No. 24 Vanderbilt Commodores
With less than 7 weeks from us having a bracket in our hands, let us begin to countdown and break down this years March and the madness behind it.
Every day we will look at a different angle of the beauty that is the bracket. From top seeds to bubble teams and every team in between. Which styles of play can be a problem for teams and which teams are on my radar for wearing the glass slipper.
It feels like this season more than any in recent time have lower seeds with the talent to reach the second weekend. Speaking of which, why don’t we start there. Today we will look at the teams currently sitting in the 8-10 seed range and break them down.
With still 7 weeks to go standings can and will change.
March Madness, Vanderbilt Commodores
- No. 24 Vanderbilt Commodores
Starting off with current 10 seed in the West bracket, Vanderbilt. The Commodores are sitting on a 16-4 record and currently tied for 5th in the SEC with 5 other teams at 4-3.
Huge wins recently over Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Vanderbilt is 3-3 against quad 1 competition and ranked 37th in NET rankings.
Defensive efficiency is ranked 67th in the nation allowing 0.97 points per possession. While offensive efficiency is ranked 35th averaging 1.18 points per possession. This team forces turnovers on defense and gets out running on the break. While protecting the ball on offense. Averaging turnovers on 19% of defensive possessions and only turning the ball over on 12% of their turnovers.
One thing that could hurt this team come tournament time is the lack of three point shooting. Only shooting the ball 30% from deep as a team. Good news is that they do not settle for those shots regularly. They are ranked 5th in two point field goal percentage, shooting the ball 61% inside the arc.
Vanderbilt has 4 players averaging double digits led by junior Jason Edwards averaging just north of 17 points per game.
I expect Vanderbilt to be in the 10-13 seed range, my best guess as of now is an 11 seed. While I do not expect much from the Commodores come March, this team has a ton of experience and great guard play, two things Cinderella’s need the most.
Four starters are juniors and transfer AJ Hoggard is the lone senior, Hoggard has had success in March at his previous school Michigan State.
Sets at a Glance
This team is amazing in transition, however the half court sets turn into one-on-one basketball more often than not resulting in the settling of a three point shot. The shoot 43% of their shots from behind the arc, and as mentioned earlier, only make about 30% of those.
However their effective field goal percentage is saved by their shooting inside the arc, which results in a lot of good look lay-ups. The effective field goal percentage is 54%, good for 67th in the nation.
On the defensive side, the initial on ball pressure is great, however, little to no rim protection once the first line of defense is broken. Gamble for turnovers a lot leaving the back side help a step or two late in rotation.
Final Thought and Projection
It would take a miracle for this team to get to the second weekend of the tournament. With a second round appearance being something that should be celebrated for the program.
I am expecting if we see the Vanderbilt Commodores in the bracket at all, they will lose in their first game. Yet, big wins in the last week oppose those thoughts. Any team that can beat both Tennessee and Kentucky in the same week needs to be given respect.
Both of those games however where at home where they are 11-1. One the road they are a different team, and as we know, the tournament will be played in a neutral setting.
However, again Vanderbilt should celebrate any post season appearance at this point. For it has been over a decade since we have seen the Commodores in the NCAA Tournament, (2014 as an 8 seed).
Rowan Donaghey, Sports Reporter and Betting Analyst for Stare Down Sports. You can follow him on X via @RowanDonaghey
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