The Quinnipiac Bobcats start their season against the Vermont Catamounts on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. It will be the first time the Bobcats will be playing publicly following closed practice preseason games. As for the Catamounts, they are hoping to continue their preseason success coming into Saturday’s game, following two wins against the University of Quebec at Montreal Citadins and Saint Michael’s.
Players to Watch
Quinnipiac: For Quinnipiac, there are a few key players that are going to be looked at to contribute right away. Senior point forward Donovan Smith averaged 7.9 points per game, 5.8 rebounds per game and 1.8 blocks per game in 30 games and nine starts last year. He should provide leadership and anchor the defense in this game and for the rest of this year, after finishing second in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference in blocks per game. Another player to be on the lookout for is junior shooting guard Reggie Oliver, who will be making his debut with the team. It’s unclear how much playing time he will be getting, however head Coach Tom Moore has praised him on his shooting ability and playmaking and is expecting him to make an impact immediately.
Vermont: For Vermont, expect freshman forward Anthony Lamb to contribute right away on the offensive side of the ball. In the two exhibition games, he scored 18 points and 25 points respectively shooting 73 percent from the field. Although it is a small amount of games to work with, it’s safe to assume that his number will be called on again in this game to score at a high rate. Redshirt sophomore guard Ernie Duncan is another player to look out for. He’s a sharpshooter who can knock down the three ball with relative ease and is a solid passer as well.
Keys to the Game
Quinnipiac: In this matchup, the Bobcats are going to have to show their strength in the in the paint and on the defensive end as well. Vermont’s team is full of big men who don’t rebound the ball exceptionally well. However, they make up for it in transition and through their excellent three point shooting. If Quinnipiac wants a shot at winning this game, they’re going to have to set the tone early rebounding the ball and limiting movement in transition.
Vermont: The Catamounts will have to keep the ball moving on the offensive side and limit their turnovers. They’re a great shooting team already, but their game against St. Michael’s proved that they can be a little loose with the ball by giving up ten turnovers. Going up against a Bobcats squad that should be good defensively should bring a good early season test to how the Catamounts will move the ball.
X-Factors
Quinnipiac: Junior point forward Chaise Daniels had flashes last year of becoming a borderline go-to scoring option for the Bobcats after averaging 9.8 points per game and 2 offensive rebounds per game. His consistency on the offensive end however has been a big question mark, and was proven by shooting 39 percent from the field. If he can get going early on, he should be able to have a big game against a Vermont team that’s not the greatest in terms of paint play.
Vermont: Free throws. In their two preseason games they shot a total of 67 percent from the free throw line. They draw a lot of shooting fouls, but they don’t always take advantage of their opportunities. If they’re planning on playing a more physical game against the Bobcats, they’re going to have to not only continue to draw fouls, but also convert on the chances that they get.
