Vermont Catamounts
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #106
Conference Rank: #1 America East
Vermont fell just short of a second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament with a loss in the America East Conference Tournament Final. The Catamounts still earned an NIT berth as the regular season America East champs behind a 15-1 conference record. After consecutive conference titles, earning a third will be a tough task for head coach John Becker. Vermont loses three starters who averaged double-digit points last season including Trae Bell-Haynes, the back-to-back America East Player of the Year.
2017-18 Record: 27-8, 15-1
2017-18 Postseason: NIT
Coach: John Becker
Coach Record: 166-77 at Vermont, 166-77 overall
Key Departed Players:
Trae Bell-Haynes, Guard, 14.6 ppg
Payton Henson, Forward, 12.3 ppg
Drew Urquhart, Forward, 11.0 ppg
Cam Ward, Guard, 4.7 ppg
Nate Rohrer, Forward, 1.8 ppg
Trae Bell-Haynes, Guard, 14.6 ppg
Payton Henson, Forward, 12.3 ppg
Drew Urquhart, Forward, 11.0 ppg
Cam Ward, Guard, 4.7 ppg
Nate Rohrer, Forward, 1.8 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Anthony Lamb, Junior, Forward, 14.3 ppg
Ernie Duncan, Senior, Guard, 10.8 ppg
Everett Duncan, Junior, Forward, 6.4 ppg
Stef Smith, Sophomore, Guard, 3.9 ppg
Samuel Dingba, Senior, Guard, 2.1 ppg
RA Kpedi, Sophomore, Forward, 2.1 ppg
Skyler Nash, Sophomore, Forward, 1.7 ppg
Ben Shungu, Sophomore, Guard, 1.1 ppg
Bailey Patella, Sophomore, Guard, 0.2 ppg
Ernie Duncan, Senior, Guard, 10.8 ppg
Everett Duncan, Junior, Forward, 6.4 ppg
Stef Smith, Sophomore, Guard, 3.9 ppg
Samuel Dingba, Senior, Guard, 2.1 ppg
RA Kpedi, Sophomore, Forward, 2.1 ppg
Skyler Nash, Sophomore, Forward, 1.7 ppg
Ben Shungu, Sophomore, Guard, 1.1 ppg
Bailey Patella, Sophomore, Guard, 0.2 ppg
Key New Players:
Ryan Davis, Freshman, Center
Robin Duncan, Freshman, Guard
Isaiah Moll, Freshma, Forward
Ryan Davis, Freshman, Center
Robin Duncan, Freshman, Guard
Isaiah Moll, Freshma, Forward
Projection:
Vermont has plenty of production to be replaced with three of last season’s starters now departed. Trae Bell-Haynes has graduated after winning America East Player of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Bell-Haynes averaged 14.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.1 steals last season. Payton Henson and Drew Urquhart also each made all-conference teams as seniors and will leave a combined 23.3 points to be replaced this year. The Catamounts should gain a full season out of a healthy Anthony Lamb in 2018-19. Lamb averaged 12.8 points as a freshman and was set up for a strong sophomore campaign, but injuries set him back. Lamb was still productive in 18 games, averaging 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. Ernie and Everett Duncan are the only two other returning players who scored more than five points per game last season. Vermont will need some of their five returning sophomores and three incoming freshmen to step up and produce if they want to win another conference title. The Catamounts are likely still in the driver’s seat of the America East, but this will be a much more inexperienced team than the past two seasons.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA Tournament
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.9 (167th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 65.1 (21, 1)
Field-Goal Percentage: 48.8 (21, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 43.8 (167, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.4 (192, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 40.1 (14, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 75.4 (48, 2)
Rebound Margin: 4.3 (49, 3)
Assists Per Game: 13.4 (188, 3)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.1 (30, 1)
