The Commodores are rolling past opponents as they approach the end of their nonconference schedule.
In his first year as head coach, Mark Byington has already led the Commodores to nine wins. During the 2023-24 season, Jerry Stackhouse and his team also reached nine victories, with their final win coming against Florida on March 9 in the regular season’s last game.
Byington has orchestrated an incredible turnaround, as his team stands at 9-1, with impressive wins over three Power Four opponents. Despite being projected to finish last in the preseason SEC poll, much like Vanderbilt’s football team, they’ve silenced critics at every turn. While many questioned the team’s size and roster composition, Byington seems to have found the ideal mix of players for a postseason run in his first year at Vanderbilt.
Since our last Memorial Minutes, the Commodores have been busy building an impressive resume. They comfortably defeated Tennessee Tech 87-56, with AJ Hoggard and Jason Edwards leading the way with 15 and 23 points, respectively.
Next, Vanderbilt faced two of its toughest nonconference opponents: Virginia Tech and TCU. The Commodores handled both challenges with ease, defeating Virginia Tech 80-64 and TCU 83-74. While neither of these teams is at the top of their conferences (the ACC and Big 12), winning against any Power Four opponent is still a significant achievement.
Byington’s team is showing no signs of slowing down. They now play with a cohesion that seemed unattainable in November. The Commodores have climbed to No. 48 in the NET rankings and No. 60 in KenPom, with their rapid rise in these stats suggesting the team is built for sustained success. While they haven’t yet faced the toughest teams, their early wins are no longer seen as flukes.
To say that Byington’s squad is exceeding expectations would be an understatement. Vanderbilt is focused on bringing excitement back to Memorial Gymnasium and proving its competitiveness in the SEC.
All Eyes on Edwards
I usually avoid singling out individual players in Memorial Minutes, as basketball is a team sport, and success relies on the whole group. However, Jason Edwards has been too impressive to overlook.
The junior guard has been exceptional in his first 10 games at Vanderbilt. Over the last three games, he’s averaged 24 points in just 24 minutes per game. His ball-handling, transition speed, and playmaking skills are unparalleled.
What stands out about Edwards isn’t just his scoring—his leadership in running Byington’s offense is equally remarkable. He brings a new intensity to the team every time he plays, which may explain why Byington moved him to the bench early in the season. Edwards is a key figure in Vanderbilt’s backcourt, frequently slipping past defenders to score or assist teammates. He’s also great at drawing fouls in the paint, boasting an impressive 86% free throw percentage.
Edwards had his standout performance of the season on Dec. 8, scoring 30 points against TCU. He shot 8-for-16 from the field and contributed two steals in the Commodores’ dominant win. At 6’1″, the point guard isn’t particularly tall, but his agility and speed create major matchup problems for opponents. Similarly, on Dec. 4 against Virginia Tech, Edwards scored 19 points on 5-for-10 shooting. If he continues this level of efficient scoring, he’ll be nearly unstoppable in SEC play.
Like any player, Edwards has areas for improvement. He can sometimes take poor shots, opting for low-quality attempts. His shot selection and 35% shooting from beyond the arc are likely to improve as he gains more experience and adapts to Byington’s system.
The potential for Edwards is immense. He has already shown a strong foundation of skills, and there’s every reason to believe he can further develop and become a key X-factor for the team.
Defense Wins Championships
“Offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships,” the legendary Bear Bryant once said.
While this quote originates from football, and Vanderbilt is still far from championship contention, the principle holds true for Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball.
The program is often praised for Byington’s high-paced offense and shooting talent: an Edwards three-pointer energizes the crowd, and a Devin McGlockton dunk excites fans. However, it’s the Commodores’ defense that’s allowing their offense to function so efficiently.
On paper, Vanderbilt’s defense appears to be one of the weakest in the SEC, ranking 13th in points allowed per game. However, this statistic is skewed by the fast pace of Byington’s system, which increases the total number of possessions and gives opponents more scoring opportunities. While Vanderbilt gives up 69.5 points per game, this doesn’t fully reflect how Byington’s defense operates.
Vanderbilt’s perimeter defense has been outstanding this season. Grant Huffman, Tyler Tanner, and AJ Hoggard are aggressive defenders, constantly on the lookout for steals. If an opposing ball-handler gets careless, these players are quick to swipe the ball and race to the rim. Vanderbilt leads the SEC in total turnovers forced, with 157, averaging 15.7 per game. The team also excels at protecting the ball, committing just 9.5 turnovers per game. Opponents appear uneasy when facing Vanderbilt’s perimeter defense.
Tanner, in particular, has been a standout. The true freshman has established himself as one of the top on-ball defenders in the SEC, currently leading the conference with 26 total steals. He recorded a season-high 5 steals against TCU, but his impact goes beyond defense. Tanner has yet to commit a turnover this season, showcasing his excellent ball-handling skills. Byington has taken notice of Tanner’s abilities, and his playing time has increased significantly over the last three games (from 19 to 27 minutes per game).
However, Vanderbilt’s interior defense could use some improvement. With no player taller than 6’8″, defending the paint presents challenges. Byington has focused on limiting the ball’s entry into the paint, but this could become a concern during SEC play. Despite this, Vanderbilt’s defense has been solid in other areas, shutting down opponents and putting on a show in the halfcourt.
Three-Point Struggles
Every team has areas to improve, and for Vanderbilt, it’s their three-point shooting. Despite having plenty of shooters (and point guards), the Commodores have been inefficient from beyond the arc.
Vanderbilt has struggled with 3-point shooting all season, holding a 30.2% shooting percentage from deep. While these issues have persisted, there was hope that the team would eventually find its rhythm. However, recent games have shown no improvement. Against Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt shot 11-for-31 (36%), with Edwards hitting four of those. The shooting percentage then dropped to 33% against Virginia Tech and 27% against TCU.
These low numbers are surprising, given that Vanderbilt ranks 7th in the SEC for scoring offense. Part of the issue lies in shot selection, with players like Edwards taking off-balance or rushed three-pointers. Sometimes, players just don’t have their best shooting touch.
That said, Vanderbilt is still capable of hitting shots from deep. Players like Tyler Nickel and MJ Collins have had hot stretches from beyond the arc, but these streaks haven’t been consistent enough to label the team as an elite shooting squad. As a team, the Commodores rank 15th in the SEC for 3-point shooting percentage.
Improvement in three-point shooting is essential for Vanderbilt as they prepare for a challenging SEC schedule starting in January. Without the size to dominate inside against SEC centers, Vanderbilt will need to rely on mid-range jumpers and three-pointers. Opponents are likely to take away Vanderbilt’s perimeter shots and force them to play inside, so it’s crucial for the Commodores to start converting on their long-range attempts.
Vanderbilt will look to finish its nonconference schedule with three strong wins against lesser opponents. The Commodores will face The Citadel, Austin Peay, and New Orleans before beginning SEC play on Jan. 4. These games offer valuable opportunities to find their shooting rhythm and continue developing as a team before the real challenges begin.
Vanderbilt will return to action at home on Dec. 18, taking on The Citadel at 7 p.m. CST.
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