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.
For conference play, Sam should get unsung hero award, now 5th in the AE in rebounding and has become quite the “wrecker”…again against UMBC!
ReplyDeleteAgree. Alamutu has really stepped it up on offense. His physicality both ways wears down opponents. He is great at gauging what the refs will let go and what will be called a foul.
ReplyDeleteThe team has been fantastic during this run. Hurley with his scoring. Ayo-Faleye with his all-around play. It will be a shame if Bogues is done. He's been one of my favorite players to watch during his time at Vermont.
I agree with the praise for Alamutu, he is just awesome on both ends of the court. His physicality is fun to watch.
ReplyDeleteAnd, I would think, even if Bouges is ok, it would make sense to hold him back until the tournament. Hope he gets better though.
If Shamir is sidelined for the AE tournament, I’m guessing Becker will have a choice between Blake and Roqumore . Or a choice between talent and experience. Both will play but I ‘m guessing unless he has issues playing on a bigger stage Blake has the bigger upside As some have said he reminds me of TBH . Hopefully , his career will evolve like TBH’s and become an all time great . He needs to work on his 3 point shot but his ball handling and ability to get to the rim are great deal ahead of his outside shooting . If Shamir is a no go both he and Roqomore will have to step up big .
ReplyDeleteIf Bogues is sidelined I'm afraid it won't matter how his minutes are distributed. Vermont becomes a bottom half AE team with little chance of winning 3 in a row. I hope I am wrong.
DeleteShamir. Where is he most valuable? Now that is a real tough one? Healthy Shamir, he is a force on both ends, but all things being as they have been recently, I would say we would miss him most on the defensive end. He himself would say he enjoys the deflections, the blocks, the steals resulting in turnovers and any rebounding to go along with that. Should we get to play Bryant again, we will surely have to play Dominant UVM Defense, and without Shamir, it will be all the harder. Plus without fouling, so then we don’t lose it at the charity stripe. Best of health Shamir, to quite the warrior.
ReplyDeleteAbout Sammy- a few games ago I posted here that if Sammy averaged 8pts. and 8 rebounds the rest of the way ( a tall task )- the Cats would have a chance. And he has exceeded those numbers! He was always good for tough D and significant rebounds, but averaging double digits scoring on a team that is often challenged Offensively- Wow! He sure has come into his own at exactly the right time.
ReplyDeleteI keep seeing Sammy as one of the seniors being honored tonight. He’s still got a year of eligibility left, is he moving on after the year? He has been around for 4 seasons
ReplyDeleteAbout Sammy ( I have no inside knowledge ) he has been at UVM for 4 years, but was a redshirt as a Frosh, so he does have another year of eligibility if he chooses. Looking at his Bio, the kid looks like a serious student, so it is no surprise that he is graduating this year. Let's hope he does his grad studies at UVM.
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