10 Things To Know About Vanderbilt
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Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
Vanderbilt is ready for another shot at Kentucky in a rematch of a game that took place only 17 days ago. The Wildcats won that one, 74-67, but both teams have completely different looks and rotations since that first meeting in Nashville.
Here is what you need to know about Vanderbilt as the two teams get ready to lace them up once again in Rupp Arena later tonight.
1. Matthew Fisher-Davis is out for the season.
The biggest piece of information to know about Vanderbilt ahead of Tuesday night's rematch is Matthew Fisher-Davis is no longer available. Vanderbilt's senior guard suffered a torn labrum and right shoulder subluxation against Kentucky in the first meeting and he hasn't played since. The injury will keep him out the remainder of the season, thus ending his career.
2. The Commodores are 2-2 since we last saw them.
Since losing to the Wildcats in Nashville on January 13, Vanderbilt has home wins over LSU and TCU, and two road losses against Mississippi State and Tennessee. The 'Dores beat TCU as an underdog in this past weekend's Big 12-SEC Challenge game.
3. Vanderbilt has only won two games in Rupp Arena.
Once in 2006 and then again in 2007.
Outside of that two-year stretch, UK is 38-0 on its home floor.
4. Vandy hasn't won away from home all year.
All eight of Vandy's wins came in the friendly confines of the ass-backwards Memorial Gym. It is 0-6 on the road and 0-2 in neutral site games this season.
5. Riley LaChance hasn't missed a free throw since the Kentucky game.
LaChance missed four consecutive free throws against the Wildcats, but he is 11 for 11 at the line in the last four games.
I still don't know how we got so lucky for him to miss all of those.
6. LaChance is averaging 25 points per game over his last three.
LaChance moved up to 25th on Vandy's all-time leading scorer list, and he's second in the conference in scoring among current players, trailing only Georgia's Yante Maten.
7. LaChance is playing yet another position.
With the absence of Fisher-Davis, LaChance has moved over to fill the hole at small forward in the starting lineup. It's the third position for LaChance, who began his career at shooting guard, played both guard spots as a sophomore, and was the point guard in his junior year. At only 6-2, he started the last three games at small forward, in place of Fisher-Davis.
(Good luck with Kevin Knox, Riley.)
8. Jeff Roberson is the team's leading scorer and rebounder.
Roberson averages 15.6 points and 7.0 rebounds this year. He went for 20 and seven boards in the first meeting with the Wildcats.
9. KenPom gives Vandy only a 14 percent chance of stealing a victory.
KenPom's projected final score: Kentucky 77, Vanderbilt 66.
10. Vanderbilt does not lack confidence going into the game.
“We believe in ourselves,” Roberson said yesterday. “We believe we can win every game. We go in with that mentality.”
Bryce Drew added, “Last year, we led for 35 straight minutes, then lost it at the end... They know we can play well in there. Now, it’s a different team for them, and we’re different in a lot of ways. But hopefully we can play as well as we did last year.”
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports[/caption]
Vanderbilt is ready for another shot at Kentucky in a rematch of a game that took place only 17 days ago. The Wildcats won that one, 74-67, but both teams have completely different looks and rotations since that first meeting in Nashville.
Here is what you need to know about Vanderbilt as the two teams get ready to lace them up once again in Rupp Arena later tonight.
1. Matthew Fisher-Davis is out for the season.
The biggest piece of information to know about Vanderbilt ahead of Tuesday night's rematch is Matthew Fisher-Davis is no longer available. Vanderbilt's senior guard suffered a torn labrum and right shoulder subluxation against Kentucky in the first meeting and he hasn't played since. The injury will keep him out the remainder of the season, thus ending his career.
2. The Commodores are 2-2 since we last saw them.
Since losing to the Wildcats in Nashville on January 13, Vanderbilt has home wins over LSU and TCU, and two road losses against Mississippi State and Tennessee. The 'Dores beat TCU as an underdog in this past weekend's Big 12-SEC Challenge game.
3. Vanderbilt has only won two games in Rupp Arena.
Once in 2006 and then again in 2007.
Outside of that two-year stretch, UK is 38-0 on its home floor.
4. Vandy hasn't won away from home all year.
All eight of Vandy's wins came in the friendly confines of the ass-backwards Memorial Gym. It is 0-6 on the road and 0-2 in neutral site games this season.
5. Riley LaChance hasn't missed a free throw since the Kentucky game.
LaChance missed four consecutive free throws against the Wildcats, but he is 11 for 11 at the line in the last four games.
I still don't know how we got so lucky for him to miss all of those.
6. LaChance is averaging 25 points per game over his last three.
LaChance moved up to 25th on Vandy's all-time leading scorer list, and he's second in the conference in scoring among current players, trailing only Georgia's Yante Maten.
7. LaChance is playing yet another position.
With the absence of Fisher-Davis, LaChance has moved over to fill the hole at small forward in the starting lineup. It's the third position for LaChance, who began his career at shooting guard, played both guard spots as a sophomore, and was the point guard in his junior year. At only 6-2, he started the last three games at small forward, in place of Fisher-Davis.
(Good luck with Kevin Knox, Riley.)
8. Jeff Roberson is the team's leading scorer and rebounder.
Roberson averages 15.6 points and 7.0 rebounds this year. He went for 20 and seven boards in the first meeting with the Wildcats.
9. KenPom gives Vandy only a 14 percent chance of stealing a victory.
KenPom's projected final score: Kentucky 77, Vanderbilt 66.
10. Vanderbilt does not lack confidence going into the game.
“We believe in ourselves,” Roberson said yesterday. “We believe we can win every game. We go in with that mentality.”
Bryce Drew added, “Last year, we led for 35 straight minutes, then lost it at the end... They know we can play well in there. Now, it’s a different team for them, and we’re different in a lot of ways. But hopefully we can play as well as we did last year.”
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