That is how you respond.
Vermont shook off opening night heartbreak and took down preseason Metro Conference favorite Fairfield on the road in a homecoming game for Coach Becker. It is early in the season, but that game says a lot about the drive, resolve, and mental toughness of this team. It would have been easy to let the opener hang over their heads but instead they came out and threw the first punch with a 13-0 run in the first half. The Cats really dominated from there, playing suffocating defense and moving the ball quickly on offense. This group can really crash the boards and had some crucial offensive rebounds. They were also able to respond with a big bucket every time Fairfield threatened. There was a ton of movement on the offensive end, and it created great driving opportunities. That was a great demonstration of the wide range of scoring threats that the Cats have. The scoring versatility was particularly encouraging as Vermont has players that score in different ways and complement each other's skill set.
Will Davies bounced back in a big way and that is a great representation of his relentless drive to improve. Davies finished with 21 points on 9/13 shooting from the field. He also grabbed 8 rebounds and dished out 6 assists, leading Vermont in all three categories (first in minutes at 34 as well). He was efficient, scored at every level, and masterfully pulled the strings of the Cats offense. He reads the court so well and you could see him learning from his mistakes from game one to game two. Sky is the limit. Darrel Yepdo also bounced back from a tough opener, using his dynamic speed to score 16 points. He and Davies really keep the ball moving on offense and are always ready to make the next play. Gus Yalden scored 12 points and hauled down 5 rebounds. He was a big spark in the early run and then battled foul trouble and his emotions. John Broom finished with 10 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals. His ability to track and pursue the ball on both ends of the floor is uncanny. Makes all the little plays. Momo Nkugwa continues to shoot the lights out from the perimeter and chipped in 10 points. His crucial three to quell a Fairfield run in the second half might have been the fatal blow. Noah Barnett had a much better game, getting back to his old self and chipping in 6 points and 4 rebounds. Khalil Badru is still finding his role in the offense but played solid minutes contributing in different ways. Sublime Gbiegba made his Catamount debut and looked like he could provide some nice depth in the post as he gets acclimated. Daniil Glazkov had a really tough night, committing 5 turnovers in only 8 minutes. Better days ahead.
Can't wait to be back in Patrick on Sunday!!
