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Men’s Basketball: Previewing Vanderbilt vs. Kentucky
No. 18 Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball (18-3, 5-3 SEC) cruised to an 80-55 win over Kentucky (14-7, 5-3 SEC) in Nashville on Tuesday night. The blowout marked Vanderbilt’s second-straight victory following a three-game losing streak that ended hopes of an undefeated season. Here are three takeaways from the Commodores’ performance against the Wildcats.
Making it rain
Vanderbilt was very efficient from beyond the arc. The Commodores ended the first half with seven triples on just 14 attempts, allowing them to pull away from a struggling Kentucky squad that had shot just 28% from the floor to that point. Devin McGlockton was Vanderbilt’s leading sharpshooter, going 3-for-4 from distance in the first half and finishing with three 3-pointers on five attempts. Tyler Nickel, the staple 3-point shooter in Mark Byington’s offense, added a pair of 3s of his own.
Despite an uncharacteristically poor night of 3-point shooting from Tyler Tanner — the sophomore ended the game with one make on five attempts — the Commodores continued to let it fly in the second half. Tanner ended his shooting slump with a deep triple from the right wing, and fan-favorite Mike James nailed a 3-pointer to bring a raucous Commodore Faithful to its feet.
No. 18 Vanderbilt has its sights set on an SEC Championship and a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. If the Commodores wish to make these dreams a reality, they will have to continue to make it rain from beyond the arc.
Crashing the glass
A team often criticized for its lack of size and physicality in the paint, Vanderbilt dominated the rebounding battle on Tuesday night. When the buzzer sounded to end the first half, the Commodores had outrebounded the Wildcats, 27-16. McGlockton was especially aggressive on the glass, grabbing nine boards in 17 minutes of first-half play. Jalen Washington added three offensive rebounds, and freshman Jayden Leverett put back a missed layup as time expired in the first half. The Black and Gold finished the outing with 43 rebounds to Kentucky’s 37, led by McGlockton’s 12 and Washington’s 9.
In addition to securing rebounds, Vanderbilt maintained a strong defensive presence in the paint. AK Okereke, Chandler Bing and McGlockton combined for five blocks, clogging up driving lanes and forcing tough shots throughout the night. This strong play limited star Kentucky guard Otega Oweh to just 7-for-19 from the field.
In basketball, games are won on the glass. Vanderbilt proved this against Kentucky.
Tanner time
Tyler Tanner is quickly becoming a household name. The sophomore sensation filled up the box score on Tuesday night, finishing with 19 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals on 6-for-16 shooting from the field. The shifty point guard caused problems for Kentucky’s offense all night, getting over screens, flying to the ball and intercepting passes for a flurry of easy buckets. The 6’0 floor general is a pest on defense, and Kentucky experienced this firsthand as it played in Memorial Gymnasium.
Tanner complemented his defensive havoc with strong play on offense. The Brentwood, Tennessee, native used his firm handle to consistently fly past defenders for high-percentage looks at the rim — many of which were accompanied by a shooting foul and ensuing free throws. Vanderbilt’s starting point guard was efficient at the charity stripe, shooting 6-for-8 to earn his team a handful of easy points.
Tanner’s outing marked his 14th 15-plus point game this season, as he continues to make a strong case for All-SEC First Team honors.
The Commodores will hit the road to battle Ole Miss Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m. CDT in Oxford, Mississippi.
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