Aaron Deloney enters the portal

The offseason has begun!

The first domino to fall is Aaron Deloney putting his name in the portal and testing the waters for his extra year of eligibility. This move is no surprise as it is a pretty amazing and unique opportunity to be given an extra year of eligibility after completing a 4 year career. I am glad that he is exploring his options. He has given some serious blood, sweat, and tears over the years and deserves to explore another chapter. Don't get me wrong I love Deloney and will miss watching him but I kind of treated him as a senior for most of the year, thinking there was a chance he wouldn't be back. If he ends up officially leaving I wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors. The effect for next year is that it will leave Nick Fiorillo as the only player in the program who has been with the team for more than two seasons. That equates to Vermont moving from a fairly old team, to a very young team in the blink of an eye. The offseason needs from a recruiting standpoint were already at the guard position and that will continue to be the focus of the coaching staff. Most of the players that Vermont has contacted in the transfer portal have been at the guard position so they have already been addressing this need. This leaves Vermont with a lot of question marks for next season which I will touch on further in a season wrap up post this weekend. I will say the coaching staff has demonstrated that they can find underrated (Finn Sullivan) and highly rated (Dylan Penn) transfers and they had a lot of talent on the bench this season. There will be young players that put in the work this offseason and thrive in a larger role. The Vermont program demonstrated their strong player development this season and there is no reason to doubt that they will be able to do it again. Check back for my season wrap this weekend. 

Vermont falls to Marquette

Marquette 78 Vermont 61

Kam Jones exploded in the second half with 18 straight points, blowing the game wide open and lifting Marquette to a victory over Vermont. The Cats battled hard and hung around for the first 30 minutes of the game before the Jones offensive explosion. The turning point was getting a flagrant foul call and only make one of the free throws and then not getting a bucket on the ensuing possession. The very next possession Jones began his run. In the first half Vermont did a great job making shots and forced Marquette in to tough shots down the stretch. Then a phantom foul call at the end of the half gave the momentum back to the Golden Eagles. Then the Cats came out in the second half and showed some great grit, cutting into the lead and really digging in on defense. Unfortunately the perimeter shooting dried up and Vermont couldn't respond to the Marquette run. The game played out very much like I felt like it would. Vermont didn't get dominated in any single category. They were pretty much even on the boards, had 15 assists and only 10 turnovers, and Marquette didn't have a huge advantage at the line. Some of the misses were certainly due to Marquette's defensive pressure but they missed a lot of good looks in the second half. I said in my preview that they could play Marquette even in most facets and that the game would come down to making shots. In the second half Marquette (specifically Jones) was hot and Vermont was not. 

Matt Veretto was hot in the first half and was one of a trio of Cats with 11 points. Dylan Penn chipped in 11 as well as Marquette did a great job forcing him away from the basket. Robin Duncan stuffed the stat sheet one last time with 11 points (5-5 shooting), 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in the last Vermont game featuring a Duncan. Aaron Deloney chipped in 9 points off the bench. Kam Gibson had 8 points playing in front of friends and family. Ileri Ayo-Faleye continued his strong play off the bench at the end of the season finishing with 5 points and 6 rebounds. Finn Sullivan struggled shooting the ball but finished with 5 rebounds and 5 assists. 

The team this year was special. There is something amazing about a group that bonds through adversity and comes together to climb the mountain. The two year run that the returners went on is nothing short of amazing. If you include the conference tourney games, this group went 37-3 against the America East over the past two seasons. That is absolutely absurd. I am really going to miss watching Robin, Dylan, Kam, and Finn. Tough as nails and hard working. I will reflect a little more when the emotions wear off and write a season wrap up in the coming weeks. The offseason is always wild now with the portal and recruiting being concentrated in the spring so I am sure I will be posting fast and furious over the next month or so. Until then thanks to everyone who reads, comments, and stops to talk to me at games. I love the community that this blog has created and thank everyone for making a simple hobby of mine into something special. 

NCAA Tournament preview: 15 Vermont vs 2 Marquette

March Madness is here and there is no better time of year to be a basketball fan. For the first time in a while Vermont is in a matchup where they are not a popular upset pick. Marquette is a very strong team with one of the best offenses in the country. It would certainly take a herculean effort to pull the upset but at the same time the Cats matchup well with the Golden Eagles and I think it can be a very competitive game. In general this is a very strong group of 15 seeds. Colgate, Princeton, and Vermont have experienced rosters at winning programs and UNC Asheville has one of the top mid-major players in the country in Drew Pember. I did a deep dive on the team rankings pre tournament on T-Rank for 2017-2023 (excluding 2020 and 2021) to see exactly how much of an outlier this group of 15 seeds is. UNC Asheville is in a very typical range for a 15 seed finishing at 177th. Colgate (108th), Vermont (97th), and Princeton (112th) however, are a different story. The average rank for 15 seeds in the 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022 tournaments was 146th (out of 360ish). This year the 15 seeds average out to a 124th place finish. That is a huge difference and means that this group is closer to a 14 seed profile than a 15 seed profile (the average for a 14 seed over the same span is 113th). To me this is creating a scenario where we will see very competitive 2 vs 15 games during this tournament. I think this is reflective of the extra COVID year and the change in transfer rules making college basketball teams, particularly mid-majors, older and more experienced. It is shaping up to be a really exciting tournament and one in which I think the gap between the bigger and smaller schools has shrunk.

This doesn't feel like a game where there is a glaring exploitable matchup that will overwhelm Vermont. It feels like two efficient offenses who take care of the ball and don't beat themselves going toe to toe. I really like the way these two teams matchup and it makes me excited to see how they will choose to attack each other. A big factor that could help Vermont stay competitive is that Marquette is not a very good rebounding team. They finished toward the bottom of the Big East in several rebounding categories.  Rebounding is something that Vermont, even with their small lineups this season, has consistently been very good at. Once again this season Vermont finished top 10 (6th) in the country in defensive rebounding percentage (courtesy of barttorvik.com) after finishing #1 in the same category last season. Even with different personnel, the Vermont system is elite on the boards. Marquette makes up for being undersized by forcing turnovers at a high rate and pinpoint execution on offense. Vermont has been elite this season at limiting turnovers. Vermont finished the year 9th in the country in turnover percentage (fewest per) and since January first is #1 in that category. These two factors will make this game (and I know it sounds cliché) all about making shots. Both Marquette and Vermont like to shoot threes and make them at a similar clip. Whichever team can get hot from the perimeter will likely take control of the game. Don't get me wrong Marquette is a great team where any player can get hot and win the game on any given night. Tyler Kolek is a great point guard and a dynamic passer. The Golden Eagles rely on him to facilitate at a high level and get high percentage shots for his teammates. Marquette won a lot of close games this season due to sharp execution down the stretch. That is a crucial element to March success. It is also a reason to believe that if Vermont plays up to their potential, they can hang around and keep themselves within striking distance. 

I know I started this post saying that Vermont has no pressure to win and is not a popular upset pick and then proceeded to explain why they have a chance to win. It has actually taken me a while to write this post because even I am having a hard time articulating how I feel about this matchup. Ultimately I think Marquette presents a different challenge than past tourney matchups because they play a style that Vermont has more experience playing against. More of the teams that Vermont plays year in a year out are a bit undersized and play more five out basketball and it wont take a huge stylistic shift for Vermont. In years past with post oriented teams who play back to the basket, it takes a shift in style and the Cats have often struggled with the lack of experience playing those type of teams. 

However the game plays out I am excited to see this team play on national television, see Dylan Penn get his chance in the NCAA tournament, and see all of the adversity and challenges this team faced pay off with an opportunity to go out and shock the world. 

*This post was edited for accuracy on 3/16/23. I inadvertently used the Kenpom rankings in the paragraph analyzing the 15 seeds. It has been updated to reflect the T rank rankings.

Marquette vs Vermont rapid react

Vermont gets a 15 seed and travels to Columbus Ohio to play the 2 seed Marquette Golden Eagles on Friday. I thought I would give you my initial gut reaction before I write a full preview sometime this week. First off, for the first time in a while I feel like Vermont and the fans can just enjoy this year's NCAA tournament experience. The last several times they have made the tournament it felt like there was a lot of pressure to win even as a low seed, as if the success of the entire season depended on it. Those years as a popular upset pick are their own type of fun, but being the underdog who no one gives a chance to win is even better. So I am really going to enjoy and savor this one. Making the tournament in back to back seasons (for the first time since the three-peat from 2003-2005) has been the goal that I think was the next step in the program's rise and they accomplished that. Also how great for Kam Gibson to get to play in his home state. Now onto the game. I actually kinda like the matchup for the Cats. Every year they make the tournament it has felt like they play teams that are equipped to exploit their weaknesses. Big, strong, post oriented teams. Marquette is one of the best offensive teams in the nation and could certainly run the Cats out of the gym, however they are not a dominant rebounding team and don't have dominant rim protection. As a Shaka Smart team, they force a lot of turnovers and one of Vermont's strengths has been taking care of the ball. I could see Vermont's slow, deliberate pace helping them be disruptive to what Marquette wants to do. Then maybe a crazy hot shooting night from three and who knows? It is just nice to look at the makeup of a tournament opponent and see some ways that Vermont might matchup up decently for a change. I will dive into the numbers and provide a full preview sometime before Friday's game. Can't wait. 

BACK TO BACK CHAMPS

Vermont 72 UMass Lowell 59

Defense wins championships.

Vermont smothered the potent UMass Lowell offense and hit big shots down the stretch to win their 15th consecutive game and second conference title in a row. An incredibly gutsy performance from a special Catamount group. This team has so many stories that were easy to root for. Dylan Penn fighting to get to the the tourney, Matt Veretto resurrecting his career, Robin as the last of the Duncans, Finn and Kam fighting to go out on top, and so many more. So much hard work went into achieving the teams goals and the fairytale ending was achieved. In the first half both teams were suffering the early game, title game jitters and no shots were falling. Slowly but surely UMass Lowell started to find success around the rim, pulled ahead, and took the crowd out of the game. Aaron Deloney kept the Cats afloat with a late three and an Ayinde Hikim first half buzzer beater was waved off, leaving Vermont in a four point hole. Vermont came out in the second half with some extra fire and the shots began to fall. The crowd was brought back to life by a Matt Veretto three and then Lowell fouled a couple Vermont three point shooters and they capitalized at the line. Veretto then made back to back threes with 8 minutes to go, giving the Cats a little breathing room. And who else but Finn Sullivan with a four point play dagger with 2 minutes to go. What a game. The Cats defense was relentless, holding Lowell to 38% from the field and 24% from three. Vermont also had 7 steals and 7 blocks in one of their best all around defensive efforts of the season. On offense the Cats made big shots in the second half and once again took incredible care of the ball with only 6 turnovers. This is the time for the non-conference scheduling plug. This game featured two complete opposite examples of how to create a schedule to prepare a team for the conference season. According to Kenpom, Vermont played the 31st most difficult non-conference schedule and Lowell was on the opposite end of the spectrum with a difficulty that ranked 362nd (out of 363). Vermont played 8 (St. Mary's, CSF, UNCW, Yale, Iona, Merrimack, Colgate, Toledo) teams that made their conference title game. Those are the games that prepare a team for a tough grinder of a winner take all game in March. That is where this late season will and drive are formed. 

Vermont was led by Dylan Penn, who achieved what he set out to do by making the NCAA tournament. How many times does that actually happen? Also, how many times does a player win a conference tournament and tourney MVP at two different schools, two straight years. Absolutely legendary performance from Penn. What a season working his way back from injury, learning a new system, and then dominating the playoffs. Penn finished with 21 points on 8-12 shooting and threw in 2 blocks down the stretch for good measure. He shot an insane 29-43 (67%) from the field through the three playoff games. Unreal. Matt Veretto was the momentum changer in this game once again by virtue of his incredible shooting. Veretto finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal. Another incredible page in the Veretto story. Finn Sullivan shook off offensive difficulties and played an absolute monster game. He loaded the stat sheet with 14 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and a block. He had one of the most incredible individual defensive performance I have ever seen. Just absolutely smothering the starting Lowell guards who ended up shooting a combined 8-32 (25%). Aaron Deloney had some big buckets at crucial moments to round out the double figure scorers with 10 points. Robin Duncan struggled through foul trouble with 5 points and 6 rebounds in the final game at Patrick gym featuring a Duncan brother. 

What a winter in Catamount country with the women winning 17 straight and the title and the men winning 15 straight and the title. Can't wait to find out what's next for each team!!

DYLAN PENN

Vermont 79 Binghamton 57

Vermont buried Binghamton in the middle 20 minutes and punched their ticket to the America East final. At the beginning of the game the defenses for both teams were playing with intensity and energy. Then Dylan Penn caught fire, burying a career high four threes. Penn actually outscored the Bearcats on his own in the first half. Then to open the second half it was Kam Gibson's turn to take over. Gibson scored Vermont's first 11 points of the second half and the Cats never looked back. Vermont shot a scorching 60% from the field and committed only 4 turnovers. This team is absolutely locked in and just played their two best and most complete games of the season. They have found another gear in March and are truly playing their best basketball of the season. 

Penn finished with 26 points on 11-17 shooting. He looks faster and faster every game and is relentless when he starts to feel it. The three point shooting was an unexpected bonus and is another example of how Penn has proven to be a player who can take his game to another level in the postseason. Kam Gibson finished with 15 points on 7-8 shooting following his second half outburst. Aaron Deloney gutted his way to 13 points to round out the double figure scorers. Tonight the player off the bench that changed the momentum was Ileri Ayo-Faleye. He had a couple nice buckets, and assist, and a steal in a crucial stretch in the first half. Finn Sullivan had another off night on offense but played gritty and tough on the defensive end. He has lost a little confidence on offense over the last few games and needs to see one go through the net. Robin Duncan continued his incredibly steady, heart and soul role, with another 8 rebound, 8 assist performance. It is just incredible to watch his attention to detail and ability to dominate those two facets of the game so consistently. 

Now the stage is set for the rubber match to end all rubber matches. UMass Lowell was the last team to beat Vermont and Vermont was the last team to beat UMass Lowell. The two best teams in the America East ready to duke it out for the title on Saturday. There is nothing better than a sold out finals at Patrick. 

America East Quarterfinal: Vermont vs NJIT

Vermont 84 NJIT 57

Vermont dominated NJIT to open the America East playoffs. The Cats came out a little slow but you could see that this team was motivated to prove that the last NJIT game was a fluke. Come tournament time you are looking at teams mental focus with that aspect of the game becoming even more important in winner take all games. Vermont hit another gear in this game and looked every bit like a team sharpening their mental focus and taking their game to the next level. The Cats held NJIT to 38% shooting and outrebounded the Highlanders by a wide margin. There was a clear emphasis on the defensive side of the ball as Vermont looks to clean up some late season defensive lapses. The offense continued its high level efficiency with another strong shooting night. The depth was on display once again with the bench crew providing the spark to the first half surge. Similar to years past, one of the Cats consistent advantages is their ability to maintain a high level of play when they go to the bench. 

Dylan Penn came to Vermont for a shot at the NCAA tournament and today he played like it. Penn was magnificent in the second half, showcasing the entire arsenal en route to a team leading 23 points. So many creative finishes around the rim and a crowd electrifying dunk to punctuate his night. Penn finished 10-14 from the field and looked every bit a player who is ready to leave it all out on the floor. Aaron Deloney completely changed the complexion of the game in the first half like only the back to back 6th man of the year can. Right off the bench and scorching the nets. Deloney finished with 16 points on 4-6 shooting from three. As I have mentioned before, Deloney loves shooting in Patrick where he has shot an absurd 55% (!) from three this season. Matt Veretto chipped in 12 points and Kam Gibson added 9. TJ Hurley and Ileri Ayo-Faleye joined Deloney as impactful players off the bench. Hurley hit two threes in the first half including a show stopping step back. Ayo-Faleye had one of his best games as a Catamount playing 20 minutes off the bench. He was a disruptive monster on defense and had several nice buckets on the offensive end. Robin Duncan battled a little foul trouble in the first half but finished with 10 rebounds (5 offensive), 8 points, 3 blocks, and tough defense on Kevin Osawe. Finn Sullivan didn't make a shot but pulled down 7 rebounds and played tough defense on Raheem Sullivan. 

A great performance to begin the conference tournament and now the Cats welcome Binghamton back to town Tuesday night. There is nothing better than basketball in March.