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.

13 Vermont vs 3 Florida State game recap

Florida State 76 Vermont 69

Vermont played Florida State tough before falling in the first round of the NCAA tournament. For most of the game Vermont executed their game plan perfectly. They made Florida State a jump shooting team and the Cats shot lights out from three. Florida State was able to turn the tides by getting to the line relentlessly down the stretch. Anytime a team is trying to pull an upset they need a few bounces to go their way and it seemed like Vermont couldn't catch a break over the last 10 minutes of the game. What was most impressive about the game was how evenly matched the two teams looked. If you took the names off the jerseys it looked like any old ACC game. Vermont looked really good and pushed Florida State to the limit. It is an interesting place to be in this program where games like this feel like a disappointment. I know the players are not satisfied and that shows the drive this team has to push even further. When you zoom out on the game it is clear that Vermont belongs and continues to perform well in these games against the big time programs. They can't quite breakthrough and are still looking for that big upset, but it feels like they are very close to reaching that goal. Anthony Lamb was really tough in this game leading the Cats with 16 points and 8 rebounds. He also led the team with 3 assists and his back to back blocks late in the first half were electrifying. Ben Shungu continued his late season surge and was incredible scoring 15 points including 3-3 shooting from deep. He looked like a stud at the end of the season and his improved shooting is a surprise to say the least. Ernie Duncan finished his career in style knocking down 5-6 from deep. Those threes bring him to 308 for his career and second place all time at Vermont. Stef Smith also chipped in 15 points as Vermont shot a blistering 16-32 (50%) from three. This group was really fun to watch this season and I will miss watching Ernie play. The future is bright and this team can be proud of how they represented the Vermont program in today's game. I will post a season wrap up sometime next week after the dust has settled. Another great season in Catamount country.

13 Vermont vs 4 Florida State: March Madness preview

The Catamounts are back in the big dance. Here are a few thoughts about their upcoming matchup.

Florida State is an imposing opponent. They are big, strong, and athletic. A defensive minded team with balanced scoring. The Seminoles have 8 players that are averaging between 6 and 13 points per game. They are led by Mifondu Kabengele, a 6-10 forward. Terrance Mann, a 6-7 guard is the Seminoles best all around player. Also on the team is a familiar face. David Nichols transferred from Albany and has spent this season as a key contributor off the bench. Vermont has the best case scenario for a lower seeded team as they get as close to a home game as possible. The game will be played in Hartford, CT if front of what will be a very pro Vermont crowd. The Cats were in a similar situation when they pulled off the Syracuse upset as a 13 seed playing in Worcester, MA. As a lower seeded team, that type of atmosphere is honestly more important than the matchups on the court. No matter what when pulling an upset, the higher seeded team has to have an off night. Just rewatch the upset of Syracuse and what will jump out at you is how poorly the Orange played in that game.  Getting a few of the outside factors in Vermont's favor is only going to help. Catamount fans travel well and I would expect the arena to be tipped very much in Vermont's favor. There is so much about an NCAA tournament game that is out of teams control such as travel time, crowd noise, game time, etc. The fact that most of those extraneous factors are seemingly tipped toward Vermont is a plus. Now for a few thoughts about the game itself.

The blueprint for a Vermont upset:

First and foremost the Cats have to stay in the game early. Many an upset bid has been swallowed up by a slow start. This doesn't mean they need to have a lead, they just have to be competing. From there it is about taking what Florida State will give them. The Seminoles are not a great three point shooting team. When looking at the competitive games that Vermont has played against big time competition over the past few years, the three point line has always been a key. Take the Purdue tournament game two years ago. Before the game one of the big concerns was the size of Purdue. Certainly the big men had an effect on the game, but the deciding factor was perimeter shooting. In the Kansas game earlier this season, it took LaGerald Vick shooting 8-8 from three to finally shake the Catamounts. Over the course of the season, Florida State has struggled to consistently make perimeter shots. If Vermont can force the Seminoles to be a perimeter oriented team, it will greatly increase their chance of pulling an upset. If they can do that on defense AND hit perimeter shots of their own, the game will be very competitive. Vermont has also been inconsistent from the three point line this season. They have a collection of shooters that can get hot and if Stef Smith can continue his late season surge Vermont will be able to win the battle at the three point line.

The free throw line is another interesting thing to keep track of for both teams. Florida State shoots 74% from the line and gets to the line at a high rate. Vermont is going to have to contend with the big men underneath and the Seminoles wing players slashing to the rim. The Cats are one of the best in the country at keeping their opponents off the line. Conversely Florida state puts their opponents on the line at a very high rate. Their physical style has put them in foul trouble at times and their opponents have been able to take advantage. Vermont shot 75% from the line this season and it will be crucial to cash in their chances when they get there.

Rebounding is key in any game and with the size that Florida State has it will be important for the Cats to get on the boards. Vermont has been exceptional at preventing offensive rebounds over the past few seasons. This season they were once again top ten in fewest offensive rebounds given up. If you go to look a the Cats T Rank you will see that they led the country in defensive rebounding percentage. This is one of the areas that has allowed Vermont to remain competitive against tough competition.

Last but not least, the Cats get to play loose as the underdog for once. They have spent the better part of the last three years as the hunted. Now they can embrace the moment and play without fear. This team is so mentally tough and even keeled. Never too high, never too low. In the games against Kansas and Louisville earlier in the season, Vermont was able to battle back each time it looked like the game was going to get away from them. I would expect the same winning mentality in this game on Thursday afternoon. I think they are going to make a game of it and it is going to be fun to watch.

AMERICA EAST CHAMPIONS!!!!

Vermont 66 UMBC 49

Today we spell redemption U-V-M.

In front of a charged up crowd the Vermont Catamounts punched their ticket to the NCAA tournament by taking down defending champ UMBC. Anthony Lamb led the charge with 28 points and 9 rebounds on his way to the Most Outstanding Player award. His leadership cannot be overstated. He keeps the team levelheaded and through his tenacity sets the example for all the other players to follow. Lamb did an excellent job against the double team and was able to take advantage of UMBC's aggressiveness on defense to get to the foul line. Stef Smith continued his strong finish to the regular season with 17 points and 8 rebounds. I have said all year that Smith's rebounding ability is vastly underrated and tonight he came up with some huge boards. His perimeter shots were not falling so he made a nice adjustment and came up with some beautiful finishes at the rim. The unsung heroes of the season also came to play in the title game. Even in my most positive and dreamlike projections this season I did not see both Ben Shungu and Samuel Dingba playing 35 and 20 minutes respectively, in the title game. Much less making crucial plays and being indispensable parts of the rotation. I give so much credit to those two players for working hard and making improvements to their game. Dingba has brought a tough physical defensive presence and given the Cats a strong offensive rebounder. He finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds in another gutsy effort. The most amazing story of the end of the season is Shungu's emergence as a go to player for Vermont. He hit some huge buckets down the stretch, including two huge three pointers. He has made himself into a serious offensive threat while continuing to play tough defense. He made life difficult for KJ Jackson and his block at the end of the first half was a huge momentum swing. Easy to root for players like that. This season might be one of the coaching staff's best as well. They worked hard to get the most out of a very young and thin bench. Becker said all week that they had a plan to take down UMBC and the Cats executed it perfectly. A 7th title, all in the last 16 years, is an incredible accomplishment. Coach Becker has continued to push the program further and is an incredibly special coach. One of the best in the business. What is most exciting is the family atmosphere and the attitudes of the players that come to the Vermont program. They all want to win and win the right way. After the game the players and coaches are all there on the court celebrating with the fans and taking pictures. This program goes beyond basketball and the fact that Becker and his coaching staff have been able to combine that with winning is an incredible feat. This three year run of success has been special and as fans we should all appreciate how rare it is to have a basketball program like this in our backyard. I think Vermont will probably get a 13 seed and can't wait to see this team in the tournament. Before the game this week I will post a preview of the matchup. Feels good to be back on top.

STEF SMITH

Vermont 84 Binghamton 51

See you Saturday.

Stef Smith exploded for 23 first half points on 7-8 shooting from three and sent the Cats to the America East championship game. Smith finished with 28 points and 8 three pointers in front of a rocking crowd. He was silky smooth and confident in a new hairdo that I would imagine makes another appearance on Saturday. Always the x-factor for Vermont, Smith is regaining the confidence he had at the beginning of the season at the perfect time. What an electric performance. Binghamton refused to come out of their zone and as a result Vermont was able to get a wide open shot on every single possession. I have never seen a game move so quickly and smoothly. Anthony Lamb was his usual self putting up 18 points on 9-12 shooting and dishing out a career high 7 assists. More than anything the team looked locked in. The Cats played every possession like it was a close game and kept up the intensity despite the wide margin. They have the fire in their eyes and are a team on a mission. The defense was particularly tight with a combination of Ben Shungu and Robin Duncan holding rookie of the year Sam Sessoms without a single point. The other semifinal was also a blowout until Hartford made a furious comeback before falling in double overtime to set up a finals rematch. This is the game Vermont wants. This team has something to prove and is poised to go out and get the championship. See you Saturday.