Trio of Duncan brothers from Evansville finally teammates with Vermont basketball

Chad Lindskog | Evansville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Ernie, Everett and Robin Duncan have finally joined forces to create their Duncan dream team.

This season at the University of Vermont, they’ve become the fourth trio of brothers to play on the same Division I team. They’re the first to do so since the Herrons suited up for Villanova in 1976-77. (There were three Plumlees on Duke in 2011-12, but the youngest sat the season out.)

Ernie, a redshirt senior, is the demanding oldest brother and Vermont’s leader. Everett, a redshirt junior, is an instigator; the outgoing one who coach John Becker claims is the most popular Catamounts player. Robin, a freshman and the youngest of six siblings, has grown up wanting to be the best player of the bunch.

“The way they complement each other and how good they are, we’ve built our team around them, essentially,” Becker said.

Those in Evansville likely already know about the Duncans’ come-up. Ernie broke the Harrison High School all-time career scoring record, passing future NBA players Calbert Cheaney and Walter McCarty. Everett then one-upped his brother. Ernie also set the school’s career assist record, that is until Robin broke it last year.

The country is starting to learn their story, too.

During Vermont’s game last week against Kansas, ESPN2 dove into their background and broadcast photos of them as children, detailing how three boys from Evansville wound up in Vermont. The announcers told a story about how their father, Stan, taped over family videos with footage of NBA legend Steve Nash’s ballhandling skills.

They’ve told those stories to the Courier & Press before. They’ve also been the subject of similar coverage from local media in Burlington, Vermont.

The questions have been repetitive, but they’re proud to talk about each other and where they’re from.

“It’s really special to have us three on the team and we’re going to appreciate this for a long time,” Everett said.

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Ernie and Everett have earned starting status while Robin comes off the bench. Becker doesn’t have a rotation intended for the three to play alongside each other, but it has worked out that way a few times already.

The Louisville Cardinals were not seeing triple, even if they may have felt that way against Vermont on Friday inside the KFC Yum! Center.

Ernie met the ball at half court while Robin stood atop the free-throw line, extended so no pass would be made inside. Everett was along the perimeter, anticipating the Cardinals’ next move. Not only do they look alike, they move in synchronization.

Yet, outside of pickup games at the YMCA growing up, the three of them hadn’t been teammates until a couple months ago.

“I’m really cherishing every moment I get on the court to wear Vermont across my jersey and of course play with two of my siblings,” Ernie said.

Catamounts fans clad in green and gold, almost all of whom were the Duncans’ friends and family, filled the rows immediately behind the team’s bench in Louisville. Stan and Melinda got a chance to see their boys play close to home even though Vermont lost, 86-78.

The three Duncans went through shootaround together. They linked arms with one another during the national anthem. They exited the locker room postgame in order, too. But they’re each their own person.

“It’s just as competitive even though we’re on the same team now,” Everett said. “Us three, we’re always competing with each other and as a team.”

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Ernie’s freshman season ended before he truly got started. He played just 56 minutes over the first four games before a back injury sidelined him for the remainder of the year.

In hindsight, it allowed his career to be more special.

“It’s funny how things worked,” Ernie said.

There was never a plan in place for any of the Duncan brothers to join forces at a particular college. Ernie had already moved to Vermont by the time Robin got to high school and was a trailblazer in doing so despite receiving six D-I offers.

Once he was forced to sit out a season, he said he thought about the possibility of someday playing with Robin.

“I’ve been away for four years, so it’s weird having him around and seeing him every day,” Ernie said. “It’s cool having him over to hang out with me and Everett and all the guys, it’s really fun.”

Because Robin is a freshman, he lives in a residence hall while Ernie and Everett share an apartment.

“I’ve become really good friends with the other freshman and have enjoyed experiencing the college life. I’m building a really close family as a team,” Robin said.

Becker has known Robin since he was in middle school. He’s noticed how much Robin looks up to his older brothers. They even say he is a combination of them both. He may still be the youngest, but he’s not the “little brother” anymore.

They’ve all matured.

“I’ve learned to be understanding,” Everett said. “I’m not as critical of certain things. They’ve helped me do that because I’ve been critical of them over the years.”

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Becker has no connection to Indiana even though he has five Hoosiers on his roster.

“I just love Indiana basketball,” he said. “At the high school level, it doesn’t really get much bigger and better than that.”

He said players from Indiana are well-adjusted by the time they get to college. They play under a lot of pressure at the high school level and being exposed to proven coaches and large arenas prepare them for what’s next.

The Duncans obviously are a unique case, but they’ve always been winners and that’s who Becker wants.

“I’m hoping they can lead us to the NCAA tournament and I think that’s their plan,” Becker said. “It can be a really cool story, but obviously we have a long way to go.”

Vermont posted its 10th straight 20-win season last year and is one of 10 schools in the country with a streak that long, joining BYU, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, St. Mary’s, and Wisconsin.

The Catamounts made the NCAA tournament two years ago and played in the National Invitation Tournament last season. They were picked to win the America East Conference again this year.

The Duncans want nothing more than a chance to play alongside each other and create March Madness.

“Every time I take the court, I wish I do my best in the best way to represent Evansville and Harrison high school,” Ernie said.

Vermont coach John Becker on managing three of the Duncan brothers from Evansville Evansville Harrison graduates Ernie, Everett and Robin Duncan play for the Vermont men's basketball team.

Vermont’s Duncan trio

Ernie: 6-3, 190, R-Sr., age 24 – Set Harrison’s all-time scoring and assists records

Everett: 6-6, 192, R-Jr., age 23 – Broke Ernie’s scoring record

Robin: 6-5, 190, Fr., age 20 – Broke Ernie’s assists record

Contact Courier & Press sports columnist Chad Lindskog by email, clindskog@gannett.com, or on Twitter: @chadlindskog