Going into Vanderbilt’s 67-56 win over Tennessee last night, most people assumed it was an elimination game for now.
The two teams are squarely on the bubble, even with double-digit losses, while both have shown improvement as the season has gone forward.
The resurgence of the Commodores can be attributed to valuing the basketball, playing better defense, and different players stepping up and different situations.
Luke Kornet may have been the key in Wednesday’s game in styfling Tennessee big men Grant Williams and Kyle Alexander with his length down low. He struggled from the floor on offense, but the wing-span of the 7-1 center was clearly decisive.
“When we can get back and play five-on-five defense and get Luke down the court to protect the rim it instantly makes our defense much better,” said coach Bryce Drew after Vandy held the Vols to just 20.1 percent shooting.
And that type of defense leads to offense as five Commodores were in double figures and Kornet was near a triple double with 13 points, 11 rebounds, and seven blocked shots in 34 minutes.
“We know their bigs are really skilled and athletic and long and pass out of it, so when Luke (Kornet) can go down there and be 7-1 and long, he does a really great job of moving his feet,” Drew explained, Sometimes nothing really happens except the ball got out and reversed around the other side. Luke is such a presence we try to use him every way we can.”
Vandy has cleaned its ball-handling up to the point where the ‘Dores had a season low of five turnovers while only allowing two points of Tennessee’s ten turnovers on the evening. It was the second time in the last three games that Vanderbilt had single digits in turnovers.
“I think we have been on a cohesive defensively and being together all on the same page,” said Kornet, “I know it has gotten better at the rotations of us double-teaming the post. I think we have all taken pride and gotten better as a man defense.”
As Vanderbilt has won six out of their last eight and three in a row, Drew has gotten contributions from several different players.
Riley Lachance has shot 49.1 percent from three on the season, Joe Toye has entered the starting lineup, and Jeff Roberson continues to be a stalwart on the boards.
At 15-13 and playing their best game of the year, the schedule sets up well for the Commodores with Mississippi State coming to Memorial Gym before visiting Kentucky and then hosting Florida.
Get two of those and an opening win at the SEC Tournament and Vandy should be a well-deserving NCAA Tournament participant.