On the eve of selection for the NCAA Tournament, Vanderbilt basketball made a stunning statement with its most complete performance in a strong season that’s getting better at an ideal time.
On semifinal Saturday at the SEC Tournament, the fourth-seeded Commodores whipped favored top-seeded Florida 91-74 at Bridgestone Arena March 14 in a game that was never all that close.
Vanderbilt advanced to the program’s first SEC Tournament final since 2012 on March 15 (noon, ESPN). The other semifinal winner, either Arkansas or Ole Miss, will await hours before the NCAA’s selection show.
Tyler Tanner scored 20 and big man Jalen Washington added 17 for Vanderbilt (26-7), which led by 13 at halftime and extended the margin as high as 25 in the second half against a foe that hasn’t been handled this easily in a while, if ever.
This ended a dominant 12-game win streak for the reigning national champion Gators (26-7), who head home hoping they’ve already done enough to earn a No. 1 NCAA seed.
A snapshot of the stats as Vanderbilt grabbed a 23-point lead with about eight minutes remaining:
The Gators were shooting 38% compared to the Commodores’ 53% – including a sizzling 10-for-19 (53%) from 3-point range. Six different Vanderbilt players had made a shot from 3-point range. The Commodores were also 12-for-12 from the foul line and led the Gators 24-6 in bench points, 18-10 in assists and 20-4 in points off turnovers.
Vanderbilt had 18 assists and two turnovers.
What Florida has been doing to other teams lately, Vanderbilt accomplished here. The Commodores jumped all over the Gators and didn’t ease up on either end of the court. While it had been a while since Vanderbilt had flashed this type of form, this was a reminder that the Commodores are capable of it.
Vanderbilt’s defense has improved this season, and that offense is still potent.
Unlike a 75-68 quarterfinal win over Tennessee, when Vandy learned on guards Duke Miles (30) and Tanner (19) for more than half the team’s points, the Commodores had five different players score in double-figures against the Gators. Coach Mark Byington only used a rotation of eight players for most of this game.
Miles scored 15 against Florida, while Devin McGlockton added 12 and AK Okereke scored 11.
After beating Tennessee twice in the week preceding this game, Vanderbilt jumped to No. 12 in KenPom and No. 14 in the NET ratings. No guarantees, but that suggested the Commodores were in good shape for a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament – at least.
After beating Florida (No. 4 in KenPom entering this game), a No. 3 seed could be in play for the Commodores, especially if they can win out this week and claim the SEC Tournament’s trophy.
