptive underneath and creates a ton of second chance opportunities for Vermont. Staying on the theme of winning the games in the paint, Ileri Ayo-Faleye and Nick Fiorillo have become quite the dominant duo underneath. They are playing very physical basketball and are walling opponents up and dominating the defensive glass. Ayo-Faleye averaged 12 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4 blocks (!) in 34 minutes over the three games. Fiorillo finished the three games with averages of 11 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 33 minutes. Vermont has been grinding opponents down with their physicality and size. TJ Hurley sandwiched a tough night against NJIT with two huge performances. He is hitting tough shots night after night and finished the three game week shooting 44% (11-25) from three. Jace Roquemore has been the steadying force on the bench and averaged 7 points and 3.3 rebounds in 20.6 minutes over the three games. He will be needed even more if Bogues has to miss any time. The wild card if Bogues has to miss time is Sean Blake. He has looked very good in spurts and in both games where Bogues went down he performed very well in tough road environments. In those two games Blake averaged 8 points, 5 assists, 3 rebounds, and only turned the ball over 3 times in 27 minutes per game. 

It should be an incredible senior night on Tuesday, recognizing a large group of players who have meant so much to the Vermont program.