Jerry Stackhouse shares message to players with NCAA Tournament chances hurting

For the first time in a while, Vanderbilt was making NCAA Tournament noise late in the season. Head coach Jerry Stackhouse had the Commodores in position to be in position but everything came crashing down on Wednesday. A brutal loss to LSU likely ends any postseason hopes in Nashville.

Stackhouse is not all doom and gloom, however. He said there is still plenty of opportunity ahead of Vanderbilt, beginning with the game against Florida on Saturday. If there is going to be a resurgence in the final three games of the season, Stackhouse wants to have his team prepared and focused.

“We just got to find a way to pick ourselves up,” Stackhouse said. “Got to find a way to finish out strong. We can’t look past this weekend with Florida. Obviously, they’re not with (Colin) Castleton anymore. He’s out for the season but we’ve got to come back and win that game at home. It will be a great opportunity to get at Kentucky and get one there.”

Mississippi State will be the final regular season game of the year, hosting the Bulldogs in Nashville. If Vanderbilt can win out, they will finish with an 11-7 record in SEC play. A few quality wins can be picked up the following week in the conference tournament.

“I think the message is still hope to try to win out,” Stackhouse said. “Then, in the SEC Tournament, we can have a good run there. Still plenty of basketball left for us. But obviously disappointed to lose this one tonight.”

If the SEC Tournament began today, Vanderbilt would face off against Georgia in the 7-10 matchup. They would then get to face the No. 2 overall seed — Alabama or Texas A&M, depending on who winds up being on the wrong side of the regular season championship race.

Even so, things are looking bleak for the Commodores.

Heading into the week of college basketball, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi slated Vanderbilt as someone in the ‘considered’ tab on the bubble. This was of course before the LSU loss, likely sliding them down that list even further. Losing to the SEC’s last-place team can be a deal breaker.

Stackhouse is keeping his thoughts positive though. Vandy has not made an NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017 and has not won a game since 2012. It’s been over a decade for the program, desperate to get back into the Big Dance.

Winning out could help their chances but a tall task is ahead for Vanderbilt.