After a slow start to the 2016-17 season, Vanderbilt head coach Bryce Drew got things turned around in time to lead the Commodores to their second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Now, Drew and company hope to build on that momentum as they tip off the season against Austin Peay.
The Governors have a new head coach on the sidelines for the the first time since 1990, with former South Carolina assistant Matt Figger taking over for Dave Loos.
But Figger’s rebuilding job won’t be an easy task, and it could take a little time for Austin Peay to move back to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference.
Players to Watch
Matthew Fisher-Davis (Vanderbilt)
Everyone knows how last season ended for Fisher-Davis.
However, the good news is that it’s no longer last season. And with a clean slate heading into his senior year, the sharpshooting guard should get back on track and potentially become the All-SEC player he’s capable of being.
Even with the ups and downs of ’16-17, Fisher-Davis still managed to average 13.9 points per game, and there’s a good chance he goes beyond that mark this year.
His level of consistency will determine whether the Commodores go dancing for a third straight season.
Clevon Brown/Djery Baptiste/Ejike Obinna (Vanderbilt)
I’m going to group these three players together, because they are all equally important to Vanderbilt’s success.
With Luke Kornet out of the picture, the Commodores have a big void to fill in the frontcourt. Some of that lost production will be replaced by do-it-all forward Jeff Roberson, who can play inside and out and guard any position on the floor.
But for this team to win games, someone from the Brown/Baptiste/Obinna group must become a reliable post presence on both ends of the floor.
Terry Taylor (Austin Peay)
Considering how many newcomers there are on this Austin Peay roster, let’s go with one that recently had a standout performance.
The 6-5 freshman from Bowling Green scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the Govs’ exhibition win over Sewanee last week.
Taylor figures to be one of the more versatile go-to options for Figger and his staff.
Zach Glotta/Chris Porter-Bunton (Austin Peay)
Just like with the Vandy trio above, we’re gonna group these guys together due to the role that they’ll play this season.
Glotta and Porter-Bunton are two returners that have played quality minutes during their time in Clarksville, and that experience will be valuable on a team that’s trying to build chemistry.
Glotta’s experience at point guard will be an asset for Figger, and Porter-Bunton’s 22.1 minutes per game as a sophomore will help him going forward.
How Vanderbilt Can Win
The Commodores should once again be a very good shooting team thanks to the senior returners and a freshman duo in Saben Lee and Max Evans that can both score the ball.
So, in a game like this one, it’s really just a matter of taking care of the ball and finding good shots on offense.
There are enough solid scoring options on this team to make Vanderbilt a difficult team to guard on the perimeter, and that should be evident right away.
Consistency on the glass will also be an essential part of winning games this season due to the question marks in the frontcourt.
How Austin Peay Can Win
Remember that whole thing about Figger being a former South Carolina assistant? Good, because it’s very important.
Of course, it’s important due to Frank Martin’s defensive system that managed to help the Gamecocks make a run to the Final Four last year.
That same type of defensive style will be implemented by Figger at Austin Peay, and that ball pressure should give the Governors a chance to turn defense into offense.
That pressure and aggressiveness (especially inside) will be key to Austin Peay making this a game.
Game Details
Date: November 10
Time: 9:30 p.m. EST
TV: SEC Network+
Who wins on November 10?
- Vanderbilt (100%, 18 Votes)
- Austin Peay (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 18
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