SEC Basketball Preview: New Vanderbilt Coach Mark Byington Breaks Down His First Commodore Roster

[Ed. Note: This article is from KSR+, KSR’s premium sister site. We’ve unlocked it to give you an idea of the content on KSR+. For more bonus coverage of the Cats and access to KSBoard, our message board, subscribe to KSR+.]

Kentucky wasn’t the only SEC team to undergo a coaching change and roster overhaul this offseason. Former James Madison head coach Mark Byington took the reins at Vanderbilt and rebuilt a roster that finished 13th in the SEC last season under Jerry Stackhouse. Byington sat down with KSR+ to give his thoughts on Vanderbilt’s 2024-25 team, the strength of the SEC, and more.

“The roster construction was almost the only way we could do it,” Byington said. “We took over a program that was one of the bottom in the SEC. We knew we had to make some roster changes.”

What Does Vanderbilt’s Roster Look Like?

Vanderbilt brings in a roster in 2024-25 that’s filled with several transfers but also relies on some returnees, something Mark Byington made a priority. The Commodores bring back five players from the 2023-24 team: Jordan Williams, Coleson Messer, Graham Calton, JaQualon Roberts, and Miles Keeffe.

“It also wasn’t like we wanted everyone to leave,” Byington said. “We wanted some to stay, but it’s just kind of the nature of what goes in the spring with transfers. It’s almost like a natural progression. When one coach changes, then everybody else just leaves that roster.”

This is still, however, a team that will rely heavily on transfers. With those transfers, Byington wanted to find players from winning programs.

“We wanted guys who were on successful teams and who had levels of success there, so they’ve been a part of winning,” Byington said. “We found guys from the Ivy League to the Atlantic 10 to the ACC to the American and we have guys from all different conferences. That’s how we put it together.”

Byington considers Vanderbilt’s depth to be its main strength. He sees the team’s eighth, ninth, and tenth rotation players as valuable contributors.

“Strength in numbers might be our best chance to be successful this year,” he said.

There’s Still Room to Grow

Despite returning several players, there’s still a growing process with Mark Byington’s 2024-25 Vanderbilt team. They’re all learning to play together.

“The biggest thing is actually basketball-related, but it might not sound that way,” Byington said. “They have to learn to care about each other. They haven’t been around Vanderbilt and they haven’t been around each other.”

Byington called the way his team plays “conceptual-based” which means his players will have to understand each other and “be connected.” Vanderbilt is successful when players make “natural plays” and are less successful when players don’t understand how to play with one another.

“That’s going to come with time,” Byington said. “We’re trying to expedite it. I don’t know how long that’s going to take, but it will come. I just don’t know when it’s going to come.”

Three Key Contributors

Vanderbilt has three key players that are expected to make significant strides in 2024-25: North Texas transfer Jason Edwards, Michigan State transfer AJ Hoggard, and Davidson transfer Grant Huffman.

Edwards, a 6-foot-1 guard, started 22 games as a freshman with North Texas in 2023-24. He averaged 23.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, earning All-AAC Honors.

“[Jason] is super quick and he can be very, very aggressive with the ball,” Byington said. “He’s constantly putting pressure on the defense. It’s never where he’s going to catch the ball and relax. He’s catching the ball and trying to make a play at all times. That’s great, but there are also times when we have to hold that back a little bit. His aggressiveness on the offensive end.”

The other aspect that has impressed Byington about Edwards is his passion for the game. He’s excited about SEC competition.

“He absolutely loves basketball and loves competing,” Byington said. “For him, coming in late at night with extra work and competition. Those things are just natural for him. He loves both of those things.’

Hoggard, a 6-foot-3 guard, enters the 2024-25 season after four years at Michigan State, playing as a full-time starter the last two seasons. He’s appeared in four NCAA Tournaments which should help a Vanderbilt team looking to make its first March Madness since 2017.

“AJ is a guy who has been through everything,” Byington said. “He’s played in the Big 10 against good teams and has been a good player on good teams. We’re going to lean on him for the experience that he’s been through.”

Hoggard averaged 10.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game last season with Michigan State. He shot 40.7 percent from the field and 34.7 percent from three.

“I think he’s excited to be in a new style and a new system. He was successful at Michigan State, but he’s also expanded his game,” Byington said. “He’s not doing the same kind of thing he’s been doing the last couple of years. His energy and excitement have been great. He gives us a guy where we think we have one of the better point guards in the league.”

Huffman, a 6-foot-3. guard from Davidson led the Atlantic 10 in assists last season with 5.3 per game. Now, he’s joining Vanderbilt with a pair of key strengths.

“He scores around the rim as a 6-foot-4 point guard,” Byington said. “His on-the-ball defense is really good.”

Huffman has been making his mark in Vanderbilt’s practices so far. His defense has raised eyebrows.

“The other day I was concerned with some of our offensive guys and then I had to give credit where credit was due,” Byington said. “It was because Grant can really guard and lock guys up defensively. Those are the main things that stand out.”

Reaction to Mark Pope’s Hire at Kentucky

Like Vanderbilt, Kentucky has a new coach of its own. While the whole college basketball world was caught up in the chaos of John Calipari leaving for Arkansas and Mark Pope being hired by Kentucky, Mark Byington had his own job change to focus on.

“Everything was an absolute whirlwind of craziness from when I left my last job to get to Vanderbilt,” Byington said. “I know it was the same thing for Mark Pope. It’s almost like you can’t even follow somebody else because you’re dealing with all the things going on with your team and your program.”

Byington wasn’t fully able to process the Kentucky coaching change until the SEC meetings. That’s when he saw Kentucky’s current and former coaches alongside one another.

“The time it really sunk in for me that he was at Kentucky was at the SEC meetings,” Byington said. “I’m looking right across and there’s Mark Pope and four seats down was John Calipari. I was like, wow, that really did happen. I didn’t have a chance to process it when it was going on because I was dealing with whatever was going on with me.”

Byington has been impressed with Kentucky’s roster so far. Like Vanderbilt, the Cats have had to rely heavily on the portal.

“I know he’s put together a great roster,” Byington said. “He’s got size, he’s got shooting, and he brought in a lot of transfers. He’s put together one of the best rosters in the country. I think he’s going to be right there.”

As for the rest of the SEC, Byington knows it’s impressive. It’s something he hasn’t tried to harp on.

“You almost don’t want to think about it too much because it can be overwhelming,” he said. “Everybody is all in, everybody is loaded, and everybody has a great roster.”