2012-2013 Vermont Catamount Thread!

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Getting back to Voelkel for a second, if a 6'5'' forward ends up as our all-time leading rebounder and all-time leader in assists given the players before him, and can manage to get us back into an NCAA Tournament..even if he doesn't...man, that's impressive.

Yes he doesn't pass the "looks test" I suppose and his offense is...funky- I dunno, that's still an elite player IMHO.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Voelkel
Carissimo
Apfeld
Crenca
Rugg
Elbaum
Rusin
Blue (Graduate)
O'Day
Kilpatrick
Taggart (RS?)
Harold (RS)
Pierson (RS)
Davine- Walk-On


Would not have guessed this would be the roster back on April 1st- but this is what it's looking like.

13 scholarship players by my count. Will have two scholarships for 2013 recruiting (Crenca/Blue)

[NotDeadYet]

FWIW I was walking the dog and ran into Clancy Rugg. He said he thinks they will be better this year than last year, maybe by a lot. He looks like he has put on a couple more pounds of muscle.

[dnapolit]

That's a bold statement from Clancy. We definitely have some solid returning guys but where's the scoring coming from? Last season Glass and McGlynn took the big shots in almost every game. Losing three strong perimeter players will have impact this season. In addition, there are so many new pieces this year that you have wait to find how the chemistry of the team will gel. I hope he's right but I'm not sold that a roster that has this many new pieces will deliver us back to the dance.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

FWIW I was walking the dog and ran into Clancy Rugg. He said he thinks they will be better this year than last year, maybe by a lot. He looks like he has put on a couple more pounds of muscle.

Like the sounds of that

I could see that being the case too- though I'm cautiously optimistic.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by dnapolit

That's a bold statement from Clancy. We definitely have some solid returning guys but where's the scoring coming from? Last season Glass and McGlynn took the big shots in almost every game. Losing three strong perimeter players will have impact this season. In addition, there are so many new pieces this year that you have wait to find how the chemistry of the team will gel. I hope he's right but I'm not sold that a roster that has this many new pieces will deliver us back to the dance.

Great post. I think scoring's going to be a work in progress, much like last season where we didn't really know who the go to guy was going to be and it evolved over the season. At first it was Bald, then it eventually became Four and Glass. But, Sandro showed he can score and Apfeld for a stretch last year was IMO our most consistent offensive threat. Plus, we have some newcomers that are expected to make an impact right away.

At this point I just gotta believe whether it's one person, a couple, or a collective team effort- it works itself out.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

In other words, I think we've been worried about where scoring was going to come from since end of 09-10....and each season we've lost our #1/#2 scorers....Blakely/MoJo....Fjeld/Accaoui......yet have still won 47 games since and been to the NIT and NCAA Tournaments.

Losing our #1/#2 scorers from last years team too in Four/Glass....not saying it's going to keep happening where things work out for us, but we've been able to replace scorers and find new ones.

[source67]

I am with Clancy - They will be better, a lott better.
Four is gone - we have Candon (way better defensive player, 2009/10 MAAC All-Rookie Team) and Trey Blue(able to
play 1 or 2 guard, 5th year senor)
Bald is gone - we have rookie Brendan Kilpatrick-you are going to be surprised
Matt is gone - O'Day and 15 pounds stronger Clancy Rugg
and new Brian Voelkel

[Vermonster]

Originally Posted by source67

I am with Clancy - They will be better, a lott better.
Four is gone - we have Candon (way better defensive player, 2009/10 MAAC All-Rookie Team) and Trey Blue(able to
play 1 or 2 guard, 5th year senor)
Bald is gone - we have rookie Brendan Kilpatrick-you are going to be surprised
Matt is gone - O'Day and 15 pounds stronger Clancy Rugg
and new Brian Voelkel

Great post!

[UVM Hoop Cat]

I think our front court will be better than last season. I think we'll get better scoring inside this season, we didn't really have that last year.

I think Apfeld/O'Day will be a nice tandem and hopefully Crenca can have a final injury-free senior season Rugg has added size. Those guys will also benefit from going against Ryan Pierson every day in practice, making them better. And Voelkel.

[VT Cats Fan]

I think UVM Hoop Cat has hit the nail right on the head. We worry every year where our offense is going to come from and somehow it seems to emerge. I think that is largely a function of the offensive system we run. Lots of guys get touches, and eventually it finds the weakness in the defense. We probably won't know who our "go to" guy(s) are until later in the season. We didn't really have a clear finisher until the second half of the season last year either and we turned out fine.

I take Clancy at his word. If he thinks we could be better this year than last, I would think he's in a pretty good position to know that. I'd say we'll have to be, because some other teams in the conference are going to be better as well.

Looking forward to November!

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by VT Cats Fan

I think UVM Hoop Cat has hit the nail right on the head. We worry every year where our offense is going to come from and somehow it seems to emerge. I think that is largely a function of the offensive system we run. Lots of guys get touches, and eventually it finds the weakness in the defense. We probably won't know who our "go to" guy(s) are until later in the season. We didn't really have a clear finisher until the second half of the season last year either and we turned out fine.

I take Clancy at his word. If he thinks we could be better this year than last, I would think he's in a pretty good position to know that. I'd say we'll have to be, because some other teams in the conference are going to be better as well.

Looking forward to November!

Yep- and I used to be one of those people that was worried, but not anymore. I think given the fact since 09-10 we've graduated Nos. 1 & Nos. 2 in scoring and have still played at a very high level speaks volumes to the abilities of Lonergan/ Becker and rest of the coaches to not only bring in talented players- but get them ready for when their number is called.

I'm also pretty encouraged by the fact that we have four newcomers in Rusin/Blue/O'Day/Kilpatrick that by all accounts are four guys that are going to play meaningful minutes+ maybe Taggart is he can show he can play now. It's nice knowing that both freshmen aren't going to come in and just sit on the bench; but rather are going to be productive. I'm definitely less worried about Four's departure/Bald then I was previously.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Not related to 12-13 at all, but UVM has been releasing videos of Classic sports moments, here's the win in 06-07 over #14 BC. Pretty awesome. Might recognize Jared Dudley, plays for the Phoenix Suns in the NBA. Also, one of a number of games that explains why Al Skinner isn't coaching:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssN95pXe9k8

[uvm4life20]

I'm pretty sure Taggart is here a year early for depth purposes. I dont think he is going to get much action his rookie season. Kilpatrick is more game ready than he is.

[littlemanwithpants]

http://uvmathletics.com/mobile/index.aspx?story=31965

No mention of Blue here... He's not on the updated roster either... Anyone have any insight?