End of the Road

for the Catamounts' season. Yesterday they lost to the Purdue Boilermakers 70 - 80. It was a good game. Vermont led for much of the first half. At half time, they were just a point behind.

Second half didn't go as well. But the Catmounts were in it for the duration and made a valiant effort.

With about two minutes to go in the first half, Kurt jumped to attempt to prevent/block a shot, landed awkwardly, and suffered a torn ACL that will require surgery. A horrible end to a magical season. 

Got My Wish

Just looked at my last post. I ended with "Here's hoping for a conference sweep."

Well the Catamounts did it yesterday. 

If only my other wishes were realized. 

Catamounts Clinch America East Regular Season Basketball Title

Last night UVM beat UAlbany to extend their winning streak to 17 games (the country's second longest-active streak.) UVM is 15-0 in conference play and 25-5 for the season. The last regular game of the season in Saturday afternoon.

Here's hoping for a conference sweep.

Lucky Number 13 and Historical 14

It's been a big week for University of Vermont Catamounts men's basketball team. On Monday they won their 13th consecutive game, beating Binghamton University 71-51. Last night the Catamounts made it 14 in a row against University of New Hampshire 82-74: the best start in program history.

UVM is now 22-5 record for the season and unbeaten at 12-0 in conference play. It's been a great season for our nephew Kurt who's scored 1000 points in his college career. He's also six rebounds short of 500 for his career.

Go Cats!

UVM Wins Its Season Opener

I went to my second college basketball game today, my second University of Vermont game with our nephew starting, my second game at Quinnipiac University. UVM Catamounts won handily 94 - 70.

Quinnipiac's TD Bank Sports Center is very nice--modern with many amenities, and welcoming. It was also accessible--about a 50 minute ride with easy directions. It was a nice Saturday afternoon.

Catamount Basketball

Today I went to my first college basketball game: the University of Vermont Catamounts against the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. Unfortunately, the Catamounts (our nephew's team) lost by 16 points. I don't think the Catamounts were ever in the lead.

We've watched a few Catamount games on TV over the past few years, so I've recognized a few players. I used to watch NBA basketball, so I think I can get into the college scene. I used to think it would be too mercurial. I used to think that I couldn't remember the changing players.

Now I have a reason to remember.

Saturday Night Movie: Pompeii

Well, it's Wednesday. I guess our Saturday night movie--Pompeii--wasn't all that memorable. We didn't expect much. We started to watch the movie, then realized that a UVM basketball game was on, and watched that instead. After the game, we returned to Pompeii.

I had never thought about gladiator fights in Britannia, but I guess it makes sense that the rulers would import their own forms of entertainment, and there is evidence to support this.

But, that's just the set-up. I saw the rest of the movie as a second-class Gladiator. A commenter on IMDB compared it to Gladiator, but also to Titanic with its love story set against a disaster. I wonder if that's how it was pitched?

Overall, a mediocre film.

Random Sunday Thoughts

It's the coldest day of the season. Yet, winter is almost a month away.

Winter is Coming.

House Stark, will you recover? I heard that the original title of the last volume of A Song of Ice and Fire was supposed to be A Time for Wolves. Starks survive!

As I was driving back home today, I heard a story about trust in news sources. It said that Walter Cronkite was perhaps the most trusted man in America--"Uncle Walter." In this Kennedy-heavy news cycle, the program included Cronkite's reporting of the Nixon resignation.

My brother used to call me "A Walter Cronkite groupie."

One of the most interesting Kennedy articles I read recently is from the New York Times. It discusses the interruption of As the World Turns with the news of Kennedy's shooting.

We watched our second UVM basketball game versus Duke. We weren't expecting much because Duke. But it was an exciting game. The Catamounts came within seconds of a huge upset, losing 91-90. Kurt had seven points.

Catamount Basketball

I used to watch a lot of professional basketball, but not college ball. That's changed. Our nephew, Kurt, is now playing for the University of Vermont.

Tonight was the first time we were able to catch a game on TV. It wasn't a good night for Vermont--losing by 21 points to Providence. At least Kurt got a decent amount of playing time and scored five points.