By John Barone
For extended stretches of Tuesday's game, the Boston University men’s basketball team showed exactly why the coaches of the America East Conference tabbed it as the preseason favorite to win the league.
Then, with victory just seconds away from BU’s grasp, the University of Vermont pulled the rug out from under its rival’s seemingly special night.
Senior forward Marqus Blakely capped a 21-point, 12-rebound performance by assisting on the go-ahead basket with 9.4 seconds remaining, and the Catamounts eked out a 76-75 win over the Terriers before a crowd of 968 at Agganis Arena.
Showing posts with label Vermont. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vermont. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Sidebar: Blakely comes out on top in matchup with Holland
By René Reyes
The 6-foot-5 junior forward from the Bronx, New York versus the 6-foot-5 senior forward from Metuchen, N.J.
The America East Conference’s leading scorer at 19.2 points per game versus the league’s two-time reigning Player of the Year.
The head-to-head matchup between John Holland and Marqus Blakely down the stretch in the Boston University men’s basketball team’s pivotal contest against the University of Vermont Tuesday night had the feel of a heavyweight bout.
The 6-foot-5 junior forward from the Bronx, New York versus the 6-foot-5 senior forward from Metuchen, N.J.
The America East Conference’s leading scorer at 19.2 points per game versus the league’s two-time reigning Player of the Year.
The head-to-head matchup between John Holland and Marqus Blakely down the stretch in the Boston University men’s basketball team’s pivotal contest against the University of Vermont Tuesday night had the feel of a heavyweight bout.
Post-game audio: University of Vermont 76, Boston University 75
University of Vermont
Head coach Mike Lonergan's opening statement
Marqus Blakely describes Vermont's last offensive possession
Blakely on not being double-teamed
Blakely on John Holland's performance
Blakely on BU's improved play this meeting
Lonergan on Vermont's last play / Blakely's performance
Lonergan on defending Holland coming out of the timeout / Vier's 3
Boston University
Head coach Patrick Chambers' opening statement
Chambers on BU's last offensive possession (2 segments)
Chambers on BU's defense late in the game
Chambers reflects on his mindset from before and after the game
Chambers on John Holland's performance
Chambers on responding after the loss
Chambers on the lack of bench scoring
Chambers on Marqus Blakely
Chambers on starting slow in games
Chambers on moral victories
Chambers on Carlos Strong
Head coach Mike Lonergan's opening statement
Marqus Blakely describes Vermont's last offensive possession
Blakely on not being double-teamed
Blakely on John Holland's performance
Blakely on BU's improved play this meeting
Lonergan on Vermont's last play / Blakely's performance
Lonergan on defending Holland coming out of the timeout / Vier's 3
Boston University
Head coach Patrick Chambers' opening statement
Chambers on BU's last offensive possession (2 segments)
Chambers on BU's defense late in the game
Chambers reflects on his mindset from before and after the game
Chambers on John Holland's performance
Chambers on responding after the loss
Chambers on the lack of bench scoring
Chambers on Marqus Blakely
Chambers on starting slow in games
Chambers on moral victories
Chambers on Carlos Strong
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Live Blog: University of Vermont Catamounts vs. Boston University Terriers
Starting lineups:
University of Vermont Catamounts
F Marqus Blakely
F Evan Fjeld
G Nick Vier
G Garvey Young
G Maurice Joseph
Boston University Terriers
F Jake O'Brien
F John Holland
C Jeff Pelage
G Carlos Strong
G Tyler Morris
Final score: UVM 76, BU 75
Team leaders:
Points
UVM: Marqus Blakely, 21
BU: John Holland, 29
Rebounds
UVM: Marqus Blakely, 12
BU: John Holland, 7
Assists
UVM: Marqus Blakely, 3
BU: Tyler Morris, 7
GAMEDAY: University of Vermont vs. Boston University
Catamounts. Terriers. It's one of the premier rivalries in America East, with each team grabbing signature wins over the other during the past decade.
BU's Agganis Arena era began in 2005 with an instant-classic 61-55 victory over the Catamounts – Taylor Coppenrath had 37 points but was outdone by Terrier stars Rashad Bell and Chaz Carr, who combined for 53 points. Less than a year later, the Terriers and Catamounts were found guilty of ignoring all principles of offensive basketball, with BU winning a 43-41 slugfest where Vermont took just 31 shots the entire game.
That meeting, in 2006, was the Catamounts' last loss in Boston. Vermont's last three trips to Beantown involved one Marqus Blakely, the most dangerous man in America East. As a freshman, Blakely was still a supporting act, but Chris Holm & Co. managed to escape The Roof with a two-point win. The past two years have produced nearly identical results: 70-57 and 70-56, both in favor of the boys from Burlington.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Nine Teams, Nine Days: Vermont
Last year: 24-9 (13-3 America East), lost in America East quarterfinals to Albany, lost in CBI quarterfinals to Oregon State.
Head coach: Mike Lonergan, fifth season, 78-49 record (44-20 AE).
Departing players: Jordan Clarke, Jordan Dean, Greg Hughes, Colin McIntosh, Ryan Shields, Mike Trimboli.
Arriving players: Luke Apfeld, Brendan Bald, Ben Crenca, Simeon Marsalis.
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Nick Vier, senior, 6.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG
G Maurice Joseph, senior, 8.1 RPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG
G Garvey Young, sophomore, 6.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.2 APG
F Evan Fjeld, junior, 4.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.6 BPG
F Marqus Blakely, senior, 16.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.7 BPG
Player to watch: Marqus Blakely. The two-time America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year has spent past seasons sharing the spotlight with teammates, most notably departed sidekick Mike Trimboli. This year, the show is his alone. There are other players in Burlington capable of making an impact on games -- Maurice Joseph is a multifaceted scorer, and Garvey Young's shutdown defense can take away an opponent's biggest strength -- but only Blakely can bring the Catamounts to the promised land. To be fair, no one could expect Blakely to do everything by himself -- when teams double and triple-team the 6-foot-5 forward, his supporting cast must make defenses pay -- but if this year's team succeeds where previous versions failed, it will be because of the man in the middle.
Biggest strength: Efficient scoring. Vermont had several strengths last year, but this one was both the most significant and one of the more likely ones to remain intact. Vermont ranked in the top 50 nationally in both effective field goal percentage (36th, at 53.2) and FTA/FGA (13th, at 45.3). Trimboli, in particular, had a lot to do with both of these figures, but there are several reasons why both figures should remain strong in 2009-10. Each of the projected Vermont starters is at least an average offensive player. With the exception of Vier, each of those players is used to taking at least a reasonable percentage of the team's shots. On the free throw front, several Vermont starters draw more than their fair share of free throws, and other than Blakely, Vermont is in fact a very good free throw shooting team -- if that sounds strange, check the numbers. Expect the Catamounts to score plenty of points.
Biggest weakness: Defensive rebounding. How does a team with Blakely have defensive rebounding as its biggest weakness? Keep in mind that Vermont, as one of the best teams in the conference, has relatively few weaknesses. In this case the answer is relatively simple. Other than Blakely, the Catamounts have no proven above-average defensive rebounders. Colin McIntosh was a quality glass-cleaner, but he's gone. While Ben Crenca may get the job done on the boards, he's a freshman and therefore an unknown; Vermont's best known rebounder not wearing number 23 is Evan Fjeld, whose performance on the defensive glass was average at best last year. No America East team with Blakely as its centerpiece will ever be a particularly poor rebounding team at either end, but the Catamounts were surprisingly subpar at recovering opponents' missed shots in 2008-09, and another year of unimpressive performance in that category is likely.
Guards: Maurice Joseph spent a a year off per NCAA regulations after transferring to Vermont from Michigan State and began the 2008-09 season in the Catamounts' starting lineup. As it turned out, while some parts of Joseph's game were as advertised -- the 6-foot-4 off-guard has a smooth stroke from 3 and is an outstanding free throw shooter -- he left head coach Mike Lonergan wanting more. With Vermont's offensive firepower, the focus was understandably on the defensive end, and Joseph's sometimes lackadaisical defense resulted in the then-junior coming off the bench for all but two games after New Years' Day. With Trimboli gone, Joseph has become the starter by default. Nobody questions whether Joseph will wind up scoring in double figures this season -- only whether he'll give all those points back at the other end.
Garvey Young's raw offensive numbers might not resemble those of a budding star, but the 6-foot-4 wing's game is more than the sum of its parts. Young was reasonably efficient as a freshman due to his ability to get to the free throw line, where he converted nearly 80 percent of his attempts, and has enough of a jumpshot to make sure teams guard him. Throw in excellent defense, and it's easy to see why Young made the All-Rookie team despite scoring just six points per game. If Young can find even a bit more range on his jump shot, small but noticeable bumps in playing time and usage rate will expose the sophomore to the rest of the conference as one of Vermont's next impact players.
Nick Vier's offensive game has continuously evolved over his three years at Vermont. An inefficient turnover machine as a freshman, Vier's ball-handling and decision-making have improved to adequate, albeit not extraordinary, levels. His perimeter shooting, once subpar, is now a strength, as Vier hit more than 41 percent of his threes last year. The senior point guard will be asked to provide more offense this year, potentially lowering his efficiency somewhat as a result of taking more shots, but the 6-foot-1 guard should be still be a reasonably proficient offensive player. Defensively, Vier holds an edge over his competition for the starting point guard job, due in large part to his experience and height.
Height, in this case, refers to Joey Accaoui, whose 5-foot-10 entry in Vermont's roster most likely exaggerates his true height. Accaoui's 40 percent figure from long range in 2008-09 wasn't his greatest asset; his primary value came from an A/TO ratio of 2.12, fueling the high-octane Catamount offense for 15 minutes a game. Accaoui's offensive skills, while substantial, fail to negate his defensive limitations. Of Vermont's options at the guard positions, all pose more problems for opposing shooters and ball-handlers than Accaoui, preventing him from assuming a greater role on the team.
Simeon Marsalis is the Kevin Bacon of America East rookies. Marsalis' Vermont teammate, Luke Apfeld, played on Marsalis' Brewster Academy team before arriving in Burlington, as did Albany freshman Derrek Tartt. Oh, and his father is none other than Wynton Marsalis, the world-famous trumpeter. Marsalis the Younger is a natural lead guard and brings all the tools expected of that position: playmaking ability, an effective jump shot, and assertive, intelligent decision-making. Vier should survive Accaoui's bid for the starting job at point guard, but Marsalis comes with plenty of hype; if the hype is deserved, the 6-foot-1 freshman's minutes should steadily increase.
Brendan Bald slots in behind Garvey Young as another skilled, athletic wing player. Of Vermont's reserves, Bald is the only natural fit at the wing when Young sits down -- Blakely can move to the wing but is better suited to stay in and around the paint at both ends of the floor -- so the 6-foot-4 freshman should see occasional minutes. With several shotmakers on the roster at the other backcourt positions, Bald's primary role will be to make hustle plays and play solid defense as a reserve. As long as he can those two things, Bald will see playing time.
Forwards: What can't Marqus Blakely do? Shoot from farther away than 12 feet. In three years, traces of Blakely's midrange and perimeter game have been virtually non-existent, and the free throw line's 15-foot distance from the hoop has regularly given Blakely trouble. In all other respects, the man is a terror on the basketball court. Ignore him for a second and he'll establish position, receive the ball and throw down a ferocious dunk. Double-team Blakely, even triple-team him, and the ball magically finds its way to the open man. Dare to venture near the hoop with the ball in tow, and Blakely will get his hands on it for either a steal or a block, creating transition opportunities frequently finished off at the other end by none other than himself. To adapt Dan Patrick's oft-referenced SportsCenter remarks, you can't stop Marqus Blakely. You can only hope to contain him.
Evan Fjeld spelled both Blakely and McIntosh off the bench last season. While Fjeld's defensive rebounding isn't exactly praiseworthy, his work on the offensive boards has been fairly impressive. Fjeld also provides extremely efficient scoring, albeit at a fairly low usage rate, and enough shotblocking to match what McIntosh offered last season. The junior forward's biggest issue is one he wasn't confronted with often as a reserve: foul trouble. Fjeld committed more than six fouls per 40 minutes last year, which isn't a major problem when playing only 15 minutes per game but becomes a much greater issue when playing time is doubled. The magnitude of Fjeld's improvement as a junior will be heavily dependent on whether he can stay on the court long enough to log starters' minutes.
Garrett Kissel played just 103 minutes last season, yet found a way to spread those minutes across 27 total games. It's tough to judge Kissel based on such a limited sample, especially when his minutes were largely confined to garbage time, but Lonergan's reluctance to grant Kissel more extended opportunities hints at what would have likely been ineffective play. Technically speaking, Kissel is the first forward off the bench, but most of the frontcourt minutes not eaten up by Blakely and Fjeld will evade Kissel, instead finding the Catamounts' freshman center.
Luke Apfeld tore his right ACL in June of 2008, prior to his senior year. After signing with Vermont, Apfeld tried to get back to the court quickly, perhaps too quickly. Three days after his return in January, Apfeld tore his left ACL. Ten months later, Apfeld was preparing for his freshman season as a Catamount when -- guess what -- he tore his right ACL. At one point Apfeld was expected to make an immediate and significant impact as a freshman. Now, while his season is finished before it began, the bigger question is when, or even if, Apfeld will be able to play again.
Centers: Ben Crenca, at 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, is the largest player seen on Vermont's roster since the days of Chris Holm. Like the former Rhode Island transfer, Crenca fits the mold of a traditional center, combining defense, rebounding, and the ability to score with his back to the basket. Even if the offense doesn't arrive this season, as is typically the case for America East freshmen of Crenca's size, there are teams in America East whose starting big men don't provide the necessary rebounding and defense. In that context, Crenca's value is more apparent.
Pat Bergmann saw the least playing time of any Vermont scholarship player last year. The Catamounts split their frontcourt minutes almost entirely among just three players last year, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if Bergmann is left out of the loop once again. For what it's worth, Kissel was much more active than Bergmann in Vermont's exhibition win against Saint Michael's. Bergmann may well be the last player off the bench.
Outlook: The Catamounts have the best player in the league, and that counts for a lot. There will be several games in conference play where lesser opponents are rendered helpless by Blakely, as well as others in which a team's collective effort to stop Blakely allows his teammates to take advantage. As has been seen repeatedly in this league, however, one big gun isn't enough to win it all. The Catamounts' Number 23 is an outstanding player, but he is not Superman, and while he may be the biggest star in the America East galaxy, the last team remaining in this countdown has an array of talents whose collective brightness is greater than what Vermont can offer.
Head coach: Mike Lonergan, fifth season, 78-49 record (44-20 AE).
Departing players: Jordan Clarke, Jordan Dean, Greg Hughes, Colin McIntosh, Ryan Shields, Mike Trimboli.
Arriving players: Luke Apfeld, Brendan Bald, Ben Crenca, Simeon Marsalis.
Expected starting lineup (position, name, year, 2008-09 stats):
G Nick Vier, senior, 6.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.9 APG
G Maurice Joseph, senior, 8.1 RPG, 2.4 RPG, 0.8 APG
G Garvey Young, sophomore, 6.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 1.2 APG
F Evan Fjeld, junior, 4.6 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 0.6 BPG
F Marqus Blakely, senior, 16.1 PPG, 9.0 RPG, 2.7 BPG
Player to watch: Marqus Blakely. The two-time America East Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year has spent past seasons sharing the spotlight with teammates, most notably departed sidekick Mike Trimboli. This year, the show is his alone. There are other players in Burlington capable of making an impact on games -- Maurice Joseph is a multifaceted scorer, and Garvey Young's shutdown defense can take away an opponent's biggest strength -- but only Blakely can bring the Catamounts to the promised land. To be fair, no one could expect Blakely to do everything by himself -- when teams double and triple-team the 6-foot-5 forward, his supporting cast must make defenses pay -- but if this year's team succeeds where previous versions failed, it will be because of the man in the middle.Biggest strength: Efficient scoring. Vermont had several strengths last year, but this one was both the most significant and one of the more likely ones to remain intact. Vermont ranked in the top 50 nationally in both effective field goal percentage (36th, at 53.2) and FTA/FGA (13th, at 45.3). Trimboli, in particular, had a lot to do with both of these figures, but there are several reasons why both figures should remain strong in 2009-10. Each of the projected Vermont starters is at least an average offensive player. With the exception of Vier, each of those players is used to taking at least a reasonable percentage of the team's shots. On the free throw front, several Vermont starters draw more than their fair share of free throws, and other than Blakely, Vermont is in fact a very good free throw shooting team -- if that sounds strange, check the numbers. Expect the Catamounts to score plenty of points.
Biggest weakness: Defensive rebounding. How does a team with Blakely have defensive rebounding as its biggest weakness? Keep in mind that Vermont, as one of the best teams in the conference, has relatively few weaknesses. In this case the answer is relatively simple. Other than Blakely, the Catamounts have no proven above-average defensive rebounders. Colin McIntosh was a quality glass-cleaner, but he's gone. While Ben Crenca may get the job done on the boards, he's a freshman and therefore an unknown; Vermont's best known rebounder not wearing number 23 is Evan Fjeld, whose performance on the defensive glass was average at best last year. No America East team with Blakely as its centerpiece will ever be a particularly poor rebounding team at either end, but the Catamounts were surprisingly subpar at recovering opponents' missed shots in 2008-09, and another year of unimpressive performance in that category is likely.
Guards: Maurice Joseph spent a a year off per NCAA regulations after transferring to Vermont from Michigan State and began the 2008-09 season in the Catamounts' starting lineup. As it turned out, while some parts of Joseph's game were as advertised -- the 6-foot-4 off-guard has a smooth stroke from 3 and is an outstanding free throw shooter -- he left head coach Mike Lonergan wanting more. With Vermont's offensive firepower, the focus was understandably on the defensive end, and Joseph's sometimes lackadaisical defense resulted in the then-junior coming off the bench for all but two games after New Years' Day. With Trimboli gone, Joseph has become the starter by default. Nobody questions whether Joseph will wind up scoring in double figures this season -- only whether he'll give all those points back at the other end.
Garvey Young's raw offensive numbers might not resemble those of a budding star, but the 6-foot-4 wing's game is more than the sum of its parts. Young was reasonably efficient as a freshman due to his ability to get to the free throw line, where he converted nearly 80 percent of his attempts, and has enough of a jumpshot to make sure teams guard him. Throw in excellent defense, and it's easy to see why Young made the All-Rookie team despite scoring just six points per game. If Young can find even a bit more range on his jump shot, small but noticeable bumps in playing time and usage rate will expose the sophomore to the rest of the conference as one of Vermont's next impact players.
Nick Vier's offensive game has continuously evolved over his three years at Vermont. An inefficient turnover machine as a freshman, Vier's ball-handling and decision-making have improved to adequate, albeit not extraordinary, levels. His perimeter shooting, once subpar, is now a strength, as Vier hit more than 41 percent of his threes last year. The senior point guard will be asked to provide more offense this year, potentially lowering his efficiency somewhat as a result of taking more shots, but the 6-foot-1 guard should be still be a reasonably proficient offensive player. Defensively, Vier holds an edge over his competition for the starting point guard job, due in large part to his experience and height.
Height, in this case, refers to Joey Accaoui, whose 5-foot-10 entry in Vermont's roster most likely exaggerates his true height. Accaoui's 40 percent figure from long range in 2008-09 wasn't his greatest asset; his primary value came from an A/TO ratio of 2.12, fueling the high-octane Catamount offense for 15 minutes a game. Accaoui's offensive skills, while substantial, fail to negate his defensive limitations. Of Vermont's options at the guard positions, all pose more problems for opposing shooters and ball-handlers than Accaoui, preventing him from assuming a greater role on the team.
Simeon Marsalis is the Kevin Bacon of America East rookies. Marsalis' Vermont teammate, Luke Apfeld, played on Marsalis' Brewster Academy team before arriving in Burlington, as did Albany freshman Derrek Tartt. Oh, and his father is none other than Wynton Marsalis, the world-famous trumpeter. Marsalis the Younger is a natural lead guard and brings all the tools expected of that position: playmaking ability, an effective jump shot, and assertive, intelligent decision-making. Vier should survive Accaoui's bid for the starting job at point guard, but Marsalis comes with plenty of hype; if the hype is deserved, the 6-foot-1 freshman's minutes should steadily increase.
Brendan Bald slots in behind Garvey Young as another skilled, athletic wing player. Of Vermont's reserves, Bald is the only natural fit at the wing when Young sits down -- Blakely can move to the wing but is better suited to stay in and around the paint at both ends of the floor -- so the 6-foot-4 freshman should see occasional minutes. With several shotmakers on the roster at the other backcourt positions, Bald's primary role will be to make hustle plays and play solid defense as a reserve. As long as he can those two things, Bald will see playing time.
Forwards: What can't Marqus Blakely do? Shoot from farther away than 12 feet. In three years, traces of Blakely's midrange and perimeter game have been virtually non-existent, and the free throw line's 15-foot distance from the hoop has regularly given Blakely trouble. In all other respects, the man is a terror on the basketball court. Ignore him for a second and he'll establish position, receive the ball and throw down a ferocious dunk. Double-team Blakely, even triple-team him, and the ball magically finds its way to the open man. Dare to venture near the hoop with the ball in tow, and Blakely will get his hands on it for either a steal or a block, creating transition opportunities frequently finished off at the other end by none other than himself. To adapt Dan Patrick's oft-referenced SportsCenter remarks, you can't stop Marqus Blakely. You can only hope to contain him.
Evan Fjeld spelled both Blakely and McIntosh off the bench last season. While Fjeld's defensive rebounding isn't exactly praiseworthy, his work on the offensive boards has been fairly impressive. Fjeld also provides extremely efficient scoring, albeit at a fairly low usage rate, and enough shotblocking to match what McIntosh offered last season. The junior forward's biggest issue is one he wasn't confronted with often as a reserve: foul trouble. Fjeld committed more than six fouls per 40 minutes last year, which isn't a major problem when playing only 15 minutes per game but becomes a much greater issue when playing time is doubled. The magnitude of Fjeld's improvement as a junior will be heavily dependent on whether he can stay on the court long enough to log starters' minutes.
Garrett Kissel played just 103 minutes last season, yet found a way to spread those minutes across 27 total games. It's tough to judge Kissel based on such a limited sample, especially when his minutes were largely confined to garbage time, but Lonergan's reluctance to grant Kissel more extended opportunities hints at what would have likely been ineffective play. Technically speaking, Kissel is the first forward off the bench, but most of the frontcourt minutes not eaten up by Blakely and Fjeld will evade Kissel, instead finding the Catamounts' freshman center.
Luke Apfeld tore his right ACL in June of 2008, prior to his senior year. After signing with Vermont, Apfeld tried to get back to the court quickly, perhaps too quickly. Three days after his return in January, Apfeld tore his left ACL. Ten months later, Apfeld was preparing for his freshman season as a Catamount when -- guess what -- he tore his right ACL. At one point Apfeld was expected to make an immediate and significant impact as a freshman. Now, while his season is finished before it began, the bigger question is when, or even if, Apfeld will be able to play again.
Centers: Ben Crenca, at 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, is the largest player seen on Vermont's roster since the days of Chris Holm. Like the former Rhode Island transfer, Crenca fits the mold of a traditional center, combining defense, rebounding, and the ability to score with his back to the basket. Even if the offense doesn't arrive this season, as is typically the case for America East freshmen of Crenca's size, there are teams in America East whose starting big men don't provide the necessary rebounding and defense. In that context, Crenca's value is more apparent.
Pat Bergmann saw the least playing time of any Vermont scholarship player last year. The Catamounts split their frontcourt minutes almost entirely among just three players last year, so it shouldn't surprise anyone if Bergmann is left out of the loop once again. For what it's worth, Kissel was much more active than Bergmann in Vermont's exhibition win against Saint Michael's. Bergmann may well be the last player off the bench.
Outlook: The Catamounts have the best player in the league, and that counts for a lot. There will be several games in conference play where lesser opponents are rendered helpless by Blakely, as well as others in which a team's collective effort to stop Blakely allows his teammates to take advantage. As has been seen repeatedly in this league, however, one big gun isn't enough to win it all. The Catamounts' Number 23 is an outstanding player, but he is not Superman, and while he may be the biggest star in the America East galaxy, the last team remaining in this countdown has an array of talents whose collective brightness is greater than what Vermont can offer.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Post-game Audio: (America East Quarterfinals)
Post-game audio from the University at Albany's 56-52 overtime win against the University of Vermont:
Albany coach Will Brown's opening statement
Brown on finding ways to score despite poor shooting
Brown discusses the loose ball Marqus Blakely lost out of bounds
Tim Ambrose talks about trying to stay loose down the stretch
Will Harris on Albany's confidence heading into the tournament
Mike Johnson credits his coaches for improved free-throw shooting
Johnson talks about his first half and Albany's group dynamic
Check back again later for more audio!
Albany coach Will Brown's opening statement
Brown on finding ways to score despite poor shooting
Brown discusses the loose ball Marqus Blakely lost out of bounds
Tim Ambrose talks about trying to stay loose down the stretch
Will Harris on Albany's confidence heading into the tournament
Mike Johnson credits his coaches for improved free-throw shooting
Johnson talks about his first half and Albany's group dynamic
Check back again later for more audio!
Live Blog: No. 2 University of Vermont vs. No. 7 University at Albany
Hello and welcome to the first game of what promises to be an eventful Saturday at SEFCU Arena on the campus of the University at Albany for the quarterfinal round of the America East Tournament. The Catamounts (23-7, 13-3) face the host Great Danes (14-15, 6-10) for a 12:07 tip-off.
Here are the starting lineups:
No. 7 University at Albany Great Danes
03 Will Harris
21 Mike Johnson
23 Tim Ambrose
33 Brian Connelly
54 Brett Gifford
No. 2 University of Vermont Catamounts
12 Nick Vier
13 Mike Trimboli (we're going to assume he's playing for now and as soon as the official lineups are announced we'll let you know here and in the live blog)
21 Garvey Young
23 Marqus Blakely
40 Colin McIntosh
Final Score: No. 7 University at Albany 56, No. 2 University of Vermont 52 (OT)
Leading scorers:
UA -- Will Harris, 18
UVM -- Marqus Blakely, 22
Leading rebounders:
UA -- Two tied with 10
UVM -- Marqus Blakely, 9
Leading assists:
UA -- Mike Johnson, 5
UVM -- Three tied with two
Friday, March 6, 2009
GAMEDAY: America East Championship, Play-In and Quarterfinals Preview
The weekend that defines the America East Conference is finally here. The tournament kicks off Friday night at 7:05 p.m. between the No. 8 University of Maine and the No. 9 University of Hartford. Then Saturday features eight teams in the most exciting day of the conference's season. One NCAA bid is on the line so without wasting too much of your time, let's get right to the previews.
Friday, March 6:
No. 8 Maine (9-20, 4-12) vs. No. 9 Hartford (6-25, 2-14), 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks are coming off an emotional loss to Boston University in which they came extremely close to ending their dismal 14-game losing streak. While Hartford deserved to win the game, they couldn't make enough plays and/or 3-pointers at the end to pull it out. Maine, on the other hand, lost to Vermont sans Mike Trimboli and is probably playing the worst basketball in the conference. Troy Barnies and Gerald McLemore have been a diamonds in the rough for the Black Bears, but when Mark Socoby's not scoring, it makes things difficult. McLemore could be a difference-maker as the most athletic player on the court in the play-in game, but Hartford's newfound energy could be enough to propel them forward. The winner doesn't get much of a reward, however, as they have to take on top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday. Hartford and Maine split the season series.
Projected starting lineups
Saturday, March 7:
No. 2 Vermont (23-7, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Albany (14-15, 6-10), 12:07 p.m.
Almost all the talk surrounding this game has been centered on Mike Trimboli's mysterious "illness/serious viral infection" and whether or not the first-team senior guard will play on Saturday. According to the Burlington Free Press, he's already returned to practice and made the trip to Albany. It would be a complete shock to see him held out of the lineup, especially in his senior year. How effective he'll be, however, remains to be see. Even if Trimboli doesn't play, UVM still has AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely and a great supporting cast. The Great Danes are in rough shape as their rookie point guard Anthony Raffa and Louis Barraza will likely miss the game with injuries and not even a home-court advantage can help cure that. With a severe lack of depth and being losers of seven of their last eight -- as well as history (a No. 7 seed has never topped a No. 2 seed in the America East Tournament) -- things aren't looking good for the Danes. One glimmer of hope could be that Albany has beaten UVM this season, 82-77 at Patrick Gymnasium.
Projected Starting Lineups
No. 3 Boston U. (17-12, 11-5) vs. No. 6 UMBC (13-16, 7-9), 2:30 p.m.
*See Gameday post above for detailed information.
No. 1 Binghamton (20-8, 13-3) vs. Winner of No. 8/No. 9 play-in game, 6:07 p.m.
Obviously we won't know who Binghamton's playing until the play-in game is over, but it's a safe bet that the Bearcats will match up well against their opponent. Binghamton is the most athletic team in the conference and is on an eight-game winning streak (though some have been by the thinnest of margins) entering the tournament. We'll have more info on this matchup once it's determined.
(Edit: Hartford, by virtue of winning the play-in game, has advanced to the quarterfinals and will be Binghamton's opponent. The Hawks will have to improve on their regular season results against the Bearcats (two losses by seven and 18 points, respectively) while dealing with the effects of playing on short rest with a relatively short bench. Hartford's victory puts the Hawks on their first winning streak since mid-January and nine of the Bearcats' 13 conference wins were by single digits, so don't be surprised if this one stays close.)
Projected Starting Lineup
No. 4 New Hampshire (13-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 Stony Brook (16-13, 8-8), 8:30 p.m.
These two teams faced each other in a thriller at the end of the season with UNH capturing the higher seed on the strength of a 58-57 overtime victory. The Wildcats have beaten the Seawolves twice this season and have won four of their last five games, with the one loss coming to Binghamton by one point in overtime. The Seawolves have been one of the most surprising teams in the conference given their youth and inexperience, but with Tommy Brenton (second in the conference in rebounding) and Muhammad El-Amin does the bulk of the scoring. SBU presents a nice balanced scoring attack and is the best defensive team in the conference. If, however, the Wildcats begin to light it up from beyond the arc -- combined with the in-game coaching of Bill Herrion -- the Wildcats could move on. Given the matchup and the fact they just played one another, this game could turn into a first-round gem.
Projected Starting Lineups
Friday, March 6:
No. 8 Maine (9-20, 4-12) vs. No. 9 Hartford (6-25, 2-14), 7:05 p.m.
The Hawks are coming off an emotional loss to Boston University in which they came extremely close to ending their dismal 14-game losing streak. While Hartford deserved to win the game, they couldn't make enough plays and/or 3-pointers at the end to pull it out. Maine, on the other hand, lost to Vermont sans Mike Trimboli and is probably playing the worst basketball in the conference. Troy Barnies and Gerald McLemore have been a diamonds in the rough for the Black Bears, but when Mark Socoby's not scoring, it makes things difficult. McLemore could be a difference-maker as the most athletic player on the court in the play-in game, but Hartford's newfound energy could be enough to propel them forward. The winner doesn't get much of a reward, however, as they have to take on top-seeded Binghamton on Saturday. Hartford and Maine split the season series.
Projected starting lineups
Saturday, March 7:
No. 2 Vermont (23-7, 13-3) vs. No. 7 Albany (14-15, 6-10), 12:07 p.m.
Almost all the talk surrounding this game has been centered on Mike Trimboli's mysterious "illness/serious viral infection" and whether or not the first-team senior guard will play on Saturday. According to the Burlington Free Press, he's already returned to practice and made the trip to Albany. It would be a complete shock to see him held out of the lineup, especially in his senior year. How effective he'll be, however, remains to be see. Even if Trimboli doesn't play, UVM still has AE Player of the Year Marqus Blakely and a great supporting cast. The Great Danes are in rough shape as their rookie point guard Anthony Raffa and Louis Barraza will likely miss the game with injuries and not even a home-court advantage can help cure that. With a severe lack of depth and being losers of seven of their last eight -- as well as history (a No. 7 seed has never topped a No. 2 seed in the America East Tournament) -- things aren't looking good for the Danes. One glimmer of hope could be that Albany has beaten UVM this season, 82-77 at Patrick Gymnasium.
Projected Starting Lineups
No. 3 Boston U. (17-12, 11-5) vs. No. 6 UMBC (13-16, 7-9), 2:30 p.m.
*See Gameday post above for detailed information.
No. 1 Binghamton (20-8, 13-3) vs. Winner of No. 8/No. 9 play-in game, 6:07 p.m.
Obviously we won't know who Binghamton's playing until the play-in game is over, but it's a safe bet that the Bearcats will match up well against their opponent. Binghamton is the most athletic team in the conference and is on an eight-game winning streak (though some have been by the thinnest of margins) entering the tournament. We'll have more info on this matchup once it's determined.
(Edit: Hartford, by virtue of winning the play-in game, has advanced to the quarterfinals and will be Binghamton's opponent. The Hawks will have to improve on their regular season results against the Bearcats (two losses by seven and 18 points, respectively) while dealing with the effects of playing on short rest with a relatively short bench. Hartford's victory puts the Hawks on their first winning streak since mid-January and nine of the Bearcats' 13 conference wins were by single digits, so don't be surprised if this one stays close.)
Projected Starting Lineup
No. 4 New Hampshire (13-15, 8-8) vs. No. 5 Stony Brook (16-13, 8-8), 8:30 p.m.
These two teams faced each other in a thriller at the end of the season with UNH capturing the higher seed on the strength of a 58-57 overtime victory. The Wildcats have beaten the Seawolves twice this season and have won four of their last five games, with the one loss coming to Binghamton by one point in overtime. The Seawolves have been one of the most surprising teams in the conference given their youth and inexperience, but with Tommy Brenton (second in the conference in rebounding) and Muhammad El-Amin does the bulk of the scoring. SBU presents a nice balanced scoring attack and is the best defensive team in the conference. If, however, the Wildcats begin to light it up from beyond the arc -- combined with the in-game coaching of Bill Herrion -- the Wildcats could move on. Given the matchup and the fact they just played one another, this game could turn into a first-round gem.
Projected Starting Lineups
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The Day After: (Vermont 75, BU 47)
As the post title suggests, The Day After is devoted to letting the previous night's game sink in and seeing where things stand once 24 hours have passed. Well, it's 24 hours later and the loss still highlights what an impressive performance Vermont put on in their home gym to gain control of first place in America East and leave both BU's a half-game behind. In the 75-47 victory, it was once again UVM's ball pressure and active defense that led to far too many mistakes by the Terriers. Once the Catamounts stole the momentum (after a block on Marques Johnson by Marqus Blakely which led to a 3-pointer by Mike Trimboli in transition), the Terriers seemed too fatigued or too disoriented to mount a comeback.
It was the first time since BU's first loss against UVM (70-56) -- in which BU coach Dennis Wolff criticized the team for a lack of toughness -- that the team did, in fact, look weaker than the opponent and also the first time during the now-defunct eight-game winning streak the Terriers executed an extremely inefficient offense. Corey Lowe looked uncomfortable bringing the ball up court against Nick Vier, who was playing Lowe tightly all night, and that led to six turnovers and only one assist from the junior point guard (who ended up playing a good amount of the 2 when Johnson was in the game for Wolff, who picked up his fourth foul five minutes into the second half). Even when Lowe was off-ball, the 3-pointers he took in the second half were off-balance. Granted two of them went in and he led all scorers, but the ability of Vermont to seemingly throw him off for the first time in a long time is what's troubling.
In addition, the Catamounts were able to silence John Holland (who, I'm sure you know by now, grabbed the top spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays for his one-handed jam over Evan Fjeld). He scored only two points in the second half and finished with 14 -- roughly eight under his scoring average against conference opponents and four under his average for the season. Holland's emotions appeared to be roller coaster-like, which led to him being sat down by Wolff for the final 3:37. While Holland has played with extreme poise and discipline since the start of conference play, the Terriers can't afford to have him lose focus or continue to hit extended dry spells in the second half if they hope to rebound from the loss.
Speaking of, BU's next game now becomes almost as important Wednesday's. Binghamton also has 9-3 conference record and has won their last four contests. The last time the two teams met, the Terriers won in blowout fashion as all of their pieces clicked, but if BU plays as sporadically as it did against Vermont or they don't receive a complete effort (as Wolff, Brittain and O'Brien were all less of a factor than they've been in conference play), the Terriers could be in trouble. Sidenote: O'Brien had a string of 10-consecutive double-digit scoring games snapped against UVM.
Listed below pros/cons are the remaining schedules for the top three teams in America East. If Binghamton wins Saturday, they'd be in good shape to win the conference as they hold the tiebreaker over UVM. If the Terriers win, it'll put Vermont in good shape to claim the first seed, but also put the Terriers in a much better position to win (with some help from UVM) than if they lost on Saturday.
Pros:
-- Defense: While there were too many backdoor cuts and good looks from Trimboli, UVM was also on the extreme top of its game. BU's trap was working well, especially at half court.
-- Holland's dunk: If you haven't seen it, it's linked below. Do yourself a favor and scroll down.
Cons:
-- Turnovers: The Terriers turned the ball over 21 times and assisted only five baskets. Doesn't matter if you're facing the extremely aggressive defense of UVM or not, that's never going to get the job done.
-- Energy level: Perhaps it's fatigue finally starting to get to this group (which has basically played five players since mid-January) but after a strong burst of energy and dominance in the first 10 minutes of the first half, Vermont completely took over and the Terriers looked lost.
-- Untimely fouls: Wolff's fourth foul was extremely ill-advised and it's the first time since BU became short-staffed that a player picked up a fourth foul that early in the second half. There were a few other unnecessary fouls that BU will need to avoid making down the stretch.
Links:
Catamounts demolish M. BBall
Cats claim top spot
John Holland's Sports Center No. 1 Dunk
University of Vermont (19-7, 10-3):
2.15: vs. Stony Brook (14-11, 6-6)
2.17: @ Maryland-Baltimore County (11-13, 5-7)
2.21: vs. Buffalo (17-5, 8-1)*
3.1: @ Maine (9-16, 4-8)
*ESPNU Bracketbusters matchup
Boston University (14-10, 9-3):
2.14: vs. Binghamton University (16-8, 9-3)
2.18: @ Stony Brook (14-11, 6-6)
2.21: vs. Iona (11-14, 6-8)*
2.26: vs. Maine (9-16, 4-8)
3.1: vs. Hartford (6-20, 2-10) (Agganis Arena)
*ESPNU Bracketbusters matchup
Binghamton University (16-8, 9-3):
2.14: @ Boston University (14-10, 9-3)
2.18: @ Hartford (6-20, 2-10)
2.22: vs. New Hampshire (9-14, 4-7)
2.26: vs. Maryland-Baltimore County (11-13, 5-7)
It was the first time since BU's first loss against UVM (70-56) -- in which BU coach Dennis Wolff criticized the team for a lack of toughness -- that the team did, in fact, look weaker than the opponent and also the first time during the now-defunct eight-game winning streak the Terriers executed an extremely inefficient offense. Corey Lowe looked uncomfortable bringing the ball up court against Nick Vier, who was playing Lowe tightly all night, and that led to six turnovers and only one assist from the junior point guard (who ended up playing a good amount of the 2 when Johnson was in the game for Wolff, who picked up his fourth foul five minutes into the second half). Even when Lowe was off-ball, the 3-pointers he took in the second half were off-balance. Granted two of them went in and he led all scorers, but the ability of Vermont to seemingly throw him off for the first time in a long time is what's troubling.
In addition, the Catamounts were able to silence John Holland (who, I'm sure you know by now, grabbed the top spot on SportsCenter's Top 10 plays for his one-handed jam over Evan Fjeld). He scored only two points in the second half and finished with 14 -- roughly eight under his scoring average against conference opponents and four under his average for the season. Holland's emotions appeared to be roller coaster-like, which led to him being sat down by Wolff for the final 3:37. While Holland has played with extreme poise and discipline since the start of conference play, the Terriers can't afford to have him lose focus or continue to hit extended dry spells in the second half if they hope to rebound from the loss.
Speaking of, BU's next game now becomes almost as important Wednesday's. Binghamton also has 9-3 conference record and has won their last four contests. The last time the two teams met, the Terriers won in blowout fashion as all of their pieces clicked, but if BU plays as sporadically as it did against Vermont or they don't receive a complete effort (as Wolff, Brittain and O'Brien were all less of a factor than they've been in conference play), the Terriers could be in trouble. Sidenote: O'Brien had a string of 10-consecutive double-digit scoring games snapped against UVM.
Listed below pros/cons are the remaining schedules for the top three teams in America East. If Binghamton wins Saturday, they'd be in good shape to win the conference as they hold the tiebreaker over UVM. If the Terriers win, it'll put Vermont in good shape to claim the first seed, but also put the Terriers in a much better position to win (with some help from UVM) than if they lost on Saturday.
Pros:
-- Defense: While there were too many backdoor cuts and good looks from Trimboli, UVM was also on the extreme top of its game. BU's trap was working well, especially at half court.
-- Holland's dunk: If you haven't seen it, it's linked below. Do yourself a favor and scroll down.
Cons:
-- Turnovers: The Terriers turned the ball over 21 times and assisted only five baskets. Doesn't matter if you're facing the extremely aggressive defense of UVM or not, that's never going to get the job done.
-- Energy level: Perhaps it's fatigue finally starting to get to this group (which has basically played five players since mid-January) but after a strong burst of energy and dominance in the first 10 minutes of the first half, Vermont completely took over and the Terriers looked lost.
-- Untimely fouls: Wolff's fourth foul was extremely ill-advised and it's the first time since BU became short-staffed that a player picked up a fourth foul that early in the second half. There were a few other unnecessary fouls that BU will need to avoid making down the stretch.
Links:
Catamounts demolish M. BBall
Cats claim top spot
John Holland's Sports Center No. 1 Dunk
University of Vermont (19-7, 10-3):
2.15: vs. Stony Brook (14-11, 6-6)
2.17: @ Maryland-Baltimore County (11-13, 5-7)
2.21: vs. Buffalo (17-5, 8-1)*
3.1: @ Maine (9-16, 4-8)
*ESPNU Bracketbusters matchup
Boston University (14-10, 9-3):
2.14: vs. Binghamton University (16-8, 9-3)
2.18: @ Stony Brook (14-11, 6-6)
2.21: vs. Iona (11-14, 6-8)*
2.26: vs. Maine (9-16, 4-8)
3.1: vs. Hartford (6-20, 2-10) (Agganis Arena)
*ESPNU Bracketbusters matchup
Binghamton University (16-8, 9-3):
2.14: @ Boston University (14-10, 9-3)
2.18: @ Hartford (6-20, 2-10)
2.22: vs. New Hampshire (9-14, 4-7)
2.26: vs. Maryland-Baltimore County (11-13, 5-7)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
GAMEDAY: Boston University vs. University of Vermont
For the first time in their respective careers, the players on the Boston University Terriers men's basketball team will take part in the most meaningful regular-season game to date.When BU visits the University of Vermont tonight (7:30 p.m./NESN) first place in the America East will be on the line. Not only that, but the Terriers have Bingahmton University looming in the distance on Saturday.
While BU hasn't had success recently against UVM (dropping five of its last six), the Terriers were able to squeeze out a one-point victory at Patrick Gymnasium last season. In the teams' first meeting this year, however, UVM used a 25-10 game-ended run to eliminate an early lead by the Terriers at Agganis Arena.
In the game, it was UVM so-termed "Full White Press" -- a version of their full court press -- that game BU the most trouble, forcing the Terriers to turn the ball over 14 times, leading to a number of fastbreak opportunities for the Catamounts. The Terriers had trouble, despite working on beating the press in practice, and they should be better prepared when UVM (most likely) attempts the same thing tonight.
Perhaps the biggest factor contributing to this game is the matchup issues Marqus Blakely and Colin McIntosh present for the Terriers. While Scott Brittain and Jake O'Brien have been excellent over the course of BU's eight-game winning streak, Brittain's not as physical as Blakely and O'Brien isn't as experienced as McIntosh. BU does, however, have two perimeter scorers who can dominate a game, while Vermont really only boasts one (in Mike Trimboli), but Blakely makes such a big difference in the interior (with not only his scoring, but defense and passing as well) that the game will be a tough one for the Terriers, even if they continue to play as well as they've been over the course of the streak.
A win tonight would go a long way to attaining a first-place finish in America East for BU, but the Terriers are going to need to slow down the highest-scoring offense in the conference on their own floor. A bad start might spell doom for BU, as -- despite what an prolific road team they've been against America East opponents -- a massive comeback will be much harder against a team that learned its lesson against Binghamton a week prior, when they relinquished a 53-30 halftime lead.
Also, UVM freshman Jordan Clarke will sit tonight's game out as part of a three-game suspension for violating the Catamounts' student athlete code of conduct.
Links:
MBBall heads to Vermont with top AE spot on the line
Vermont goes for top spot
Adversity makes Boston University stronger
BU, Vermont take center stage
Projected starting lineups:
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Day After: Vermont 70, BU 56
Pros:
-- Building an early lead: The Terriers were able to jump on the Catamounts despite a terrible crowd at Agganis and the talented team that Mike Lonergan's assembled. One wonders if the result would have been different had BU not collapsed before the half.
-- Zone defense: While suspect late in the second half, BU's zone held the Catamounts t0 28 points in the first half. And for a team that's averaging above 75 points per game, that mark is pretty impressive, especially since the Terriers are still learning the intricacies of the matchup zone.
Cons:
-- Agganis losing streak:
-- End-game effort: It appeared as though after the scrum between Matt Wolff and Marqus Blakely, UVM took complete control of the momentum and put the Terriers away to the point of non-effort in the final minutes of the game.
-- Inability to break the press: Even though they worked on it in practice, the Terriers were unable to solve UVM's full-court press, leading to a slew of costly turnovers.
Links:
Cat-astrophe
Catamounts' Full White Press forces 13 turnovers, keys victory over BU
-- Building an early lead: The Terriers were able to jump on the Catamounts despite a terrible crowd at Agganis and the talented team that Mike Lonergan's assembled. One wonders if the result would have been different had BU not collapsed before the half.
-- Zone defense: While suspect late in the second half, BU's zone held the Catamounts t0 28 points in the first half. And for a team that's averaging above 75 points per game, that mark is pretty impressive, especially since the Terriers are still learning the intricacies of the matchup zone.
Cons:
-- Agganis losing streak:
-- End-game effort: It appeared as though after the scrum between Matt Wolff and Marqus Blakely, UVM took complete control of the momentum and put the Terriers away to the point of non-effort in the final minutes of the game.
-- Inability to break the press: Even though they worked on it in practice, the Terriers were unable to solve UVM's full-court press, leading to a slew of costly turnovers.
Links:
Cat-astrophe
Catamounts' Full White Press forces 13 turnovers, keys victory over BU
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Post-game Audio & Photos (Vermont 70, BU 56)
BU coach Dennis Wolff's opening statement following a 70-56 loss to Vermont
Wolff discusses losing the 11-point first half lead
Wolff's team will have problems if it gets into foul trouble
Wolff reflects on the competitiveness of America East
UVM coach Mike Lonergan's opening statement
Lonergan praises his teams' full-court press
Marqus Blakely talks about coming off the bench
Lonergan discusses rebounding and teams double teaming Blakely
Blakely has seen many more double teams in the post this season
Live Blog: University of Vermont v. Boston University
Tonight's game between the University of Vermont Catamounts (9-6, 0-2) and the Boston University Terriers (6-8, 1-1) tips off at 7:30 p.m. as part of a doubleheader at Agganis Arena.
Here are the starting lineups for tonight's game:
University of Vermont Catamounts
12 G Nick Vier
13 G Mike Trimboli
21 G Garvey Young
40 F Colin McIntosh
45 F Garrett Kissel
Boston University Terriers
02 F Matt Wolff
13 G Corey Lowe
21 F Jake O'Brien
23 F John Holland
31 F Scott Brittain
Final Score: University of Vermont 70, Boston University 56
Leading scorers:
UVM -- Colin McIntosh, 17
BU -- John Holland, 19
Leading rebounders:
UVM -- Two tied at eight
BU -- John Holland, 5
Leading assists:
UVM -- Mike Trimboli, 5
BU -- Marques Johnson, 3
GAMEDAY: University of Vermont vs. Boston University
Things have been a little hectic beginning the new year for the Terriers, but perhaps there's one bigger surprise in the league than BU's underachieving non-conference portion of the schedule -- the University of Vermont's 0-2 start to America East play. In a league where the champion may only lose two or three games all season, the team that established itself as a prominent favorite after BU began to falter was UVM. Boasting a prolific offense filled with scorers who can torch teams in a number of ways, the Catamounts are averaging 78.1 points per game and enjoyed a successful non-conference schedule.Losses to Binghamton University and the University at Albany, however, have somewhat turned the league upside down and given teams (if they didn't already believe so) the hope that any one opponent can beat any other on any given night -- especially since Albany's win came at Patrick Gymnasium.
The Terriers, playing without two of their top five scorers (Carlos Strong and Tyler Morris who are both out for the season) will need to adapt exactly that mentality if they hope to topple the Catamounts. BU's new blend of inside-outside offense could aid the Terriers and help eliminate extended dry spells while shooting from the perimeter, especially at Agganis Arena, where the team hasn't been known to shoot particularly well. Speaking of top scorers, Wednesday's game (which will be televised on NESN and ESPN Full Court) wi
ll feature five of the top seven scorers in America East in UVM's Mike Trimboli (15.8), Marqus Blakely (15.3) and Colin McIntosh (14.0) and BU's Corey Lowe (17.0) and John Holland (15.8).Perhaps more so than BU's new offensive mentality, Holland could have one of the biggest impacts on the game. Coming off two consecutive 25-point performances to begin league play and a recent America East Player of the Week award (shared with UMBC's Darryl Proctor), BU coach Dennis Wolff has said Holland's played two of the best games he's ever played as a Terrier. If Holland's hot streak continues, the Catamounts will be forced to key-in on the dangerous weapon who can score from anywhere on the floor and that will make things a lot easier for BU's other scorers. Perhaps Holland has benefited from the team's change in defense, switching from man-to-man to a zone after news of the injuries to prevent a high number of fouls as well as fatigue. It will be interesting to see how UVM's high-powered offense reacts to the Terriers' zone and how they will try to break it given their extremely deep and balanced amount of offensive talent.
Projected starting lineups:
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