Vermont Basketball: 2019-20 season preview for Catamounts

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT - MARCH 21: Robin Duncan #4 of the Vermont Catamounts looks on from the court near his brother Ernie Duncan #20 while playing the Florida State Seminoles during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

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HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – MARCH 21: Stef Smith #0 of the Vermont Catamounts drives past Anthony Polite #13 of the Florida State Seminoles during their first round game of the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at XL Center on March 21, 2019 in Hartford, Connecticut. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

The Catamount rotation

With 60% of their starting lineup returning, Becker must find replacements for Ernie Duncan and Dingba. If those spots are likely to go a returning player then it wouldn’t surprise me to see Robin Duncan slide into the spot vacated by his brother, because of his defensive abilities and the fact he can be trusted with the ball in his hands. If Becker wants to deploy a traditional big-man lineup, Giddens is the best bet to fill out the lineup, if not, then look for Powell to possibly slide into the starting five.

The bench should see DeMuth and Everett Duncan seeing key minutes as should Powell and 6-8 forward Ryan Davis who will account for most of the forward minutes off the bench. In the backcourt, the depth is a little thin with just the remaining Duncan, be it Everett or Robin coming off the bench and Deloney the only freshman likely to see any meaningful minutes in his first season.

While that lack of depth may seem like a problem, it hasn’t seemed to have hampered the Catamounts in the past and with Lamb likely to have the ball in his hands for most of his 30-plus minutes per game, making ball-handling depth a little less important.

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