One-Bid Wonders

Caption: St. James’s Serman Harris (11) defends as Dre Wills of Mercersburg Academy drives to the basket on Tuesday, December 4, 2012. (Public Opinion/Ryan Blackwell)

(Burlington, VT) – It was a very happy birthday indeed for Vermont head coach John Becker last Wednesday. On the day he turned 45, Becker received the best gift a coach could ask for: a verbal commitment from Harry “Dre: Wills – a player with the skill set to turn every one of the Catamounts’ weaknesses into strengths.

Vermont fans may have to go all the way back to high-flying Tobe Carberry (’00) to find a Catamount guard with a similar skill-set to Wills. An extremely athletic, incredibly tough and very physical 6’1” combo-guard, Wills’ is a bit rough around the edges and a suspect shooter from behind the arc, but he is an elite-level defender, an elbows-above-the rim-athlete and a big-time play maker capable of blowing by his man off the bounce, slashing into the paint and finishing at – and well above – the rim.

Wills comes to Vermont from Indiana by way of a post-graduate year at Mercersburg Academy, a prep-school in Pennsylvania and had significant interest from, among others, Butler, Loyola-Chicago, Siena and Wisconsin-Green Bay and was also recruited by the likes of Xavier and Michigan before committing to the Catamounts. (more…)

The Great Danes rushed the court in hostile Patrick Gymnasium to celebrate their shocking 53-49 upset of the Vermont Catamounts to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Burlington, VT) – A tidal wave of purple cascaded down over the wooden the bleachers of Patrick Gymnasium, burst through the green and gold floodgates and crashed onto the hardwood floor.

Amidst the sea of purple and gold chaos, first-year Albany assistant coach Jon Iati –who had helped lead the Great Danes to their first two NCAA Tournaments as a player – assistant coach Jeremy Friel – who had first competed against Iati at rival New Hampshire before coaching him as a member of the staff at Albany – and associate head coach Chad O’Donnell bear-hugged at center court; leaping and shouting in celebration – grown men turned kids again by the magic of the moment.

Iati’s younger brother Jacob, a fifth-year senior shooting guard who followed his brother to Albany initially as a walk-on transfer, fought frantically through the fray, searching for his teammate and best friend Mike Black. The diminutive-duo had stood tall as pillars of the program over the grind of the season, and in the biggest game of their lives Saturday, the pint-sized playmakers towered over the court, combining for 22 points.

When Iati finally found his back-court mate, tears were pouring from Black’s eyes and streaming down his face. Now, amidst the uproar, they shared an embrace.

Great Danes head coach Will Brown, wearing a sedated smile, quietly ducked out of the spotlight to find his family: kissing his wife Jamie and embracing his son Jackson.

The final buzzer had sounded. The clock read “0:00,” but it still hadn’t struck midnight on the Great Danes and their fairytale season.

Albany had run the gauntlet through the America East Tournament, exorcising demons and slaying dragons every step of the way. And now, the scoreboard read “Albany 53, Vermont 49” and the Great Danes were the America East Champions. (more…)

Trey Blue’s long and winding basketball odyssey has been a long and winding road, wrought with obstacles and tragedy, but he has finally found peace as a fifth-year senior at Vermont (Photo by Sam Perkins).

Special Submission to One Bid Wonders

By: Kyle Barry

If You’re Going Through Hell, Keep Going.
- Winston Churchill

It wasn’t the senior day he had imagined (or could have ever predicted), but there he was, standing at center court, holding his framed Vermont jersey in one hand and his infant son in the other, posing for pictures while the Patrick Gym crowd gave him a standing ovation. The crowd was the usual greying bunch—members of the Burlington community who, while undyingly supportive, are rarely raucous, and who usually prefer to sit on Patrick Gym’s unforgiving wooden roll-out bleachers rather than stand and cheer for any length of time. But this was UVM’s annual celebration of its senior class, and, before tip-off against visiting Hartford, it was Trey Blue’s turn to be honored.

It was a long time coming.

For basketball purposes, Horace “Trey” Blue III is a one-year transfer and fifth-year senior, though technically he’s neither—he isn’t a “senior,” he’s a graduate student, and he didn’t “transfer,” he graduated from Illinois State and then enrolled, this past fall, at UVM. Trey took a rather unorthodox route to campus, first spending a year at Fordham University in the Bronx before transferring to Illinois State, where, after paying his own tuition during his transfer year, he played for two seasons and obtained his undergraduate degree. He also has an extraordinary basketball pedigree, having come of age within the City of Chicago’s ocean-deep talent pool of future NBA draft picks and college superstars. (By the time he was twelve-years-old, Trey was traveling around the country playing AAU basketball alongside future NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose. For four years, Trey and Rose played in the same backcourt, with Rose drawing defenders and feeding Trey for open jump shots, and Trey lobbing alley-oop passes to Rose.)

In his single season at Vermont, Trey has been a crucial offensive threat on a team that has twenty-one victories and is one win away from the NCAA Tournament. He’s played in all thirty-one games, scoring 8.5 points per contest, answering every call – either as energy off the bench, a glue guy holding the team together, or a shooter in the starting lineup.

In the last ten games (including two in the conference tournament), Trey started while shooting guard Candon Rusin played reduced minutes with a toe injury. During that stretch, Trey increased his scoring output to over ten points a game, and emerged as a more versatile and aggressive combo-guard—a player who will not only hit open shots but who can dependably handle the ball and attack the rim. In a non-conference game against Canisius, for example, he scored seventeen points on 6-9 shooting (2-4 from three), and picked up four assists working adroitly with freshman forward Ethan O’Day on the pick-and-roll. And late in the regular season finale against Hartford, Trey asserted himself in crunch time, getting to the rim off a quick crossover dribble and setting up a tip-in that tied the game with thirty-four seconds to play (the Cats would lose on a buzzer beater).

For the fans at Patrick Gym, it was this single season of achievement for which they stood and applauded on senior day. But for Trey the moment was about much more; it was the culmination of all he had been through, both good and bad, on his long journey from feted, sure-thing recruit to father and impact college player—and it could hardly have come at a more symbolically significant time.

One week earlier, Trey’s son Carter had turned one year-old. Two weeks before that, and after years of delay, the man who brutally murdered Carter’s aunt and baby cousin was convicted, finally, of two counts of first degree murder.
These milestones, inextricably intertwined with Trey’s trajectory as a college basketball player, reminded Trey of how fragile youthful hoop dreams can be (pedigree be damned), and how grateful he was to be there, in that moment, standing between those roll-out bleachers and waving to the standing Vermont crowd. (more…)

Vermont head coach John Becker (standing) may be quick to duck out of the limelight and deflect praise, but over his two years at the helm, he’s emerged as the league’s top coach (Photo by Sam Perkins).

(Albany, New York) — It is said that teams often embody their coach. After back-to-back comebacks in the America East Tournament – a turning on the second-half jets quarterfinal win over New Hampshire, and a do-or-die 85-72 win over UMBC in the semifinals – and a punched ticket to the title game, nowhere is that more true than with the down-but-never-out Vermont Catamounts and second-year head coach John Becker,

Neither flashy nor fancy, Becker is not a hype man, self-promoter or mouthpiece – and is decidedly not a “rah-rah” guy. A soft-spoken players coach, he is a lunch-pail and hard-hat gamer, a blue-collar grinder who gets his hands dirty.

In the era of sideline theatrics where outspoken coaches pander to the camera, Becker has deflected credit during press conferences, praising his players while downplaying his own accomplishments.

But his accomplishments speak at a far more deafening decibel level than boisterous boasting ever could: He is the hard-working, hardwood embodiment of Teddy Roosevelt’s proclamation to “speak softly, and carry a big stick.”

All he does is win. (more…)

(Durham, NH) – The University of New Hampshire Wildcats may have been a thorn in the side of the Vermont Catamounts during previous seasons, but in Wednesday night’s America East opener, they offered up little resistance against the defending America East champs.

By tip-off Wednesday night, temperatures in Durham dipped to the low-end of single-digits, inside Ludholm Gymnasium, the Wildcats offense and internal fire weren’t burning much warmer. Vermont rolled to a 64-51 road win in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score.

Vermont guard Josh Elbaum handles the ball during the Catamounts 64-51 road win over New Hampshire on opening night of America East conference play (Photo by Sam Perkins).

“We executed our defensive game-plan as well as we have all year, as far as doing it for 40 minutes and doing all the little things that we expect of the guys,” said Vermont head coach John Becker.

“They deserved to win, they outplayed us, and it started from the beginning,” said New Hampshire head coach Bill Herrion. “First home conference game, against the defending league champions, I thought we’d put up a much better fight: we kind of went away quietly in the second half.”

Vermont used timely shooting, effort and intensity on the glass and defensive end, and a patient and diverse offense to handle the lethargic Wildcats. Nine different players scored for the Catamounts.

“Hopefully we can continue to get production from nine guys so that we can use a nine-man rotation,” said Becker.

Do-everything forward Brian Voelkel keyed Vermont, ripping down 13 rebounds to go with six assists and five points.

“Brian set the tone for us all night – being vocal and his energy on both ends of the court,” said Becker. “He is our leader, and when he does that, guys follow.”

With Forwards Luke Apfeld and Clancy Rugg struggling through ineffective nights, a trio of unusual suspects packed Vermont’s scoring punch in freshman forward Ethan O’Day, first-year transfer Candon Rusin and reserve center Ben Crenca.

O’Day, who had struggled for nearly a month after a hot start to the season, paced Catamounts out of the gate, scoring eight of his 11 points in the early going.

“I thought Ethan O’Day was just all over the offensive glass,” said Becker. (more…)

(Burlington, VT) – Vermont junior wing Brendan Bald, the 2011 America East Defensive Player of the Year, has left the Catamounts basketball team, but will stay in school to complete his degree.

“Brendan has decided not to play basketball his senior year and to focus on his academics,” said Vermont head coach John Becker in a press release earlier today. “He is not transferring and will stay at UVM his senior year. I want to thank Brendan for all his hard work and contributions to the men’s basketball program. He will always be a Catamount and I wish him the best in the future.”

“I have decided not to play basketball my senior year so that I can focus my time on my academics,” said Bald in a statement released by the Catamounts. “I plan on graduating a semester early and studying for the LSAT’s this fall. It is my hope to enter law school and pursue a career in law. I am thankful for my three years of being a member of the UVM basketball team and I thank the coaches, fans, and alumni for their support. I have created memories I will never forget. It is in my best interest to step away from the game of basketball and I wish the team and the coaches nothing but the best in the future.”

Bald enjoyed a breakout season as sophomore during the 2010-2011 season, averaging 11.3 points in 28.2 minutes per game, shooting an eye-popping 41 percent from behind the arc while being named the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year, as well as earning a place on the All-Defensive and All-Conference Third teams.

Despite being named a captain last season, Bald’s game regressed significantly, as the junior’s minutes and production dropped dramatically. Bald’s averages dipped to 7.6 points and 23.9 minutes per game, and his three-point percentage fell to 26.4 percent.

Beyond sheer numbers, Bald seemed to lose his energy and edge on the court; shying away from contact on the offensive end while playing without his usual aggression on the defensive end.

Behind closed doors, the word was that Bald had lost his love of the game. According to several sources, Bald informed the coaching staff on Wednesday of is decision to leave the team and end his playing career – it was no a mutual decision, but Bald’s alone. However, the coaching staff was not surprised.

The Catamounts now have an open scholarship to use. While there is already speculation about landing a high-impact transfer, the coaching staff is still deciding which direction they will head.

Vermont head coach John Becker and freshman guard Four McGlynn celebrate the 71-59 win

When John Becker was announced as the next head coach of the University of Vermont Catamounts in a press conference last May, he had the full support of his players.

The outside world was another story.

Becker was a feel good story: A man who got his start as an assistant basketball coach at Gallaudet, the country’s only four-year liberal arts college for the deaf and hearing impaired, learning sign language after landing the job, while also doubling as the schools head tennis coach. Becker would risk everything, uprooting his family to move up to the great white north of Vermont for a job as the Catamounts’ director of basketball operations which paid only 10 thousand dollars and came with no promises of future promotion.

A true “players coach,” in his five years on Mike Lonergan’s staff, Becker was revered by the Catamounts as the program’s most popular assistant.

But when he was announced as the head coach, in the eyes of many, he was inexperienced, unproven, and, flat-out, the wrong man for the job.

Fast-forward to Thursday, and Becker has proven his mettle ten-fold, silencing every last doubter. When the Catamounts took the floor in Dayton, Ohio, for the NCAA tournament first-round, Becker had already set a program record for wins by a first-year head coach with 23 and become only the second rookie head coach in America East history to lead his team to the NCAA’s.

Hours later, Becker added the icing on the cake with the Catamounts second ever NCAA tournament win.

“Really don’t know what to say. I’m really excited and thrilled for our guys to be able to get this win in the NCAA Tournament,” said Becker.

In a matchup of 16-seeds in the NCAA Tournament’s “First Four,” Vermont completely controlled the tempo while flawlessly executing their game plan for a 71-59 win over a Lamar squad favored by most pundits.

“Second NCAA Tournament win in our school’s history. And this one’s for all the former UVM players and coaches and people who helped us get us to where we are today,” said Becker.

Freshman gunner Four McGlynn lit up the Cardinals for a game-high 18 points to go with three assists and no turnovers, and sophomore wrecking-ball/Moose Brian Voelkel ripped down 12 rebounds and dished out seven assists to go with a steal and a block, to lead the Catamounts.

“It was my first NCAA tournament game. I thought I played pretty well,” said McGlynn.

Senior Matt Glass added 11 points and sophomore point guard Sandro Carissimo chipped in ten. Senior reserve center Pat Bergmann gave the Catamounts a spark off the bench with eight points on a perfect 4-4 shooting. (more…)

Gus Johnson’s reaction said it all.

T.J. Sorrentine stood almost 30 feet away from the rim. Dribbling, slowly, back-and-forth, between his legs, for what seemed like an eternity.

30 seconds earlier, Sorrentine’s teammate, Germain Mopa-Njila, had brought Johnson, a CBS announcer known for his ability to describe paint drying as the end-all-be-all of humanity, to the brink of exploding, burying a 3-pointer to put the 13-seeded Vermont Catamounts ahead of the 4-seed Syracuse Orange, 56-55, with just 1:55 remaining in overtime.

Now, with the Catamounts still clinging to their one-point lead, Sorrentine stood near center court, dribbling.

With the shot clock at 14, Vermont head coach Tom Brennan knelt at the edge of the sideline and yelled “Run Red! Run Red!” A play calling for a screen-and-fade by power forward Taylor Coppenrath, one of the nation’s leading scorers, and a player who had scored 30 or more points in three straight games.

Sorrentine turned, and with a quick hand gesture and a shake of his head, waved off his coach, saying calmly “‘Nah, Coach, I got this.” With eight seconds left on the shot clock, he let it fly. (more…)