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The University of Vermont Catamounts

Men's Basketball

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2009-10 Vermont Men's Basketball - Season Outlook

Coming off a 24-9 campaign and a share of the America East Regular Season Championship, the 2009-10 University of Vermont Catamounts will look to continue a streak that has seen them advance to postseason play in five of the last seven seasons. The Catamounts will be led by the reigning two-time America East Player and Defensive Player of the Year, senior Marqus Blakely. An honorable mention All-American in each of the last two seasons, the high-flying Blakely finished ranked in the top 35 in the nation in four different categories last season: sixth in field goal percentage (61%), tied for eighth in blocks (2.7 pg), 17th in free throws attempted (235) and 34th in rebounds per game (9.0).

This year Blakely will look to become only the third player in conference history to take home player of the year honors three times. He enters his senior season with 1,268 points, which is 15th all-time in Vermont history. While Blakely has proven what he can do on both ends of the court, for the team to be successful it will require some of his teammates to step up their game after losing seniors Mike Trimboli and Colin McIntosh to graduation last year. The duo combined to score over 3,000 points and Trimboli also left as the school's all-time assist leader and after having been a three-time captain. The Cats averaged 76.8 points per contest and shot 48.1 percent from the floor to lead the America East in both categories last season as they finished 11th in the nation in shooting percentage and 34th in scoring.

While the Catamounts might need to make up the scoring of the departed seniors, they do have the experience in place to push for another America East crown. Senior Nick Vier has made 48 starts over the last two years and will be the team's starting point guard this year. The ultra-quick Vier averaged 6.6 points per game last season, finished second on the team in assists and connected on 41.4 percent of his three-point attempts. Joining him in the backcourt will be senior Maurice Joseph, a Michigan State transfer who saw his first action in a Catamount uniform last season. Joseph showed signs of being able to step up his scoring totals last season, which included a career-high 23 points in a win on the road over Wisconsin-Green Bay as part of the College Basketball Invitational. He ended the year averaging 8.1 points per game and made 13 starts.

Vermont will have many options in the backcourt this season as they also return sophomore Garvey Young and junior Joey Accaoui. Young came out of the gates strong as a freshman last season, playing in all 33 games and making 21 starts. He immediately established himself as the team's top defender, but was also able to contribute on the offensive end by averaging 6.0 points per game. An athletic wing, the Catamounts will be looking for Young to only continue to improve and provide more offense this season. Accaoui is another threat to increase his scoring totals this season, as he played in all 33 games as a sophomore and led the conference in three-point shooting percentage (40%). While he takes most of his attempts beyond the arc, he is not afraid to drive to the hole.

A pair of juniors and a sophomore who are each 6-foot-8 or taller will look to step up this season and help Blakely in the paint this season. Junior Evan Fjeld is an experienced player who made 15 starts as a freshman and then played in all 33 games last season. He averaged 4.6 points and 2.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore and scored a career-high 18 points on a perfect 7-for-7 shooting performance at home against New Hampshire. Fjeld went five games without missing a field goal last season, hitting 15 straight shots during the stretch. Classmate Garrett Kissel will push for more playing time this year after working hard during the off-season. A physical player, Kissel made 27 appearances last season for the Cats. Also fighting for playing time inside will be redshirt sophomore Pat Bergmann. A local recruit from nearby Rice Memorial High School, Bergmann gives Vermont some length with his 6-foot-10 frame.

Vermont brings in five newcomers this season, including four freshmen that will each push the returning players for minutes. Ben Crenca and Luke Apfeld will give the Catamounts some more height, as both stand above 6-foot-8. Crenca is more of a traditional back to the basket post player, while Apfeld relies more on his athleticism to create opportunities on both ends of the court. Simeon Marsalis will give UVM some options at the point, backing up Vier and Accaoui, while Brendan Bald could provide some versatility on the wing at 6-foot-4. Vermont also adds Massachusetts transfer Matt Glass, a native of Underhill Center, Vt., who will have to sit out this season do to NCAA transfer rules.

The Cats have another tough schedule on tap for this season as they open the year with their first 10 straight on the road, including a pair against Big East members Rutgers and Providence. Vermont will also host an ESPN BracketBusters game for the second straight year, after defeating Buffalo at home last season as part of the event on ESPN2.

Last modified October 15 2009 03:51 PM

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