Vanderbilt basketball: Commodores starting home-and-home series with Richmond

Vanderbilt basketball is reportedly set to start a home-and-home series with Richmond.

The two teams will meet in Richmond next season, with the Commodores hosting the return game during the 2020-2021 season.

Vanderbilt holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series between the teams, but the Spiders captured the most recent victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2011.

Chris Mooney’s team is trying to get back on track this season after back-to-back losing seasons.

The Commodores will try to do the same under new head coach Jerry Stackhouse, who has a solid nucleus to work with in his first year on the job.

Lovell’s Analysis

There are obviously a lot of unknowns when it comes to how Vanderbilt will look in Stackhouse’s first season.

Having key returners in Saben Lee and Aaron Nesmith will help the transition, and the Commodores also welcome in several freshmen that may need to contribute right away.

Going from a winless season in SEC play to the top of the pack probably isn’t the expectation this season, but Stackhouse and his staff should be able to make some positive steps.

But that certainly won’t be easy to do in what has become one of the most competitive conferences in the country.

For more SEC basketball coverage, follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell.