Catcountry21

The Cats open the season on the road as they travel to Siena Friday night at 7:00.

If you asked me a couple of weeks ago how I felt about this one I would have picked the cats by 8-12 points. Right now, I'm not so sure.

O.D. Anosike is a force and we will struggle to contain him. I believe Siena also has a couple other bigs that couldn't play last year if I remember correctly. I think this team could actually be much better then people think.

They also have a freshman guard out of Canada (Audu) that is supposed to be pretty special.

This Vermont team is going to be much better at the end of the year then they are right now. They aren't 100% comfortable playing together yet, but that will come. Someone is going to have to step it up and hit some outside shots (Candon/Blue) points in the paint are going to be hard to come by.

Looking forward to watching Anosike and Voelkel battle it out in the paint for some boards. Anosike was the top rebounder in the country last year. Brian will have his work cut out for him. Maybe Ben will be back.

Siena 68 Vermont 55

__________________
"Everybody pulls for David, nobody roots for Goliath." -- Wilt Chamberlain

NotDeadYet

If they don't change the stand-around offense to move-around, it will not be a fun game for UVM.

Drive the ball on Anosike whenever possible to get him into foul trouble.

Set some screens for the 3pt shots. I didn't see a one in the exhibition games.

UVM Hoop Cat

This is a much different Siena team than last season. They have two players- one really key player- back from missing last year with injuries in Rakeem Brookins and Trenity Burdine. Brookins was the starter his freshman year.

I feel like Vermont will have their hands full with a deeper, more experienced Siena team and will most likely be beaten on the road in the season opener. That being said, we are 2-0 in last two seasons against them so hopefully I am surprised by the outcome Friday as well.

I already know OD Anosike is going to get his in the paint and on the glass- hopefully Crenca plays if nothing more to be a big body and have fouls to give.

What makes Siena dangerous will be the pairing of Brookins and Evan Hymes. Rob Poole is a good outside shooter, and I know their freshman Ryan Oliver from Northfield Mount Hermon is also a great 3pt shooter.

In their exhibition opener against Skidmore, the two kids from Africa had a real tough time- so I know much was written about them and they were recruited heavily- but their lines in the box score is startling- it is so bad it almost sounds like it could be an error:

Lionel Gomis:

3 turnovers and 2 fouls in 4 minutes of play.

Imoh Silas: Fouled Out in 8 minutes of play

Keep in mind this is against a D3 team. That performance suggests that neither is ready to go now and both are a work in progress.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM Hoop Cat

We have 3 difficult games to start the year all on the road- @Siena, @UConn, @Northeastern, would not be surprised to see us go 0-3 but hopefully start to pick up wins against Yale/Harvard, though both of those teams will be good as well. I would really love to have a couple wins out of our first 5 games, but it will not be easy.

We struggled early on last season and got better as season progressed so not real worried, but I want RPI to be as best it can so hopefully will get some dubs.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM Hoop Cat

I'm going to be at the BU/Northeastern game on Friday so hopefully the good folks on this board can keep this game thread updated live during the game.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM Hoop Cat

Siena's game against Skidmore wasn't as big a blowout as one might expect, they only won 76-55. Hymes did not play, however.

Interesting to note, Vergennes, VT native/Vermont Academy Connor Merrill dropped 26pts on 9/17 FG against Siena. That's pretty awesome for a D3 kid from Vermont to do.

http://www.sienasaints.com/sports/m-...3/sie1103.html

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

Patch

UVM should give Siena a good fight and hopefully knock them off in front of probably 7,000 fans.

Hymes has an achilles problem and missed the Skidmore exhibition but I would expect him to play.

If Siena plays Hymes and Brookins together it will be a very quick (and sometimes out of control) backcourt but very small,

OD will be the best or one of the best bigs you play this season and in the past he has stayed out of foul trouble - the good thing about that is that he really is not a big shot blocker.

Poole is a potential three point threat

After that everyone has limited experience. The key is stay close early and watch out for their 3/4 to half court traps.

A UVM winn will be a great start for the AE OCS.

Good Luck Catamounts!!!!

Vermonster

Once again... good transitions and minimal turnovers will be key. Our rebounding is killer so far. Can't wait!

THE802

OD can takeover this game himself and bring a W for the Saints. If UVM wins the boards and keeps the TO 10 or less they will be in it. Let OD get off and they may not reel them back in at the end....give the Saints +3 for home court advantage

Patch

UVM is always a very good rebounding team but Siena will be better then what you've seen in your 1st two exhibitions.

It will be a challenge on the glass.

If you beat them off the boards and keep them off the offensive glass you should win handily!!!

goBing

You guys already sandbagging. The season hasn't even started yet!

UVM Hoop Cat

I was surprised when we won at their place a few years ago on the team with Rossiter.

Last year at home- especially after how we played against South Florida/Old Dominion- I was expecting to win.

This year, I feel the same way as I did a few years ago. We can definitely win though.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005

UVM7680

I don't think so. I can't speak for anyone else (and claim no expert knowledge or insider information). But from the two UVM exhibition games I watched, I'd call the Cats a work in progress. I think the team has a lot of promise, but they are still figuring out how to fit the pieces of the puzzle together. I also don't know how Siena is this year, but I'm assuming they'll be much, much better than St Mikes or Concordia. And UVM struggled against those teams for much of the time. The Cats should continue to improve as the season goes on, but right now, I have no idea how they'll do against Siena. Hopefully they'll play well!

Patch

Some updated info on Siena.....

Hymes playing sore achilles

Brookins and Burdine out 3 games

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AndrewSantillo Coach B said we should expect to see walk-on Christian Leppanen play on Friday with Brookins being suspended 12 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite


AndrewSantillo Mitch said he is a little concerned with Evan Hymes' Achilles, but he will play Friday night for @SienaSaints24 minutes ago · reply · retweet · favorite


AndrewSantillo BREAKING: Rakeem Brookins and Trenity Burdine have been suspended for 3 games for violating athletic department policy - will miss opener

UVM Hoop Cat

I see a slow start as well. I think both Apfeld/Rugg look like they will have increased roles and will be able to step up and absorb loss of Glass.

From what I've seen in two exh. games I think we're going to miss Four badly early on. I think a lot of UVM folks took his skill-set for granted- especially ability to hit from deep and put ball in the basket. He was the guy that got our offense going when it became stuck and lethargic. I'm hoping Rusin can be that guy to score. I would have hoped to have seen more scoring from Blue thus far.

__________________
"Let's win this game for all the small schools that never had a chance to get here"
- Hoosiers,
& UVM mens basketball NCAA's 2005