Center Devin McGlockton is a force in the paint, where he combines size and experience for the Commodores’ roster. Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Athletics.
Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington and his staff became new challengers inside an SEC that proved to be the best conference in college basketball history. A record 14 teams made it to the NCAA Tournament, with seven in the Sweet 16 and four in the Elite Eight. Auburn and Florida made it to the Final Four, with the Gators cutting the nets for a national championship.
The Commodores were picked last in the SEC and immediately received recognition upon their 13-1 start, which preceded an 8-10 mark inside the league as they tied for ninth.
Vandy received a 10-seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost a tough 59-56 decision to Saint Mary’s in their opening round game.
“I really don’t think it’s going to take a step back,” said Byington. “I’m looking at the teams, the rosters, the coaches, everything else. I don’t know that it’s going to be the best all-time, but it’s not going to take a step back.”
Analytics suggest an even better season for the Commodores.
“We had to get bigger,” said Byington. “We can play a certain style, do certain things. I thought sometimes in the second half, we wore down because we just weren’t as big as some teams. Some things got to us.”
Returning Commodores: Byington returns Devin McGlockton (10.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) in the paint as the team’s third leading scorer and leading rebounder. Tyler Nickel is a strong power forward, who was the second leading scorer (10.4 ppg)
Guard Tyler Tanner played 20.4 mpg as he appeared in 33 of the contests and composed a 65-to-15 assist-to-turnover ratio.
“I’m a stat nerd,” admitted Byington. “If you look at our games last year under four minutes, 10 points or less, Tyler led us in minutes. That was a team with fifth-year guards. He was the only freshman who played.”
Tanner scored in double figures twice, and he didn’t turn the ball over in a four-game stretch when he averaged 20-25 minutes in those games.
“Playing basketball, that’s what you want to be in, the crunch time moments,” commented Tanner. “Him (Coach Byington) having that trust in me allows me to trust more in myself as well.”
Size Matters: McGlockton and Nickel will be the leaders in the paint with North Carolina transfer Jalen Washington. Former Jacksonville State center Mason Nicholson was tied for the team lead in rebounding with 7.5 rpg, and he shot 64.6 percent from the floor.
Nickel was strident with his three-pointer as he shot 40.5 percent and posted 6.1 long-ball attempts per game. Nickel wanted to upgrade his game to have more dynamics and options this season.
“I really worked on my body, my conditioning, my speed, guarding the ball, and doing different things defensively,” he said. “Also being more effective and efficient in putting the ball on the ground and making plays and decisions.”
McGlockton looks to improve his game to play the four when Byington puts a four-guard offense on the floor.
“I’m still going to be at the five still a little bit, but yeah, I mean, that’s just going to completely change our team rebounding-wise and defensively, like protecting the rim,” noted McGlockton.
Washington started 16 games for the Tar Heels and brings both a scoring and rebounding presence.
TCU Transfer Solidifies Point: Former Horned Frog Frankie Collins joins Tanner on the point, allowing the lineup to see both of the guards in playmaking and scoring roles.
“Frankie was on a minutes restriction tonight, and he missed practices last week, missed a lot of practices, and he is just getting back,” said Byington after the Vandy topped Virginia in a scrimmage last week. “So we did not want to overplay him. We protected him in minutes.”
Collins missed TCU’s last 23 games a year ago with a foot injury.
Guard Duke Miles journeys to Nashville from Oklahoma, where he was a three-point guru, shooting 43 percent from three while starting the 34 games.