Scrimmage at the Aud

For the second year in a row the Vermont basketball teams made the trip down to the historic Barre Auditorium for an open scrimmage. The Aud is my favorite place to watch a basketball game so I am beyond delighted with this new tradition. The Cats played two 16 minute halves so the intensity was at a higher level than it was on Wednesday night. Ryan Davis continued to impress and looks like a completely different player. He looks trim and is moving noticeably better on the court. I have been blown away with his movement without the ball, particularly on screen and roll action. Davis is doing a tremendous job making himself available to his teammates and getting in a position to score. Without Lamb on the floor for these two scrimmages, Davis has looked like the Cats best player. His defensive positioning is much improved and he is getting to his spots a step faster than he was a season ago. He is going to have to continue to work on staying out of foul trouble but he looks to be on the brink of a breakout. Everett Duncan is making some great slash cuts and hard drives at the rim. His aggressiveness at the offensive end will be a interesting storyline to follow throughout the season. Aaron Deloney is fearless. He is going to be a player that can both shoot you into and out of a game. As with most freshman point guards his decision making is going to need refinement but he is oozing with potential. He has the ability to put a team on his back and carry them. His role this season is certainly going to be more of a spark off the bench but down the road he could take the reins and lead the team. Everything else I saw was consistent with what the players showed on Wednesday night. Robin Duncan knocked down a couple more threes showcasing his improved stroke, Daniel Giddens is going to have some crazy blocks and dunks, Stef Smith is money, and Duncan Demuth is going to do a little bit of everything. One concern for this team is how will they perform from the three point line. Losing Ernie Duncan was going to be tough anyway but in the same year that the three point line gets moved back is going to add another layer to replacing that production. Vermont has many capable three point shooters but it will be interesting to see if they can replace the consistency that Ernie brought to the court. We finally get some real basketball next week. Should be a great great game and a magical night honoring two more Vermont legends.

A quick first look at this year's team

Basketball is back!!!

At the season ticket holder event this evening fans were treated with a sneak preview of the year's team. The team played one half of basketball. No Anthony Lamb or Ben Shungu for his one but every other player played at least a few minutes. Extrapolating one half of basketball into a entire season's performance is always a fun exercise so let the overreactions begin! Biggest takeaway right off the bat is the depth of talent on this team. They are two deep at every position and are going to have impact players off the bench. Over the past few seasons they have had to cobble together their bench play and in the big games the rotation often became very small. Whoever turns out to be the second unit has a chance to be just as impactful as the starters. The battle for minutes is going to be fierce and this might be the year Becker is able to go back to the more even minutes distribution that he prefers. This group has so much length and athleticism. Becker has always had top notch defensive teams and I think this group has a chance to be one of his best. If the new players are quick studies of the system, watch out. Both transfers (Duncan Demuth, Daniel Giddens) are going to make an impact on the defensive end. Demuth is going to make some of big hustle plays and play hard nosed defense. He looks like the ultimate glue guy who is going to do a lot of little things to help the team win. Giddens has a limited offensive skillset but can absolutely jump out of the gym. He is going to have some electrifying dunks this year. His challenge will be to stay out of foul trouble and limit his turnovers. To continue on with the new guys both of the scholarship freshman looked strong. Aaron Deloney was quick and fearless. He attacked the rim and finished through contact. He is definitely going to be able to provide an offensive spark off the bench. Eric Beckett looks like a Swiss army knife player. He did a little bit of everything and is built like a truck. The other big takeaway was that Ryan Davis looked like a stud. Slimmer, quicker, and more decisive, Davis was the leading scorer in the scrimmage. He has some nice finishes inside and hit a couple from three. I really think his injury last year slowed his development and he never really got back into the groove. He looks like he could make a big jump this season. Robin Duncan also impressed by knocking down a couple triples with confidence. His offensive limitations cost him minutes down the stretch last season. He clearly committed to improving his shot in the offseason as his mechanics looked very different. He stayed much more vertical with less of the drifting that created his shooting inconsistencies last year. If he rounds out his game by making himself more of a threat on the offensive end of the floor, the sky is the limit. Everyone else looked good as well. One last observation was that Nick Fiorillo, the walk-on from Maine, might be a diamond in the rough. He is bigger than I thought and has a nice soft shooting stroke. With a year of development he looks like he has a chance to be an impact player. What a treat it is going to be to go and see big time college basketball this season at Patrick.

P.S. You might notice a change to the name of the blog. When I started this six years ago I had a website as well where I tracked milestones and important stats. That was a little beyond my computer abilities but the website was called 14th State of Mind. I am so excited for this season I felt like it was time to jazz up the blog a bit so it was time for the name change. Thanks again to everyone who reads the blog and gives me an outlet for all of my ranting and raving!

Vermont gets their first commitment for 2020

After a summer of just missing on a couple of their 2020 targets, Vermont landed their first 2020 recruit last night. Georges Lefebvre a 6'8" 205lb small forward from Montreal, Quebec who is playing at Cape Fear Academy in Wilmington, North Carolina gave his verbal commitment to the Cats. You can check out his highlights here. In watching his highlights and reading up on his game, it feels like Lefebvre is a great get for Vermont. Super athletic with a 7 foot wingspan, Lefebvre has a chance to be a game changer on both ends of the court. He projects as a slashing small forward who will get out in the open court. Will dunk over anyone and is a fierce competitor. Outside game is improving and looks like he will develop into a capable outside shooter. Justin Byerly of Prep hoops wrote before last season that he was a "program changer in every way". Another high IQ, hard working player who is committed to becoming the best player they can be. His speed and athleticism really stand out and will serve him well while he rounds out the rest of his game. He might not be a day one superstar but has the potential down the road to be dominating on both ends of the floor. Early on has the potential to be a fan favorite energy player off the bench with some huge dunks and blocks.  Nice to finally be tapping the Montreal basketball pipeline as it is the closest major city. There is really no more online info about any other targets for 2020. There is only one other name on Verbal Commits and he is most assuredly going to a much high level. Vermont has shown the ability to recruit players without leaving a significant online trail to follow. It will be interesting to see who else they are targeting for 2020. We will finally get to see some real basketball in only a few weeks!

Offseason update

Hello all!

Just when I was starting to feel empty as the lull of college basketball news set in, a big time announcement snapped me back to life. Duncan Demuth the transfer from Oklahoma State who joined the Catamounts last month has been granted a wavier and will be immediately eligible. That is incredible news for a Vermont program looking to maximize Anthony Lamb's final season. At the beginning of the offseason the frontcourt depth was going to be a major issue. Fast forward a few months and they arguably have one of the best mid-major frontcourts in the country. Adding two players from major conference basketball to pair with Lamb is going to make the Cats a very interesting team this season. In games against the top programs, Becker has always felt that the lack of size and depth in the frontcourt is what has kept Vermont from getting over the hump and pulling the big upset. If any year is the year to get over that hump, this is the one. This might be the deepest collection of raw talent that the Vermont program has ever been able to put on the floor. It will be interesting to see how it all fits together when the games actually begin but it is hard not to to be incredibly excited about the potential of this season's team. On another note, after years of battling injuries Skyler Nash has decided to retire from basketball. This decision seemed inevitable after his comeback attempt last season. Nash will remain on scholarship and part of the team which is great as he is an important part of the team and is always engaged on the bench. There is going to be some incredible basketball played at Patrick this season. I can't wait for the Fall.

Vermont snags Oklahoma State transfer Duncan DeMuth

Vermont received its second commitment from a transfer in Duncan DeMuth, a 6-8 forward from Florida who played at Oklahoma State this past season. He will sit out this season and have three years of eligibility beginning in the 2020-2021 season (the coaching staff must have been concerned about the number of Duncan's on the team). That is two players from big time programs making their way to Vermont in the past week. Coach Becker has stuck to his word about continuing to push the program forward. Getting two players of this caliber would have been a coup over a 5 year period much less in the same season. The profile of the Vermont program has changed and is continuing to attract stronger and stronger talent. Vermont recruited DeMuth out of high school before his recruitment took off. He chose Oklahoma State over Iowa State, Florida State, and Princeton. Needless to say, the talent is there. DeMuth is a strong scorer at all three levels and is a playmaker off the dribble. Every article I read mentions how hard working and smart he is as on and off the court. A player who is committed to doing whatever it takes to help his team win. The type of player that excels in the Vermont system. He didn't find much success in a dysfunctional program at Oklahoma State still dealing with the fallout from the FBI investigation into player payments. I fully expect DeMuth to use the redshirt year to get himself ready to be a big contributor in a post Anthony Lamb world. This off-season has been a home run for the coaching staff thus far. They filled their need to go for it and maximize the potential of Lamb's senior season while making sure the cupboard isn't bare following the his graduation. There honestly has never been more buzz around the Vermont program and they are in position to make a splash on the national stage next season. November seems too far away.

Daniel Giddens transfers to Vermont

Vermont landed a big time graduate transfer to fill an area of need for next season. Daniel Giddens began his a career at Ohio State before transferring to Alabama. Giddens is a 6-11 center from Georgia who was a 4 star, top 65 player nationally coming out of high school. That makes him on paper the highest rated recruit to find his way to Catamount country. How does a player like that end up at Vermont? First off Giddens hasn't found consistency at the college level. He owns career averages of 3.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 14.4 minutes. He missed significant time last season with injuries and has struggled to live up to the lofty expectations. So what does that mean for Vermont? It means they are getting a player that could put them over the top next season. The coaching staff is clearly going all in for next season. Taking on a grad transfer can be a challenge for a team as the player has to be brought up to speed quickly and they don't have time to form the kind of close knit relationship that comes with playing together for years. In recent years graduate transfers have made significant impacts for many teams including fueling Texas Tech's final four run this past season. The Vermont program has been on the cusp for several years and with the group that is returning next season, they are ready to go for it. Giddens fills the only significant hole in next seasons rotation. After the Ra Kpedi transfer, the roster was razor thin down low. Now they add a player that will immediately bring shot blocking and rebounding. I think about how much production the coaching staff squeezed out of Samuel Dingba this season and am drooling thinking about what they could do with Giddens. Dingba was in year 3 of being a part of the Vermont program and Giddens has to get up to speed in only a few months but his ceiling is very high. His role on the team really boils down to blocking shots, grabbing rebounds, and dunking the ball when teams double Anthony Lamb. Anything else he can bring to the table is gravy. If he can stay out of foul trouble he will get big minutes next season. The coaching staff will make sure he is put in a position for success and I am guessing that is part of why he wants to come to Vermont, for a chance to succeed. If he is bought into working hard and the team first attitude that the Vermont program prides themselves on, he will make a significant impact for the Catamounts. I would guess that Vermont is not finished looking at transfers and wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a player that will have to sit out for the 2019-2020 season. Next season's team is looking like a group that will continue to push the Vermont program forward.

2018-2019 Season wrap up

Why has it taken so long to finish my wrap up of the season? I think it is because I have so much to say about the season that I am having a hard time finding the words. I have started and stopped, reflected on the season, looked ahead to next season and everything in between. What I keep coming back to is this was a season for the ages. The Catamount program has achieved so much success over the past 15 years that individual seasons and accomplishments can get lost in the sea of success. This season was special in the rarefied air of the Coppenrath/Sorrentine era. Every year the program takes another step forward. This year's group made noise with a great run through the non-conference schedule and a strong showing the the NCAA tourney. The Cats are now in a place where they believe that no matter the opponent, they expect to win. Pushing to the program to these heights has changed the expectations surrounding the program and put Vermont in a place where winning a NCAA tournament game becomes a goal. Anthony Lamb is at the center of Vermont's raised profile. Lamb had an all time great season. He improved in every aspect of his game an became a dominant force. The improvements on the defensive side of the ball were the most impressive and crucial to Vermont's success this season. He was so good this season it begs the question, Can he really make another leap next season? Lamb is a hard worker who is never satisfied and will always work to improve every aspect of his game. He is following in Trae Bell-Haynes footsteps and entering the NBA draft process in order to get feedback and further refine his game. I fully expect him to return and he will enter next season as one of the best mid-major players in the country.

Ernie Duncan leaves a legacy as maybe the best shooter to ever play at Vermont. Ernie etched his name at the top of several career shooting categories and left as big a mark as anyone on the Vermont program. He was the first person to commit to the program changing 2014 recruiting class. He got the ball rolling and really started the new era of recruiting that Vermont has entered into. Not to mention the fact that he also had several brothers who followed him to the Green Mountain State. He left his mark both on an off the court, demonstrating a unending desire to win while becoming a strong leader. He might be the most unassumingly great player in Vermont history and definitely my favorite player (so I might be a little biased). He, along with Lamb and Bell-Haynes set the expectation that as a player in the Vermont program you are never satisfied and improvements can always be made. My favorite example is that Ernie could have been satisfied with just being a great shooter a stopped at that. Instead, he kept adding dimensions to his game including becoming a lockdown defender. I think you saw the trickle down effect in a player like Drew Urquhart and are seeing a player like Ben Shungu pushing for greatness. That is what the Vermont program has become, a place where every player has an opportunity to improve and become the best player they can be. The program has seen tremendous success with using redshirt years to improve and mold players. Players like Nate Rohrer and Samuel Dingba also demonstrated that the coaching staff works just as hard to help the end of the bench improve and be ready when their number is called. The effects of that success are demonstrated in the amount of players that want to walk on an be a part of the Vermont program. This past week Vermont got another walk on commitment from Nick Fiorillo, a 6-8 forward from Maine. Players know that they will be given a chance to compete and improve.

Now the coaching staff isn't perfect and I think Ra Kpedi's transfer is an example of a tough set of circumstances. Kpedi is a player that would've benefited immensely from a redshirt year but was thrust into a role two seasons ago due to injuries. Then this season he could never quite stay on the court to get up to speed. One of the areas that continues to be a struggle for the Vermont coaching staff is getting the young big men in the program up to speed on the defensive end of the floor. The system that Vermont runs demands a lot from the big men and as a result it is harder for them to stay on the court and get the reps they need. It is something that will be interesting for next year as they will be very thin in the frontcourt and asking a lot of a young group of post players.

There is a lot to be excited about for next season as Vermont will once again be at the top of the America East and a mid-major program on the national radar. It goes without saying that Lamb is poised to dominate yet again, but Stef Smith is equally on the cusp of stardom. He found more consistency last season and at times was very clearly Vermont's second best player. He still has areas to improve upon and with increased opportunity and becoming one of the veterans next season, he is ready to raise his game to the next level. The addition of highly touted freshman Aaron Deloney from Oregon will give the Cats a dynamic scoring option off the bench. Deloney is a two time player of the year in the state of Oregon and can put up points in a hurry. Last year's bench unit struggled to find a go to scoring option and Deloney help fill that role. He plays with an intensity and edge that reminds me a little of Dre Wills. Eric Beckett also joins the team as a 6-5 do it all guard/forward who will is poised to make an immediate impact. I would expect the coaching staff to add a transfer and maybe even a grad transfer to help fill a role in the frontcourt as they still have two scholarships that they can use. Transfer commitments will be coming fast and furious over the next few weeks and I would expect to see some recruiting information trickling down. So much excitement around the Vermont program with the on court success and the new arena finally taking shape. It is a great time to be living in Catamount country.