Vanderbilt Sports Line

We don't do much writing about Vandy sports

2013-04-12T22:47:00.000-05:00

But fortunately there are some less lame people out there.

See, for example, the front page of the college football section on SI.com. An excerpt:

While his first two seasons at the helm were described with words like potential, this year, there’s a need for of fulfillment. “There isn’t anything easy in the SEC,” Franklin said. “But there’s no doubt there’s an expectation [this season]. In the first year, we thought we could win. Last year, we believed we could win. Now there’s an expectation, not only externally, but internally in our program.”

Next Year........

2013-01-27T08:48:00.000-06:00

In What Universe Is This Not a Shot Clock Violation?

2013-01-10T22:41:00.002-06:00

Commodores Cap Historic Season with Top 25 Ranking

2013-01-08T08:53:00.002-06:00

Add "Top 25" to the list of accomplishments for this year's Vanderbilt Football team.

After winning the Music City Bowl with a 38-24 win over N.C. State to earn their 9th win of the season (their most since 1915), the Commodores conclude the 2012-13 season ranked 20th in the USA Today/Coaches Poll and 23 by the Associated Press. This is the first time Vanderbilt has been ranked at the end of the season since 1948. Soon enough, such accomplishments will become commonplace and won't conjure images of a bygone era. Still, it is nothing short of incredible how Coach James Franklin, his staff, and the Vanderbilt administration, led by Vice Chancellor of Athletics David Williams, have set the Commodores on this meteoric rise. Think about this: on January 8, 2011, Vanderbilt had won 4 games in two years; the team and had just hired a coach, of whom many were skeptical; and Commodore fans were (understandably) nervous that perpetual doormat was our SEC fate. Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?

VSL Gets You Ready: Previewing Vanderbilt vs. MTSU

2012-12-21T12:49:00.000-06:00

The Commodores take on Papa O'Shea's alma mater this evening at Bridgestone Arena. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN U.

Much like the Commodores of a year ago, MTSU has to consider this to be "the year". Head Coach Kermit Davis has the second most experienced team in the NCAA. While it appears that this game, at the moment, is unlikely to be the kind of resume builder that Coach Davis would like, it would be a large boost to his program to claim a victory over Vanderbilt this season. Last year, the Commodores claimed a seven point victory over the Blue Raiders, one of four victories over the past four contests that Vandy can claim.

That may still be easier said than done. Judging from the comments section in my previous post, I am one of the few who is taking a ride on this Commodore bandwagon (either that or our readers have long since abandoned us). Regardless, I think this is a dangerous game for Middle. They gain very little by winning, and lose quite a bit by dropping to this squad in their hopes to reach the NCAA tournament via an at-large bid. A loss here would basically seal Middle's fate to winning the Sun Belt in order to punch their ticket.

While Middle is experienced, this is an interesting matchup because it is "strength-on-strength". Middle is not particularly talented in post scoring, though they do create extra shots by getting after the offensive glass. However, this version of the Commodores excels at limiting second chance opportunities. Who controls the glass when the Commodores are on defense will be an integral part of this game.

Similarly, Middle thrives off steals and turnovers. Vanderbilt has been very good about taking care of the ball, and especially about not allowing steals and transition points. Middle attempts significantly more two point field goals than threes (mostly off put back attempts), but they aren't particularly potent inside the arc on the first shot. Middle has a couple of long-range bombers, but those guys are not the primary force of their game plan (though Raymond Cintron does take a tremendous number of three point shots), and Vandy is vastly better at defending the perimeter than the paint. Middle excels at getting to the line, but Vandy isn't one to foul unneccessarily.

To me, winning this game will be about controlling the defensive glass. This is where having a guy like Kevin Bright can be a huge advantage for us. Offensively, we have to find ways to attack the basket and not be too three reliant, which unfortunately has been our M.O. this season. The reason here is two-fold: (1) Middle fouls a whole heck of a lot and puts people on the line people on the line a ridiculous 43% of field goal attempts, and (2) Middle is a crappy interior defensive team, allowing almost 50% at that point.

With this in mind, I expect a low-scoring and somewhat slow tempo game. I think Vandy does a great job limiting second chance opportunities, but doesn't do enough from the line or on the inside to come out on top. However, I feel pretty good about Vanderbilt covering the -6.

A Moment to Taste A Little Crow: Trying to Sell You on 2013-2014 Vanderbilt Basketball

2012-12-20T13:34:00.000-06:00

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I am a big Kevin Stallings' detractor, I simply wonder if perhaps he has run his course at Vanderbilt. But today I'm going to eat just a feather or two of crow.

I understand if some of y'all aren't at that point yet. After all, this Vanderbilt team is merely 5-4, has a horrible double-digit loss to Marist under its belt, and has yet to enter conference play. If you are concerned about having horrible losses on your resume, then you aren't understanding what this year for Vanderbilt basketball is all about. You can't say never, but this team's chances of making the big dance are slim to say the least, and the only situation in which a bad loss really matters is when the Selection Committee is making decisions for the field of 68. Therefore, take those poor performances and add context to them, because they are more about how the team responds than they are about how the season will play out.

I'm sitting down at the table early for my avian fare because I believe the early exit polls show there is far more in this cupboard than most initially thought. It's hard to quantify it with numbers at this point because nine games is such a small sample, but there's just something there when you watch these guys that makes you think a couple of key cogs could drastically improve the team as a whole.

This is a different perspective than I had at the end of last season, where I looked at recruiting strike-outs and player losses and arrived at the conclusion that it would be a long time before this program was back on the national radar. There are two reasons for my sudden change in attitude: 1) a deeper and more talented than expected backcourt and 2) Kevin Bright.

The backcourt's offensive and defensive capabilities have surprised to a large extent, thanks to big improvement out of Kedren Johnson and Kyle Fuller. Kedren was somewhat of a known commodity, but his offensive numbers have been stellar when compared to his freshman year, and further when compared to the rest of the SEC. He's averaging 17 ppg and shooting .418 from three. Per Ken Pomeroy, he is 10th in the SEC in effective Field Goal% (fgs made/field goals attempted with heavier weight on threes) and has improved that rating by over 20% from last year (59.4%). The important thing to note is that Kedren is utilizing nearly 28% of the team's possessions at this point while taking more shots than anyone else on the team. He has thrived as his minutes have tripled, and he's only going to get better.

Much the same can be said about Fuller. Thought to be in line for transferring last year, Fuller opted to stay on and has gotten his opportunity due to Dai-Jon Parker's suspension. To say he's made the most of it is an understatement. While Fuller still struggles with scoring consistency (only a 47.4 eFG%), his biggest jump has been his ability to limit his OGKF moments. Per Ken Pomeroy, his turnover rate (turnovers/possessions where the player touches the ball) is nearly half what it is for his career, while his assist rate (assists/field goals made by player's teammates while he is on the floor) is nearly identical to Kedren Johnson's. Furthermore, Fuller has demonstrated himself to be the only capable free throw shooter on the team while getting to the line about four times a game. He has also proven himself to be a good perimeter defender. But what has really impressed me about Fuller has been the intangibles. Twice now Kyle Fuller has turned it on huge in big points of games, most notably his 12 point onslaught in overtime against Xavier. He plays much more within himself and controlled, making heady decisions with the ball. But even more than that, he's learned to use his agility and ball-handling to create penetration into the lane. Don't believe me? Go watch the Cornell game, specifically at 5:12 in the first half. Fuller's move to the rack was a thing of beauty.

This backcourt duo has been the rock for this squad thus far, and it's only going to get better with Dai-Jon Parker now back from suspension, and next year will have more depth with Tulsa transfer Eric McClellan in the fold. The other part of this equation, Kevin Bright, needs even less explanation.

It's hard not to look at the way Bright plays and be impressed. Bright is a more developed freshman than most, having spent a signficant amount of time in international play. This does raise some questions about his ceiling (a la A.J. Ogilvy), but right now you gotta think his play will only get better. Bright is averaging about 7 ppg while scoring a ridiculous 61.2 % eFG (good for top 100 in the nation!). He's arguably the team's best three point shooter, where he has more FGs made than 2 point attempts. What's amazing is that he is a tremendously efficient defensive rebounder, on par with Lance Goulbourne in his junior and senior year. He is top 50 in defensive rebounding %. Bright is yet another gem from the foreign pipeline for Stallings, and solidifies the three spot in future years. Place developmental guys like Sheldon Jeter, Bamba Siakam, and A.J. Astroth in there and there's some depth at the wings without too much pressure to develop quickly.

The real question lies in our post play, an area where we sorely need help from top-100 recruit Damian Jones. While Josh Henderson, Shelby Moats, and Rod Odom have fought admirably, Vanderbilt's defensive woes rest inside the three point line, where they allow teams to score on 47.6% of their 2-point attempts. They do a nice job of not fouling and also of limiting opposing offensive rebounds, but are weak at getting their own put backs. This is the unit where the loss of our big three (Jenkins, Taylor, Ezeli), is most strongly felt, as Festus was in the top-50 in the nation in block percentage for two years straight, very tough shoes to fill. The addition of a strong defensive post like Jones will bring a strong positive impact for this squad.

In addition, Vanderbilt is heavily reliant on the three offensively, where they are among the tops in the NCAA in bombing away, and among the bottom in shots inside the arc. Of course, this leads to less free throw attempts, where the 'Dores are again among the bottom dwellers in the NCAA, which may not be a bad thing entirely when you consider how poorly they shoot free throws (a near NCAA worst 59.5% as a team!)

These observations don't come without a caveat. Vanderbilt has feasted on some fairly weak opponents of late and is about to hit a difficult stretch to close out 2012 (against MTSU on neutral court, against Butler at home). While expectations should remain somewhat low in those matchups, they are opportunities for these guys to taste high level competition, so watching how they respond will be interesting.
Free throw shooting can be improved on a yearly basis, as can interior scoring, but the team could sorely use a defensive body in the post. Given the solid base that our backcourt provides, the team desperately needs improvement out of Josh Henderson, Shelby Moats, and Rod Odom. A boost from any one (and preferably two), along with a solid freshman campaign from Jones, could legitimately have this team back near the tournament bubble by season's end next year, a far cry from where I initially thought (my original prediction was 2014-2015). With a little bit of recruiting luck, Vanderbilt could get their shot as a top 25 squad in perhaps three years, and could provide what most Vanderbilt fans truly crave, a deep March run.

Vanderbilt's Headed to the Music City Bowl, Are You?

2012-12-05T18:57:00.002-06:00

The 8-4 Commodores will take on NC State in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl on December 31, 2012 on ESPN. Kick-off is at 11:30 central. You can buy your tickets here.

I know many of you were disappointed with your seats at the Liberty Bowl and are considering getting tickets from the secondary market. I would encourage you not to do so. One of the reasons Vanderbilt is staying home for the bowling season is because of the perception that Commodore fans won't travel. It doesn't matter that that characterization has no basis in fact: when it comes to bowl selection committees, perception is reality. The more tickets Vanderbilt sells (and hotel rooms our fans book), the more likely bowl selection committees are going to invite the Commodores in the future.

We will have bowl updates in the days and weeks to come. If you're on the fence (especially as a non-Nashvillian), make the trip. A Vanderbilt bowl game and getting to spend New Year's Eve in Music City, do you really have something better to do?

VSL's First (But Not Last) Word on Vanderbilt's Bowl Prospects

2012-11-25T13:32:00.001-06:00

Here's what we know. The SEC has 9 bowl-eligible teams, one of whom will play Notre Dame for the BCS National Championship, and another who will play in one of the other BCS bowls (likely the Sugar Bowl). After the BCS bowls, the hierarchy is as follows:

Capitol One
Outback Bowl/Cotton Bowl (Cotton Bowl has preference of teams from the SEC Western and the Outback Bowl has preference of teams from the SEC Eastern. The bowls can select teams outside of its divisional preference, but cannot select them before the opposite bowl selects from its divisional preference)
Chick-Fil-A
Gator
Music City
Liberty
BBVA Compass

Vanderbilt finished the season 8-4 (5-3) with the same overall record as Mississippi State, but a better conference record after the Bulldogs lost the Egg Bowl to Ole Miss (giving the Rebels 6 wins and bowl eligibility). Despite having a better conference record, bowl selection committees are free to choose either the Commodores or Mississippi State, which means the decision is likely to come down to the school that they think will travel better. If you limit the discussion to bowls with SEC tie-ins (not a given considering how many conferences have more tie-ins than eligible teams), the Commodores are probably looking at four possible destinations: Chick-Fil-A Bowl, Gator Bowl, Music City Bowl, and the BBVA Compass Bowl. Complicating matters is that Mississippi State played in the Music City Bowl last year and the Commodores played in the Liberty Bowl, meaning those destinations are probably off the board for each team.

Given the fact that all bowl eligible SEC teams other than Ole Miss and Mississippi State have better records than the Commodores, Vanderbilt is unlikely to "jump" any of these teams. There is a remote possibility that the Chick-Fil-A bowl may take the Commodores, but a lot of things would have to happen (The SB Nation site for Mississippi State, For Whom the Cowbell Tolls teases out the scenario where Vanderbilt ends up in Atlanta).

Right now, the most important thing for Vanderbilt fans to do is pre-order tickets for bowl games, especially the Chick-Fil-A and Gator Bowls. The more tickets that are sold on the front-end, the easier it will be for Vice Chancellor Williams the rest of the Vanderbilt administration to "sell" Vanderbilt to the selection committees as a program that will travel.

Dooley Fired, Effective Immediately

2012-11-18T13:24:00.003-06:00

Just hours after the Vols' 41-18 loss at Vanderbilt, Derek Dooley is out at Tennessee.

James Franklin Tennessee Post-Game Press Conference

2012-11-17T23:35:00.001-06:00

Coach Franklin starts off the press conference by saying: "The one thing Vanderbilt always does, is focus on being 1-0 this week." He couldn't hide a smile. Well played, sir.

1,000 Words

2012-11-17T22:58:00.002-06:00

Photo from VUCommodores.com

A Win Over Tennessee Doth a Season Make

2012-11-17T10:41:00.000-06:00

I'll be the first to admit it -- when Vandy lost to Northwestern, it felt like some of the air was taken out of this football season.

A week later, when Rodgers was benched against Presbyterian, it started to smell a bit like scapegoating (never a good sign, but especially so early in the year).

On the heels of the Rodgers/Carta-Samuels drama, the Dores simply failed to show up in Athens and things were starting to look ugly. Was SOV back in the saddle again? Did CJF, for all his passion and salesmanship, have the ability to manage and unite a team through the inevitable ups and downs of a season? Was he trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with his offensive game-planning? Were we destined to retake our seat in the cellar of the SEC East?

Ancient history. Take a look at what's happened since: Wins over Missouri, Auburn and Ole Miss that an awful lot of people would not have predicted at the start of the season. Four straight victories heading into the final conference game. A 6-4 record and bowl eligible with two games to spare.

In short, Vanderbilt has been quietly putting together the kind of season that we in the Braintrust (recall that 3 of 4 of us predicted an 8-4 record or better) had hoped for given the way the schedule set up and the backfield talent that was just waiting to be unleashed. And it's been accomplished by winning close games down the stretch, which was the hump that everyone agreed Vandy would have to get over if we wanted to take the program to the next level. Credit where due -- there's been a lot to get excited about over the past month.

But here's the thing. For me, and I suspect for many others, the success or failure of this season hinges on one thing and one thing only: what happens tonight at Dudley Field.

Let's face it, whether we finish 8-4 or 7-5 or 6-6, the bowl selection isn't likely to be all that different. Sure, we've got an outside shot at the Gator Bowl if we get some help from the likes of Arkansas or Ole Miss (Mississippi State's remaining opponents), but realistically Vanderbilt seems to be headed for something a tad less glamorous and a lot closer in proximity to Nashville, TN.

So while I have no idea how effective Zac Stacy is going to be coming off the leg injury; while I'm not quite sure how Jordan Rodgers will handle the pressure coming off a game-winning drive against Ole Miss but surely still haunted by memories of what happened in Knoxville last year; and while I have no clue what CJF has been doing (other than apparently not showing the infamous Derek Dooley tape) to get his team mentally prepared, I do know this:

Beating the Vols would make my year.

VU vs. UT: Who Ya Got?

2012-11-17T09:41:00.004-06:00

Give us your score predictions in the comments section. Bobby O'Shea is giving away two basketball tickets to a mutually agreeable game* to whomever gets the closest. *The Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida games are not mutually agreeable. So don't ask.

Ole Fashioned A$$ Whopping!

2012-11-17T00:38:00.003-06:00

For those of you not sick in the head (like me) I'm sure you decided to do something more productive with your Friday night (drinking turpentine comes to mind) then sit at home and watch the Vandy men's basketball team take on the Oregon Ducks.

Well that was bad....real bad. Here is a quick run down. The Commies scored 48 points (to Oregon's 74) led by Kyle Fuller with 17 (but he also had 6 turnovers). Kedren dropped 14 (but on 5 for 15 shooting and 5 turnovers). If you want some optimism towards this team well......ummm......go somewhere else cause I got nothing. The guys who scored had pretty terrible nights and the other guys......well they had epically bad nights. I had high hopes for Shelby Moats. Those hopes were clearly misplaced. He started and ended up playing 22 minutes with no points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist and he fouled out. Gooooh! Then there was Rod Odom. Another guy I was hoping for a big jump from. Well he shot 3-13 and that was due to some junk buskets (what the hell is a busket?) at the end. Oh he also contributed 4 turnovers and probably would have fouled out if given some extra time.

Oh wait, the good news is that Coach Stallings didn't have to watch this piss poor display. He got back to back technicals early in the 2nd half and got to watch the rest of the game from the locker room.

Look this team is not good. But as Stanimal said earlier in the week.....there is talent here. The problem is I'm not sure any of it is on the offensive end. Yes there are some highly rated recruits on this team but I'm not sure any of them outside of KJ can put the ball in the basket. Rod Odom has been a disappointment. Kyle Fuller too (though as long as he doesn't shoot from the outside I think he can be effective driving to the rim). Siakam, Moats and Henderson all got decent minutes and contributed almost nothing offensively. And of the three freshman only Kevin Brights looks prepared to contribute.

I guess I just need to realize that it is very early and this team is incredibly young and inexperienced (however I believe that offensive skills are more innate while defensive skills can come with coaching and experience). I do think this team will get better as the year progresses but there are going to be some really really tough games for fans to watch. Thank God we don't have to play UK or Florida for a while. If we played at UK right now....well we might score 35 points if Calipari puts his scrubs in for most of the 2nd half.

Hey but I'm freaking pumped to watch the Commies take on UT in football in a few hours! Puke Orange sucks! Rocky Top sucks! Anchor Down!

Ready to Run Through a Wall?

2012-11-15T16:57:00.001-06:00

Then watch this...

"Let's go handle our business"

Devil's Advocate: Is It Fair to Judge Stallings with the Rest of the SEC Programs?

2012-11-14T12:53:00.001-06:00

In a year of some transition for the Vanderbilt basketball program, where a huge number of points and minutes has been lost to graduation and the NBA, there is a heck of a lot of uncertainty amongst the fan base on how to feel about the future of the program. It's rampant on the message boards, the blogosphere, and twitter. While some project unwarranted doom and gloom, others display blind and naive enthusiasm. Quite honestly, the fan-side of me has fallen on both sides of the fence since Vanderbilt's early exit against Wisconsin. The surprising thing is the extremes to which it has fallen. Sports fans love narratives, and often times those narratives are defined by the here and now. This couldn't be more true about the present feeling towards Vanderbilt basketball. It is both the crushing disappointment of dreams unfulfilled and the promise of a new level of success yet attained. My question is two-fold: (1) why is there such polarization about the state of the program, and (2) is there a rational middle ground that is reasonable?

Let's start by analyzing the arguments. The detractors will say, and I too have worried, that CKS underachieved with his 2011-12 Commodores and that it will take a long time for us to reach any kind of relevance again. These folks will point out the following:

As to underachivement:

That roster had 7 Top 100 players by nearly every scouting service account.
It was the 24th oldest roster in the country, per KenPom.
That it had 3 NBA draft-picks, and two first-rounders.

As to relevance:

The team loses a vast majority of its scoring and none of the guys on the team have shown they are ready to shoulder the load.
Stallings has whiffed on numerous elite level recruits, as well as mid-level recruits, since 2010.

Supporters and optimists will say that Stallings has taken the program to heights never before experienced and that our roster isn't really that bad and should be given a chance. These folks will point out the following:

As to heights never before experienced:

Vanderbilt has been the third-winningest program by win percentage in the SEC, behind only Kentucky and Florida, over the past four seasons (they are tied with Tennessee for win percentage in conference).
We won an SEC Tournament Title for the first time since 1952.
Our five tournament appearances in six years is the best in the history of the program.

As to talent:

There are still six top 150 players and 3 top 100 players on this roster.
Of the group of top 150 players, there are two juniors (Fuller, Odom), 3 sophomores (Siakam, Johnson, Parker) and one freshman (Jeter). And then there's Kevin Bright, who could be Stallings latest international gem.
Next year, with the addition of Damian Jones, there will be four top 100 and seven top 150 players on the roster. Furthermore, Jones is exactly what Stallings missed out on last year (aside from Poythress, who was not replaceable by anyone if you saw him play against Duke last night), a big body in the post.

The funny thing is that both arguments are completely valid, which is why there is polarization. My initial reaction after the season was to fall on the side of the detractor, but our talent composition is unfairly dismissed. How many teams not considered to be basketball blue-bloods will boast four top 100 players next year? How many will boast seven top 150? How many will have balance in the front court and back court like ours? The answer is: not that many. Yet our first reaction is to say the cupboard is bare, which is completely untrue.

This is a consistent problem Vanderbilt must deal with as the smallest institution in the SEC. Our rosters have to be compared to Kentucky & Florida, and now Arkansas, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas A&M and Missouri. However, with the exception of Kentucky, Florida, and Missouri, all other programs have underachieved greatly, and to a much larger extent than Vanderbilt given the talent collection at each. Look at teams like LSU and Auburn on that front as well, who have pulled in high-level talent in recent years and have done absolutely zero with it.

As Vanderbilt fans, we love to justify our membership with the rest of the SEC, and rightfully so as one of the founding institutions who has become more than competitive in every major sport. The thing that separates us from these other schools, however, is that our "brand" is not as historically marketable. It wasn't but 10 years ago that Vanderbilt was struggling to find success in any of the three major sports. In fact, it was completely fair to associate Vanderbilt with "easy win." Is it honestly fair to say that Stallings has failed as a coach because he hasn't won as many championships or recruited as well as say, Kentucky? Or Florida? Or even Tennessee for that matter? Each of those programs have name recognition that Vanderbilt couldn't have fathomed until about 6 years ago. Even still, Vanderbilt is rising from pretty amazing anonymity in the college sports ranks.

That's not a justification for underperformance. Coaches at other schools have been dismissed for less performance than Stallings had with the 2011-12 squad. But it is to say that the future might not be as bleak as it may seem. Interestingly enough, I think John Calipari has explained a very simple principle about college hoops: you're only as good as your next recruiting class. However, for programs like Kentucky with significant college basketball branding, they have the capability to reload each year. Their dips are very quick. Calipari likes to say that his 2009 Wildcats were a "watershed" class for Kentucky, with 4 first-round draft choices that begat future success.

Stallings has a different strategy based on a similar principle: you're only as good as the team you can assemble every 4 years. Why are the 2008 Commodores not a "watershed" class for Vandy? While their efforts might not bear fruit as quickly, the program could be on track for yet another big class in a year or two. This is especially true as the Vanderbilt brand gains more notoreity (another reason to give James Franklin whatever he wants). The interesting thing is, Stallings has pieced together a talented roster right beneath our noses, and he's done it without just offering willy-nilly. He's left those rolls of the dice open for future classes. When you think about it, it's incredibly calculated. Perhaps we as Vanderbilt fans are a little too focused on the trees and not enough on the forest. Perhaps the program just isn't at a point yet where we can recruit and pitch ourselves the same way as the rest of the SEC.

If that's the case, then two things become important: (1) winning with our underrated talent over the next couple of seasons, and (2) evolving our message to potential Commodores. We aren't just the best academic institution in the SEC anymore. We are the best academic institution, in the best city, with the potential to build greatness in our athletic programs. That is essentially the James Franklin message, and that needs to get imposed on our basketball program, which is far ahead of even our burgeoning football program in terms of success. As our marketing and brand grows, so will the quality of the recruits, and that is something that Stallings has to evolve if we're going to achieve greatness with the basketball program.

Coach James Franklin's Post-Ole Miss Press Conference: "Who Do We Play Next ?"

2012-11-11T10:44:00.001-06:00

Commodores Top Ole Miss 27-26 With Furious 2nd Half Comeback

2012-11-10T22:08:00.001-06:00

James Franklin got his first signature win as Vanderbilt's Head Coach as his team scored 21 second half points to beat Ole Miss 27-26 in Oxford. With tonight's win, the Commodores are now 6-4 and bowl eligble for the second straight year and the first time in Vanderbilt history.

Jordan Rodgers led the team on a 80 yard drive with two and a half minutes to go and threw a strike to Chris Boyd to take a one point lead with 52 seconds remaining. There's a lot to say about this game, and hopefully we will. For now, let me just say that the importance of tonight's win cannot be understated, and not just because the team is bowl eligible. Tonight's win was huge because they did it by coming from behind, without their best player (Zac Stacy went down during the first drive and did not return; his staus is unknown), and on the road. The Commodores had a number of opportunities to fold and they didn't.

Want to see what Brand New Vanderbilt looks like...you just did.

Anchor Down.

A New Era: 2012-13 Vanderbilt Men's Basketball

2012-11-09T19:52:00.001-06:00

Tomorrow at 4:00 marks the first regular season game since 2009 that we will be seeing entirely new faces in the starting lineup for the Commodores. While some of the players served in supporting roles last season, there is much uncertainty surrounding the Vanderbilt basketball program for the coming year. Certainly, the two exhibition showdowns have been tantalizing, but time will tell how our youth will rise to the occasion in what should be a talent-packed SEC.

Vanderbilt matches up against Nicholls State tomorrow, and it will certainly be interesting to see how the guys who were waiting in the wings behind NBA players Jeff Taylor, John Jenkins, and Festus Ezeli will rise in their roles. Without question, the cupboard is not bare, though growing pains are inevitable for a squad that lost its top six rotation players and the vast majority of its scoring. The team will rely heavily on former rotation cogs Kedren Johnson and Rod Odom. Kedren especially, and to a lesser extent Rod, have flashed ability, and Vanderbilt will need both to rise up if the Commodores hope to position themselves for future success.

The off-season and exhibitions have produced some good news and some bad news. On the good side, Josh Henderson is back sooner than expected from injury, adding badly needed post depth to a team depleted by the loss of Lance Goulbourne, Festus Ezeli, and Steve Tchiengang. In addition, James "Bamba" Siakam has shown in both exhibition matchups the ability to be a "lunch pail" type of player around the glass, something this squad will sorely need given it's lack of size. Finally, the Commodores pulled in a talented, albeit raw, trio of Small Forwards in Kevin Bright, Sheldon Jeter, and A.J. Astroth. All have ability, but all will need time and patience to develop within Kevin Stallings scheme.

On the bad side, the Commodores are playing an indeterminate amount of time without highly-rated shooting guard Dai-Jon Parker, who was expected to occupy the starting role next to Kedren in the backcourt. While the hard work, determination, and play of Kyle Fuller is a huge part of this squads success, Parker is the type of lock-down defender this squad needs, and arguably its best athlete. I'll take Fuller and Johnson as the starting backcourt initially, but a rotation of all three is the strength of this squad.

Finally, a note about the state of the program. I recently had a solid debate with folks over on the Vandy Sports message boards, as well as took some thoughts to Twitter about us missing out on three-star forward Schuyler Rimmer. I have been frustrated by how our recent success has not translated into recruiting as of late. This is not a knock on our present players, all of whom I am quite pleased with. This is simply an observation towards the future. Damien Jones was an enormous get for this program because he fills a huge need for us in the future. Still, fans have every right to be somewhat disenchanted by the fact that we won only one tournament game with three NBA players over three years, and further that we missed out on next-level type targets such as Alex Poythress and Austin Nichols. It is not a stretch in the least to wonder if this program has plateaued, and whether fans should get used to this being as good as it gets or whether we can really bump into the top 15-25 range perennially. How this team fares, both this year and next, will go a long way to making that determination. But that conversation is somewhat premature, as the present squad needs every opportunity to show what they have got. After all, CKS has always had a knack for suprising us.

It's basketball season ladies and gents, and I am always pumped for basketball season. Go Dores!

Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky: The First Game of the "Charlotte O'Shea" Era

2012-11-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Bobby and Mrs. O'Shea on the birth of their new Commodore!

Derek Johnson Going Pro: Will Run Cubs' Minor League Pitching Coordinator

2012-10-29T11:01:00.002-05:00

I know we haven't exactly been "on-top" of covering Vanderbilt sports lately, but this was a story that isn't likely to attract a lot of attention. According to Baseball America, Associate Head Coach Derek Johnson is leaving the Commodore program to become the pitching coordinator for the Cubs' minor league system. The Commodores are projected to make another run at Omaha and the College World Series in 2013 and the loss of Johnson will likely be felt this season and in the years to come. Johnson has helped build one of the most dominating pitching staff's in all of college baseball over the last decade and will be sorely missed. The VSL Braintrust congratulates Coach Johnson on his move and wishes him all the best in the future.

We now return to not covering Vanderbilt sports in an acceptable manner.

James Franklin's Auburn Post-Game Press Conference

2012-10-22T08:00:00.000-05:00

Coach addressed a litany of things during his post-game press conference. When asked about the Wildcat formation call on 4th and 3, Coach said: "we thought it was a good call, that's why we called it." He explained the decision, saying they thought Auburn would over-commit to stopping the run and give Zac an opportunity to make a play on the outside. While everything Coach is saying makes sense, I still don't like the call and stand by my "too clever by half" analysis.

Coach asked the fans to do him 2 favors: 1) bring two friends to next week's game against UMass and, 2) come to the game early. The stadium was, at best, 60-40 Commodore to Auburn fans. The students continue to embarrass with their lack of attendance, which is ridiculous given how much better this team is than the teams that many of the people who read this site had to root for when we were students. Show up.

Yesterday was a sell-out (the second straight for Vanderbilt), but Coach Franklin made a point to say how great it would be for Vanderbilt to sell out a non-SEC game like UMass. He's right. It's homecoming and a game that can get the Commodores back to .500. With just 2 games left at home, Vanderbilt has a chance to sell out its final home games, a truly remarkable feat if you ask me. This team might not be as far along as we'd hoped, but there is definite progress with the program. The least we can do as fans is show up.

Sound Off, VSLNation

2012-10-21T17:32:00.001-05:00

What did you think about yesterday's 17-13 win over Auburn? Since we're obviously not providing a lot of content, you might as well chime in.

Commodores Down Auburn 17-13 as Zac Stacy Runs Into the Record Books

2012-10-21T16:18:00.000-05:00

The lede from the Associated Press's story on the game nails in: "Luckily for Zac Stacy, he won't be remembered for his last carry on a record-setting day." With the Commodores leading 17-13, Stacy fumbled on the Auburn 31 yard-line with 2:24 remaining in the game, giving the Tigers one more chance to win. Vanderbilt's defense held, Stacy was carried off the field-triumphantly after becoming the Commodoraes all-time leading rusher, and James Franklin's team picked up their 3rd win of the season.

I'm not trying to be a negative Nancy, and it's always nice to get an SEC win, but Commodore fans have reason to temper their enthusiasm after yesterday. Auburn should not have been in a position to win that game ... but they were, because Vanderbilt never put Auburn away. This has become a common theme in the James Franklin era, and one that needs to stop if this program is going to take the "next step." Thankfully, the Commodores were able to hold on this time.

To me, this felt a lot like the Northwestern game. Vanderbilt dominated but was unable to separate. This time it didn't result in a loss, but it has to be something Coach Franklin and his staff are concerned about. Certainly, I am.

A Few Observations:

Zac Stacy is an elite running back: Perhaps that this is obvious, but I'll say it anyway. Zac's line yesterday was 167 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries. He averaged 6.3 yard-per-carry and added 2 catches for 24 yards. He did lose a fumble late that, as discussed above, could have cost the Commodores the game. Vanderbilt's offense needs to run through him.

4th Down Decision-Making (Part 1): The Commodores were 2 of 5 on 4th down yesterday, which isn't great. Here's the rub, Vanderbilt was 2 for 2 on 4th down on their opening drive and 0 for 3 the rest of the way. Looking at the 3 failed attempts, I only disagree with the decision to go for it on 4th and 9 on from their own 43. At the time of the attempt, Vanderbilt was up 7-0 and had all the momentum. Beyond that, the design of the fake was terrible. Zac Stacy lined up as the punter and the ball was snapped to Wesley Tate. Here's the problem. I saw Zac line up as the punter, which means the Tigers definitely saw the personnel and knew the fake was on. As my very knowledge wife pointed out at the time: there was no reason to go for it. 4th and 8 is no easy pick up. Combine that with the fact that you're on your own 43 in a game you're leading, and it makes the call that much more baffling. I'll all for aggressive, but not for the sake of it.

4th Down Decision-Making (Part 2): Vanderbilt went for it again on 4th and 1 on the Auburn 48. I actually thought this was the right thing to do. They put the ball in Zac's hands and he got stopped. It happens.

4th Down Decision-Making (Part 3): Up 17-13, with just over 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, James Franklin decided to go for it on 4th and 3 from the Auburn 31. I thought this was the right call. 49 yards is probably outside Casey Spear's range and a punt is only going to net you (in all likelihood) 11 yards. With all that said, the play-call was atrocious. The coaching staff called a half-back option that resulted in Zac taking a 6 yard loss. To me, this play-call is too clever by half. If you're going for it, run such a better, higher-percentage play this.

Play-Action

Turnovers: Vanderbilt hasn't created that many. Through 7 games, Vanderbilt has only forced 5 turnovers, and hasn't had a takeaway in 11 quarters. The Commodores are -4 in turnovers through their first 7 contests, they need to get on the plus side of that statistic in their final 5.

Vanderbilt is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in conference. With games against UMass, at Ole Miss, at Kentucky, Tennessee, and at Wake Forest left, there is reason to believe the Commodores will be bowling for the second straight season. With the exception of the Ole Miss game, I am willing to bet that Vanderbilt is favored (or a pick'em) in every game the rest of the way. Kentucky has shown signs of life in their last two losses and despite being bad, the Wildcats aren't a team the Commodores can look past (just ask Derek Dooley). UMass and Wake Forest aren't good. Now that I've said that, it's a mortal lock that one or both of these teams trip us up. Still, facts are facts.

Vanderbilt is 3-4 overall and 2-3 in conference. With games against UMass, at Ole Miss, at Kentucky, Tennessee, and at Wake Forest left, there is reason to believe the Commodores will be bowling for the second straight season. With the exception of the Ole Miss game, I am willing to bet that Vanderbilt is favored (or a pick'em) in every game the rest of the way. Kentucky has shown signs of life in their last two losses and despite being bad, the Wildcats aren't a team the Commodores can look past (just ask Derek Dooley). UMass and Wake Forest aren't good. Now that I've said that, it's a mortal lock that one or both of these teams trip us up. Still, facts are facts.

Stanimal made a great point yesterday during the Braintrust's in-game email chain: how much different would this season feel if we'd beaten Northwestern? Answer: a ton. We've certainly been negligent in keeping VSL current, but after losing to the Wildcats, and failing to knock-off either South Carolina or Florida (both doable if a handful of plays go different), I'll cop to feeling "blah" about this team, even if we all knew our second half schedule was more favorable.
There is no excuse for Vanderbilt not to finish the season 6-6 or better. The defense has been stout and the offense has shown glimmers of brilliance. Special teams continues to be a question-mark. More than anything, I'd like to see the Commodores put teams away when they have the chance.

In Conclusion:
For those of you still with us, we appreciate it. Real life seems to have gotten in the way of the blog. The newest member of the O'Shea family is due any day and it turns out that being practicing attorneys doesn't leave a lot of time to pontificate about the Commodores. Thankfully, our little Commodette allowed Mommy and Daddy to see the Auburn game, but I wouldn't put money on a cameo for UMass (the UT game is where things get interesting).

Sorry?

2012-10-19T00:42:00.002-05:00

The Braintrust, to a man, have been in the throes of new jobs and actual, real-life responsibilities (e.g., having kids). It's not an excuse, but it's the truth. Our bad.

What did we miss? An SEC road win over a James Franklin-less Missouri team that's now in a fight with Kentucky to stay out of last place in the East? Check.

A loss at home to #4 Florida before a sellout crowd who thought Vandy might actually pull out a W until Jeff Driskel took a zone read 70 yards in the 4th quarter and reminded us what it is that makes us Vandy fans? Check.

Vandy backing out of the Ohio State game and the home-and-home with Northwestern by notifying our opponents through USPS mail, with VCDW saying of CJF's role in the decision, “He is my football coach and my job is try make it for him and his athletes to have what they need. You can read into that whatever you choose.”? Cue the David Letterman shirt-collar-pull...

On Saturday, Vanderbilt faces off against Auburn, coming in as an 8-point favorite at home. Having watched some of Auburn's struggles this season, I'd say that line is probably about right. As such, I'm not sure whether this could fairly be called the first "signature win" of the James Franklin Era -- the Tigers have been abysmal on offense and are basically in a full-blown free fall at this point -- but it would certainly be a momentum victory as the Dores (2-4, 1-3) go to work on the easier half of a pretty favorable 2012 schedule.

How is it possible that the season is halfway over?