2012-2013 Vermont Catamount Thread!

[uvm4life20]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

No doubt Harold and Pierson are both impact transfers for us. I'm pretty certain both would be starters for us this season and expect both become starters when they are eligible for game play next season.

Harold can really score and if Pierson plays anything like the same kid I saw as a freshman at Northeastern, then he will most likely be either the best big man or one of the best big men in this conference. That's not hyperbole and hype, that's just the truth when you compare his skill set to the current known crop of AE bigs.

I have a hard time believing Harold would start over Apfeld. I think I'm a lot higher on Apfeld than most people. He shot VERY WELL from the outside last season. I thought he should of taken a lot more shots from there. He shot a great fg% as well last season. Obviously his minutes will stay pretty low because of our depth and his injury history. I really like his game though.

I really dont see Harold starting next year either because he will have to beat out a senior+captain in Apfeld, a soph in O'day, and a senior in Rugg. I can see Pierson starting since he will be are only legit center.

It's nice to see people having good things to say about the players. Harold is the biggest ? to me. People described him as entertaining??? What exactly does that mean.

[uvm4life20]

[QUOTE=VT Cats Fan;6963108]

Some general thoughts after watching the scrimmage:

Overall, I'd say our Freshman class is pretty ready to play. I don't remember thinking that last year. Both Ethan O'Day and Brendan Kilpatrick should get reasonable minutes. Ethan seems to be more of a traditional center with good moves and footwork, but had some trouble finishing around the hoop. Brendan is a pretty athletic 3/4 that can move and shoot. Played solid defense too - he blocked a dunk at the rim. Harrison Taggart could be this year's Four - come off the bench for instant offense. Watching him play, you would not know Troy Devine is a walk on. He should be able to contribute and get some minutes this year.
[QUOTE=VT Cats Fan;6963108]

O'day might have some troubles finishing but its not something I worry about going forward. He shot an insanely high fg% last year. It was like 75%. He has great touch around the rim. He might of had some first game nerves and it might take him a season to get use to the contact at the college level but the kid can score.

I don't think Kilpatrick is a 4 at all. He is 6'5" max. I thought of him as a SF first who could play some SG. The way you described him makes me think he won't play much sg at all for us and is strictly a SF. Some players can play multiple positions but its far from ideal for them to play other positions and will really depend on matchups.

I think Taggart will be more of a spot up shooter than an insta offense kind of guy. He doesn't have the ability to get his own shot off like four but he is a better passer.

Its nice to see Davine played well enough. He has a great chance to get a scholly his junior year when 6 open up. It would be great for him to be a guy who can give us PG depth. Did he look like he could play PG?

[THE802]

Originally Posted by uvm4life20

I have a hard time believing Harold would start over Apfeld. I think I'm a lot higher on Apfeld than most people. He shot VERY WELL from the outside last season. I thought he should of taken a lot more shots from there. He shot a great fg% as well last season. Obviously his minutes will stay pretty low because of our depth and his injury history. I really like his game though.

I really dont see Harold starting next year either because he will have to beat out a senior+captain in Apfeld, a soph in O'day, and a senior in Rugg. I can see Pierson starting since he will be are only legit center.

It's nice to see people having good things to say about the players. Harold is the biggest ? to me. People described him as entertaining??? What exactly does that mean.

I agree with the Apfeld statement. He will be a force this year. I have never doubted this kid even with his past injuries.

[UVM7680]

Video clip, courtesy of UVM Athletics...
Vermont Basketball: Catamount Tip Off (10/20/12)

For the women, it was great to see Lauren Buschmann (no. 32) back after her ACL tear.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by uvm4life20

I have a hard time believing Harold would start over Apfeld. I think I'm a lot higher on Apfeld than most people. He shot VERY WELL from the outside last season. I thought he should of taken a lot more shots from there. He shot a great fg% as well last season. Obviously his minutes will stay pretty low because of our depth and his injury history. I really like his game though.

I really dont see Harold starting next year either because he will have to beat out a senior+captain in Apfeld, a soph in O'day, and a senior in Rugg. I can see Pierson starting since he will be are only legit center.

It's nice to see people having good things to say about the players. Harold is the biggest ? to me. People described him as entertaining??? What exactly does that mean.

He wouldn't necessarily have to start over Apfeld, Harold could start along side Apfeld. We could go big with a lineup of Sandro, Harold, Voelkel, Apfeld, Pierson. Talking about who starts in 2013-14 is kinda silly since we don't even know who starts this year- but my point is that both Harold and Pierson are guys that are going to be 20+ minutes a game players as soon as they are eligible. One or both might start, and it's nice to have a lot of versatility and options.

I don't disagree that Apfeld is an awesome player capable of starting. I thought we were a much better team when Apfeld moved into the starting lineup last season.

That being said, the unfortunate reality is his minutes will always be limited because of injury history- and Harold is a dynamic player that can play multiple positions on the floor and is a very good scorer.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Kilpatrick looks like an AE 3 to me...someone that can also play SG but looks more like a natural 3. Playing him at the 4 he'd be extremely out of place IMO.

Taggart has a nice shooting stroke.

How did Rusin not win the dunk competition after that first jam...my goodness.

Clancy and Kilpatrick had some real nice dunks as well.

[uvm4life20]

right now it seems like Taggart, Kilpatrick, and steidl are all SF's. not sure how we work around this but i think kilpatrick could develop into a 2 and steidl could play some 4 occasionally. This is something UVM is going to have to work around.

[uvm4life20]

i thought kilpatrick had the nicest dunk of the night.

[UVM7680]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

How did Rusin not win the dunk competition after that first jam...my goodness.

Clancy and Kilpatrick had some real nice dunks as well.

The dunk contest was judged more in fun than anything. Also only 3 guys were in the competition. Nothing I'd take too seriously, especially since dunk contests aren't that relevant to what happens in-game (excepting Air Marqus, of course..)

[Jim Patrick]

Originally Posted by uvm4life20

right now it seems like Taggart, Kilpatrick, and steidl are all SF's. not sure how we work around this but i think kilpatrick could develop into a 2 and steidl could play some 4 occasionally. This is something UVM is going to have to work around.

if ever there was a team where it did not matter who started it would be th UVM catamounts of the last couple years and for the foreseeable future it seems that they will have 8 guys who will average between 20 and 30 minutes and 2 to 3 guys in the 8 minute range. they have the ability to play match-ups, ride the "hot hand" and avoid foul trouble without giving up anything at any position.....This is a great thing, and why we should be on top for the next couple of years at the very least, and judging by what this staff has put together over the last year i am not the least bit worried about 2014.... They know what they are doing and how to build a "team"

[NotDeadYet]

Originally Posted by Jim Patrick

if ever there was a team where it did not matter who started it would be th UVM catamounts of the last couple years and for the foreseeable future it seems that they will have 8 guys who will average between 20 and 30 minutes and 2 to 3 guys in the 8 minute range. they have the ability to play match-ups, ride the "hot hand" and avoid foul trouble without giving up anything at any position.....This is a great thing, and why we should be on top for the next couple of years at the very least, and judging by what this staff has put together over the last year i am not the least bit worried about 2014.... They know what they are doing and how to build a "team"

+1

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by Jim Patrick

if ever there was a team where it did not matter who started it would be th UVM catamounts of the last couple years and for the foreseeable future it seems that they will have 8 guys who will average between 20 and 30 minutes and 2 to 3 guys in the 8 minute range. they have the ability to play match-ups, ride the "hot hand" and avoid foul trouble without giving up anything at any position.....This is a great thing, and why we should be on top for the next couple of years at the very least, and judging by what this staff has put together over the last year i am not the least bit worried about 2014.... They know what they are doing and how to build a "team"

I agree with all of this. I think- especially last year absent a Marqus-type- that the depth of our team was the driving factor behind success more than anything. As fans and supporters of the program I can't imagine anyone really cares who starts as long as the team is playing winning basketball.

That being said, having a team of interchangeable parts and depth is sure great for coaches and fans- just need to make sure all the players have bought in as well- because as we all know that's not always the case. See: McGlynn, Four; Santo, Chris; McKeaney, Ryan; Young,Garvey; Clarke; Jordan etc etc

I trust the coaching staff has a group in place and will target kids that will go with the program.

[UVM Hoop Cat]

Originally Posted by UVM7680

The dunk contest was judged more in fun than anything. Also only 3 guys were in the competition. Nothing I'd take too seriously, especially since dunk contests aren't that relevant to what happens in-game (excepting Air Marqus, of course..)

I know- My post was also more fun than anything, I could care less who actually won the dunk contest. Don't give things like that a second thought. Just pointing out that the first dunk by Rusin in that video was the most impressive one I saw from the group.

[UVM7680]

Originally Posted by UVM Hoop Cat

I know- My post was also more fun than anything, I could care less who actually won the dunk contest. Don't give things like that a second thought. Just pointing out that the first dunk by Rusin in that video was the most impressive one I saw from the group.

yeah, Rally tried to vote at one point, I think. And probably Rusin's dunk was the best but he got stiffed by the judges! O'Day won because the other finalist (Kilpatrick?)... er... missed all three of his attempts.

Originally Posted by Jim Patrick

If ever there was a team where it did not matter who started it would be th UVM catamounts of the last couple years...

I think that's true, as long as our incoming players are clear about that and not fixated on starting, since we know how that can turn out..

[UVM Hoop Cat]

As others have said, freshman class looks solid. Didn't get to see much of Davine from the highlight clips, but what I saw from O'Day, Kilpatrick, and Taggart is impressive. O'Day and Kilpatrick look like they will be ready for minutes right away.

Really like the looks of Kilpatrick. Seems like a versatile, athletic player. Looks like his game now is how we'd hope Santo would turn out by junior year.