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. 

Battle Royale: CATS FROM THE TOP ROPE

Vermont 59 Bryant 55

In an incredible championship atmosphere, Vermont battled Bryant to the final buzzer and came out with with their fifth straight win. The game was an all out war, with both teams leaving it all out on the floor. This time it was Bryant that got off to a hot start before Vermont responded with a 13-0 run to retake the lead. From there the game was back and forth with each team responding and counter-punching. Both teams were flying all over the court on defense. In the second half the pace slowed even more and the play became extra physical. Tensions began to rise and player's resolve was tested. Vermont made plays on both sides on the ball and emerged victorious. Vermont's defense was incredible, holding Bryant to 35% shooting including 4-21 from three. The Cats held the Connor Withers and Rafael Pinzon duo to 7-28 shooting from the field including 1-14 from three. The Cats held their own on the boards and dominated the paint, outscoring Bryant 34-20. The energy felt like it was bouncing back and forth between the players and the crowd. In the first meeting, the Cats struggled mightily with turnovers and they did a complete 180 in tonight's game. The Cats only committed 7 turnovers and controlled the tempo of the game throughout. A monster win that really showcased the toughness of this team. They have been through the fire this season and all of that adversity has really galvanized the team during this win streak. They have that mental toughness and belief that has made Vermont teams so tough. 

To begin with tonight, Noah Barnett was phenomenal. With Sam Alamutu sidelined in the second half, Barnett stepped up and seized his opportunity. He was all over the court, diving for loose balls, playing tough defense, and dominating the paint. Barnett finished with 5 points and 9 rebounds in 21 minutes and made numerous winning plays down the stretch. He has a nose for the ball and his hustle is contagious. What a clutch performance. TJ Hurley was not to be denied a second time by Bryant and led the Cats with 17 points. He was money down the stretch and fought through a very tough Bulldog defense intent on stopping him. He also played great defense on Withers. Ileri Ayo-Faleye sparked the Cats in the first half with back to back threes and finished with 15 points and 3 blocks. His defense was incredible, switching onto everyone, and really frustrating Bryant star Earl Timberlake. Shamir Bogues shook off his injury from last game and played a team high 38 minutes. Bogues finished with 11 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals in an all out performance. He was a big reason for Pinzon's struggles. Nick Fiorillo finished with 9 points and 9 rebounds in a big time performance in the paint. Alamutu pulled down 8 rebounds before sitting out down the stretch. 

Vermont is gaining steam at the right time and will look to continue the momentum against Lowell on Saturday. I will be travelling to Disney World with the family so I will not be posting for that game. I will be cheering from afar!!

P.S. At some point the league really needs to step in and hold Bryant to a higher standard of behavior. The constant technical fouls and tough guy routine has gotten old. Keyshawn Mitchell, for the at least the second time this year, had to be physically restrained and escorted off the court at the end of the game by a Bryant staff member as he continually tried to return to the court to fight. Instead of wearing "Spread Respect" t-shirts, it is time to hold the America East member institutions to a higher standard. 

P.P.S. That was an incredibly weak and ineffective crew of referees. So many times they did not make calls with confidence. The one thing a referee crew needs to be is strong, in control, and confident in what they see. 

BIG WIN

Vermont 65 Maine 61

Vermont vaulted themselves into second place in the America East with their fourth straight win. The road game in Orono is always a tough one and this year it had the added flair of being a battle for second place in the conference standings. Once again Vermont got off to a hot start. The excitement came to a halt when Shamir Bogues went down with what looked like a knee injury. Sending positive vibes and hoping he is okay. There was a lull for the Cats after the injury and you could see a bit of "here we go again" creeping in. The Cats burst out of halftime with incredible team basketball and built up a 16 point lead. Maine punched right back and the game seesawed like that for the rest of the action. With timely shot-making and smothering defense, Vermont was able to pick up an absolutely huge win in a tough road environment. Vermont had 19 assists on 23 made baskets and the player and ball movement on offense was really sharp. When factoring in the loss of Bogues so early on, this win is even more impressive. Check another box off the "Catamounts we know and love" list as that "next man up" mentality has led them to many victories over the years despite losing key players. That is the type of game they were losing earlier in the season and serves as a great marker of how well they have been playing during this stretch. 

TJ Hurley was awesome this afternoon. What a smooth and efficient offensive performance. He finished with 24 points on 7-13 (4-7 from three) shooting from the field. He played with an extra ferocity, going for a big dunk and silencing the crown with a huge logo three. The pull up three in the corner with two time defensive player of the year Kellen Tynes in his grill was a particular favorite of mine. What a performance. Sam Alamutu continued his inspired play with another new career high in rebounds and a Robin Duncanesque stat stuffing performance. He finished with 9 points, 7 assists, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals. He looks so much more confident and sure of his role than even a few weeks ago. Ileri Ayo-Faleye finished with 12 points and 3 blocks in a great two way performance. Sean Blake blew the game open to start the second half and finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 28 minutes of action. He stepped right in for Bogues and looked as calm and in control as he has all season. Nick Fiorillo also had a strong all around game with 7 points, 5 assists, and 7 rebounds. A true team effort. 

Now the big showdown against Bryant on Thursday in what should be an electric atmosphere in Patrick. It is going to be a blast!

Vermont vs New Hampshire 2/13/25

Vermont 79 New Hampshire 59

Vermont led wire to wire int their most well rounded game of the season. The Cats took control early, never relented, and wore down UNH. In the first half Vermont once again got off to a hot start. It has gotten lost a bit becasue the hot starts have not translated as consistently to winning as one would think, but the Cats have really been opening games with a bang all conference play. Tonight they did not take their foot off the gas and kept up the intensity for 40 minutes. It was also great to see them look comfortable attacking a zone defense. Vermont dominated almost every facet of the game, winning the rebounding battle and making 11 three pointers. They also finished with 17 assists and only 7 turnovers while making every shot tough for the Wildcats. It continues to impress the level of discipline in their defense as they only committed 7 fouls for the entire game. They forced two shot clock violations where UNH didn't even attempt a shot. Great to see that machine-like Catamount efficiency that we have come to know and love bubbling up for the stretch run. 

Sam Alamutu played a second strong game in a row, finishing with a double double of 10 points and a career high 12 rebounds. He also added 2 steals and 2 blocks in a great all around performance. He has looked more engaged and aggressive over the last two games. Ileri Ayo-Faleye led the Cats with 16 points while adding 4 rebounds and 5 assists. He has been attacking closeouts really well and is creating off the drive not just for himself but for teammates as well. When he is attacking space off the dribble, it unlocks a different level of the Catamount offense. Shamir Bogues is all the way back and he announced it with a simple, stroll in park, big time dunk. He was his old electric self and continued his rapid rise during conference play. Bogues absolutely dominated with 15 points (6-7 shooting) 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. For his career Bogues now sits at 253 steals (including his time at Tarleton State). That ties the all time Catamount career steals record held by Howard Hudson. Congratulations to Bogues on a big time accomplishment. Nick Fiorillo finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds. TJ Hurley fought through an off night, finishing with 13 points. The fact that Vermont scored 79 points in a game where Hurley struggled is the best indicator of how far this group has come. Noah Barnett, Jace Roquemore, and Sean Blake all gave good minutes off the bench as the Cats continue to search for that second unit spark. 

Now the stretch that will have huge seeding ramifications as the Cats have fought tooth and nail to give themselves some control over their destiny. They take the loooooooong road trip to Maine on Saturday before hosting Bryant next Thursday. The two teams they are chasing in the standings, right there, waiting for battle. This is what conference play is all about. 

Vermont at Albany 2/8/25

Vermont 68 Albany 62

Vermont battled it out on the road and emerged victorious over Albany. It was really a vintage Cats performance with timely shot making and lockdown defense. Once again, the Cats got off to a hot start only to see the opposing team come roaring back. The Cats stayed calm and battled the Great Danes in a very exciting and well played first half. The first half was played at Albany's pace, and Vermont went into the break with a 37-36 lead. In the second half Vermont controlled the tempo and dug in on the defensive side of the ball. Back and forth the teams went and with the score tied at 57, the Vermont coaching staff drew up a great play out of the time out to give the Cats the lead for good. A big key for the Cats was winning the battle on the boards and in the paint. Vermont only committed 7 turnovers and took advantage of their chances at the foul line (despite the crazy sequence at the end). A great road win against a team that was riding high after taking down undefeated Bryant. 

TJ Hurley led the way with a big second half and finished with 21 points on an efficient 6-10 shooting night from the field. He was tremendous in the second half, hitting tough shots and knocked down the go ahead three with the score tied at 57. Nick Fiorillo dominated the first half, scoring all of his 17 points before the break. He knocked down 4-7 from three and was the spark to get things started in a tough road game. Shamir Bogues continued his hot streak with 15 points and his trademark tough defense as he continues to look more like himself. Ileri Ayo-Faleye struggled shooting the ball but had two huge dunks and finished with 9 points and 10 rebounds. He was a large part of the Cats big night on the boards. Sam Alamutu finished with 4 points, 8 rebounds, and came up with several big defensive plays down the stretch. This was a starters game for sure as Becker really shortened his bench in the second half. 

A great win as the Cats look to build momentum. 

On the ropes, the Cats punch Back!!

Vermont 54 Maine 49

Gutsy.

In a must win game, Vermont dug deep and clawed their way to a huge win, snapping Maine's 6 game win streak. The Maine/Vermont matchups have always been physical, defensive battles and this one lived up to the billing. In the first half, both teams were locked in on defense and relied on timely three point shooting on offense. Every inch of space, every drive to the basket, and every shot was earned through hard work and guts. In the second half, the defenses remained locked in as each team tried to move the chess pieces around the board to unlock the offense. Vermont shrunk down to a six man rotation and went long stretches with almost no substitutions, pushing themselves to the limit to secure the win. After a few more late game press break gaffes, the Cats came up with the big plays and pulled out the win they desperately needed. Vermont was strong on the boards and forced Maine into fadeaway jumpers on the move for at least half of their attempts from the field. Maine's zone was really good and the Cats stayed patient and limited their turnovers. Now Vermont has the week off to build on this win and start a streak of their own. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 15 points and has hit 4 threes in three consecutive games at a 57% (12-21) clip. Teams are really making him work and he fought for every point this afternoon. Shamir Bogues finished with 12 points and 6 rebounds while playing tremendous defense on the Maine guards. He also hit the big shot, a top of the key three to break a 49-49 deadlock with 30 seconds left. Bogues also played 39 minutes and earned some well deserved rest for sure. He was an absolute warrior this afternoon. Nick Fiorillo rounded out the double digit scorers with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Sean Blake had one of his most impactful games in a Catamount uniform, playing 25 minutes and stuffing the stat sheet with 5 points, 3 assists, and a team high 7 rebounds. He also stepped to the line at 47% from the charity stripe on the season and calmly knocked down two clutch free throws. Big time performance from the freshman and you can see the game starting to slow down for him. Sam Alamutu had a nice 4 point, 6 rebound, 3 assist lunchpail effort. He also drew several fouls by virtue of his physicality on the boards. Ileri Ayo-Faleye is in quite a shooting slump and was in the doghouse a bit in this game. He finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds but shot 2-10 from the field. Hopefully he can get his confidence back this week. 

A week off before a big Saturday night showdown on the road at Albany. 

Vermont at Binghamton 1/30/25

Binghamton 75 Vermont 72

Binghamton went on a late run to secure their first victory over the Catamounts in a decade. Just like on Saturday, Vermont got off to a hot 10-0 start before the opposition roared back (beware of the 10-0 start). The first half saw the Cats struggle from two point range once again, finishing 4-16 from inside the arc. They stayed in the game by starting hot from the perimeter, 6-11 from three in the first half. The second half was a complete reversal with the two point shots falling but the perimeter shots ending up in a 2-9 second half effort from three. The defense held Binghamton scoreless for quite a stretch to take the lead but the offensive struggles kept the game close before the Bearcats big run. It is so strange to see the pendulum swing back and forth for the Cats from minute to minute. There are these small moments in each game that really seem to change the momentum and Vermont is consistently coming out on the wrong side. This sets up an absolute must win in a home matchup with a red hot Maine team. 

Shamir Bogues shook off a tough first half with a strong second half, willing the Catamounts into the lead. Bogues finished with 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists. He has really come around over the last three weeks, scoring in double figures in 5 straight  games and hopefully gearing up for a strong finish. TJ Hurley finished with 19 points but was held without a basket inside the arc and held scoreless from the field in the second half. This is not the first time this season that Hurley has followed up a hot first half with a difficult second. He is too important to their offense to have such long stretches without a bucket. Ileri Ayo-Faleye scored 11 points but struggled from the perimeter for the second game in a row. Nick Fiorillo did most of his damage from the line and finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Sam Alamutu finished with 9 rebounds but continues to struggle to make an consistent impact on the offensive end. Sean Blake has looked much improved as of late and finished with 6 points. 

Vermont is in unfamiliar territory and now faces a short turnaround, which has not been kind to them this season. There is still time to make a run but it has to start with a big game at Patrick on Saturday. 

Vermont vs UMBC 1/25/25

UMBC 80 Vermont 63

Ouch. 

Vermont threw the first punch with a 10-0 run to start the game. UMBC counter-punched with a big run of their own and the Cats couldn't get up off the mat. When the final bell sounded, Vermont suffered their worst home loss during the Becker era. The Retrievers are the best shooting team in the America East by a wide margin and they showed why in the game today. They, like many teams this year, are coming in hyped and ready to exercise the demons from Vermont's stretch of dominating the conference.  Near perfect execution by UMBC this afternoon. Meanwhile, Vermont's body language had quite a bit of "here we go again" as the game was slipping away. Injuries continue to sap any momentum from the Cats season. For a team that has struggled to score and make shots consistently, to lose their most consistent shooter and scorer in TJ Hurley is one too many body blows to take. The Retrievers were able to sit back in a zone defense, unafraid of the perimeter threats. As a result, all of the shots at the rim were contested and the Cats are struggling to make contested twos this season. This is the pivot point for the Vermont season. This experience can either galvanize the Cats to make a final push or bury them under the weight of expectations. 

Ileri Ayo-Faleye led the Cats with 14 points but was inefficient offensively, shooting 4-15 from the field and 1-7 from three. Another blog jinx after praising his three point shooting on Thursday. Sam Alamutu had a nice stretch attacking the basket in the second half and finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds. Shamir Bogues stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals but struggled to make an impact after a hot start. Nick Fiorillo also struggled through an inefficient afternoon, finishing with 11 points and 7 rebounds on 4-12 shooting. Jace Roquemore was the one bright spot from the perimeter, knocking down 3-6 from distance for 9 points. Sean Blake struggled to finish around the rim but continues to take better care of the ball and finished with 6 points and 5 rebounds. The injuries have really sapped Vermont's depth and neutralized their normally impactful bench. 

Some hard truths and hard work for Vermont this week as they try to bounce back on the road at Binghamton on Thursday. 

Vermont vs NJIT 1/23/25

Vermont 68 NJIT 64

Vermont survived a second half charge from NJIT to pick up a victory at Patrick. Vermont started the game hot on both sides of the ball, knocking down shots from the perimeter and locking NJIT up at the other end. The game was very physical from the start and in the second half it really became a slog. I don't normally talk much about officiating but the second half of this game was called particularly poorly and as a result the action was extremely choppy and it really sucked the energy out of the building. It was another game where the Cats were shorthanded as leading scorer TJ Hurley joined the street clothes crew for tonight. With the offensive struggles Vermont has dealt with this season it was no surprise to see the offense stall in the second half without Hurley. The Cats did however, dish out 14 assists, only committed 6 turnovers, and were able to generate good shots. What really kept the game close was some poor free throw shooting in the second half (another area where they missed Hurley). Vermont finished 16-27 from the line (59%) which didn't do enough to punish NJIT's physical defense. It was great to pull out a win and give themselves a chance to sweep the homestand against UMBC on Saturday. 

Ileri Ayo-Faleye was tremendous in tonight's game, stepping into a more prominent offensive role with Hurley out. Ayo-Faleye poured in a career high 27 points to go along with 9 rebounds. He was 4-5 from three tonight and is shooting 12-26 (46%) from distance in conference play. The increased aggressiveness on offense has really been paying dividends over the past few weeks. Shamir Bogues continued his hot streak with his first career double double. Bogues finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, and zero turnovers (he only has 2 turnovers in conference play), Once again it seemed like he was everywhere all at once. He is so exciting to watch when he is locked in. Sean Blake was good off the bench, finishing with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and zero turnovers.  He is playing with more control and got to the rim at will tonight. 

Can't wait for Saturday's game!

Vermont vs Binghamton 1/16/25

Vermont 72 Binghamton 64

Vermont never trailed in a wire to wire victory over Binghamton in their conference home opener. It was a strong all around performance and one that saw the Cats respond to every Bearcat challenge. The offense was strong, avoiding the cold streaks and scoring droughts that have plagued the Cats this season. After struggling with turnovers against Bryant, Vermont took care of the ball and only committed 6 turnovers. It was a weird game defensively where Binghamton shot a high percentage from the field but Vermont limited their opportunities at the line and forced 15 Bearcat turnovers. Early on the full court pressure that the Cats have been using lately really bothered Binghamton and set the tone for the game. Vermont finished with 11 steals as a team and did a great job jumping passing lanes, digging down on drives, and doubling in the post. A great way to kick off the homestand. 

TJ Hurley bounced back after the scoreless outing against Bryant in a big way, dropping a career high 26 points with a big second half. He really took over the game in the when the Cats needed big buckets. The continued expansion of his game at all three levels is making him more and more dangerous with the ball in his hands. Shamir Bogues is looking more and more like his healthy self and was an absolute all court wrecker in tonight's game. Bogues finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds and SEVEN steals. He was all over the court on defense and it felt like he deflected the ball on every possession. Great to see him playing well. Nick Fiorillo continues to play at a high level, finishing with 15 points and 6 rebounds. His early threes really opened up the Cats offense. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continues to be more aggressive on the offensive end and finished with 11 points and 4 rebounds. Another weird thing about this game is the four Cats mentioned above are the only four players who made a shot from the field in this one. 

Now the Cats have a week off to get ready for NJIT and continue to build on this early momentum in the conference schedule. 

Vermont at Bryant 1/11/25

Bryant 73 Vermont 53

Vermont took one on the chin at Bryant for their first conference loss. The Cats started out strong jumping out to an early ten point lead thanks to strong defense. Then the wheels came off as Bryant got red hot from three. The Cats came out flat in the second half and turned the ball over like crazy, allowing Bryant to run them out of the gym. It was a very strange game where you kind of have to tip your cap to Connor Withers, who went on a quite a heater to put Bryant on top. The turnovers came back in a big way and were the driving force in the loss. Felt like a bit of a letdown spot after the big win over UMass Lowell. Considering the short bench and tough road trip a 2-1 start is about where you would expect to be. Gives the Cats some motivation for the rematch at Patrick in February. 

Ileri Ayo-Faleye continued his strong play with 15 points, including 4-7 from three. His improved offensive aggressiveness and three point shooting is trending in a nice direction. Shamir Bogues finally got some shots to fall, finishing with 17 points and 6 rebounds. If he can return to form down the stretch it will completely change the Vermont offense. The Cats really missed Jace Roquemore in this game as Sam Alamutu and Sean Blake combined for 10 of the Cats 17 turnovers. Alamutu pulled down 11 rebounds but struggled with the added play-making responsibility. Nick Fiorillo struggled to get anything going against the big, physical Bryant defense. The shocker of the game was TJ Hurley being held scoreless on only three shots. He struggled with the size of the Bryant defenders and the added defensive attention. Shocking after looking so good against Lowell. 

Now the Cats get a three game homestand to bounce back and hopefully get healthier with a week off coming up after Binghamton on Thursday. Can't wait to be back at Patrick!!

STATEMENT MADE

Vermont 67 UMass Lowell 63

Vermont went on the road and made a big statement, ending the River Hawks 7 game win streak. Beating Lowell in their home gym is something only the Cats have done over the last few years. A monster win that announces to the league that despite the inconsistent performance thus far, the Cats are still the team to beat. As the Cats have all season they were faced with a shortened bench (Jace Roquemore, Shy Odom, TJ Long all in street clothes) and then battled foul trouble throughout. The trademark Catamount defense showed up in a big way, holding the River Hawks 21 points (!) below their season average. The most surprising turn of events was the Cats complete dominance on the boards. Vermont grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and finished with a 44-30 advantage on the boards. The Cats were all over the 50/50 balls and played with an incredible sense of urgency. It felt like they relished being the underdogs for once and played with a chip on their shoulder. The three point shooting was a struggle but each one that the Cats made was at a crucial juncture. Throughout the game, the Cats used their physicality and toughness on both ends of the floor. Gutsy performance. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 23 points and made two huge threes down the stretch. He was tough as nails, using his physicality to create space driving to the rim. The big shots down the stretch felt like Hurley fully realizing his role as the Cats offensive leader. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was everywhere finishing with 17 points and 11 rebounds while helping to shut down the River Hawks in the post. He had some wild misses from three but his offensive aggressiveness is something that is crucial for Vermont. Nick Fiorillo struggled shooting but finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds. He played tough, physical defense down low and really walled off the paint. With the injury to Roquemore, Sam Alamutu has been thrust into the secondary point guard role and due to foul trouble, he was the primary point guard in this evenings game. He played a strong game, finishing with 8 points and 6 rebounds. He had two crucial buckets in the second half and his ability to guard multiple positions was crucial in slowing down the high flying Lowell offense. Shamir Bogues was hampered by foul trouble but finished with 8 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 blocks. Due to the foul trouble and the short bench, Noah Barnett, Sean Blake, and Seth Joba were forced into bigger roles and each contributed in their minutes. Barnett finished with 2 points and 5 rebounds, Blake made good decisions with the ball, and Joba hit a nice three. 

The signature Vermont defense is firing on all cylinders over the last few games. What a huge momentum boost for the Cats as they head into another tough road test against Bryant on Saturday. Conference play is the best. 

Vermont wins their America East opener

Vermont 60 New Hampshire 40

Vermont used a dominant second half to open conference play in the win column. It is hard to believe but it was actually Vermont's first road win since their opener at UAB exactly two months ago. It all starts with the Catamounts trademark, best in the conference defense, which was incredible this afternoon. The coaching staff made several adjustments going to a kind of diamond 1-3-1 zone and bringing intermittent full court pressure. It was very effective with the Cats forcing 17 turnovers and finishing with 10 steals. That gave the Cats a 21-7 advantage in points of turnovers. Vermont is looking for ways to get easier shots at the rim and getting more live ball turnovers is one great way to do so. The first half was a slog that saw Vermont continue to struggle mightily from two point range, finishing the half 3-17 from inside the arc. In the second half the offense opened up and clicked on all cylinders. The were able to generate shots at the rim, hitting 12-20 from two point range in the second half. The Cats took good care of the ball, finishing with only 8 turnovers. A really big second half performance in a really big spot. Road wins are hard to come by, especially in conference play, and with the big road swing to start the conference schedule it was important to kick it off right. 

TJ Hurley led the Cats with 17 points and also chipped in 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals. He has really settled in as the Cats best offensive weapon and continues to score at all three levels. Nick Fiorillo is in the best stretch of his Catamount career and is sparking Vermont with energy and perimeter shooting. He finished with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and great defensive energy. Ileri Ayo-Faleye was aggressive going to the rim and finished with 12 points and 4 assists. He had some nice finishes and made some great passes as well. Sam Alamutu got the start with Jace Roquemore injured and finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds. Shamir Bogues continues to struggle with finishing around the rim (3-11 from the field) but was a spark defensively, finishing with 9 points and 4 steals. There was not a lot of production off the bench as Becker really shortened up the rotation in the second half. 

A nice statement by the Cats to take care of business in the opener before the big showdowns next week with UMass Lowell and Bryant. Great measuring stick matchups to open the season and should make for exciting game action.