Our SEC basketball non-conference schedule series rolls right along with a look at Vanderbilt’s slate for the 2018-19 season.
The Commodores enter the new campaign with high expectations due to the addition of a top-15 recruiting class, which includes 5-stars Darius Garland and Simi Shittu.
Bryce Drew has a versatile roster this year in Nashville, and that should help the team turn things around after a frustrating 12-20 season.
Let’s run through the Commodores’ schedule and see what lies ahead entering SEC play.
For Vanderbilt’s full schedule, visit the team’s official website.
vs. Winthrop (Nov. 6)
2017-18 Record: 19-12
Season Outlook:
Pat Kelsey is back for his seventh season as head coach of the Eagles, and with eight of his top 10 scorers returning, it should be another fine year for the program.
What could present some challenges is the departure of Xavier Cooks, who was last season’s Big South player of the year.
However, Kelsey’s team will continue to play fast as one of the nation’s higher-paced offensive teams (top 35 in average offensive possession length the past three seasons).
at USC (Nov. 11)
2017-18 Record: 24-12
Season Outlook:
Andy Enfield will feature a less experienced roster than year’s past due to the exit of three of the team’s top four scorers, but Bennie Boatwright (13.6 ppg, 6.4 rpg) returns to lead a group filled with plenty of potential.
The Trojans have the nation’s No. 18 recruiting this year, with Kevin Porter Jr., Elijah Weaver, and J’Raan Brooks are all likely to make an immediate impact.
USC was top-15 nationally in turnovers per game (10.6), but with the changes on the roster, that may be an area that declines a little this season.
vs. Alcorn State (Nov. 16)
2017-18 Record: 11-21
Season Outlook:
The Braves have had just one winning season since 2002, and it may be difficult to turn things around this year with the exit of several key contributors to either graduation or transfer.
Fourth-year head coach Montez Robinson should find a reliable nucleus by the time SWAC play rolls around, but the challenging non-conference slate filled with quality opponents could produce frustrating results.
vs. Liberty (Nov. 19)
2017-18 Record: 22-12
Season Outlook:
Ritchie McKay’s squad moves from the Big South to the Atlantic Sun, and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the Flames are competing for a conference title right away.
Liberty brings back four starters from a team that was a buzzer-beating loss away from making the NCAA Tournament while adding an experienced JUCO transfer in Keenan Gumbs.
McKay, who spent many years working under Tony Bennett at Virginia, will lean on the trademark pack line defense to slow the tempo and force opponents into difficult shots. Offensively, the Flames were 347th in average possession length (20.0 seconds), and that focus on efficiency will continue to give Liberty a big boost.
vs. Kent State (Nov. 23)
2017-18 Record: 17-17
Season Outlook:
The Golden Flashes won just two games away from home last year, so that’ll need to improve if the team wants to return to the NCAA Tournament.
With the loss of 7-footer Adonis De La Rosa to transfer, the team should rely even more on its two double-digit backcourt scorers in Jaylin Walker (16.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg) and Jalen Avery (10.3 ppg, 3.6 app), who each played 33.6 minutes per game last season.
Kent State struggled from 3-point land in shooting just 32.6 percent (299th nationally), so that’s an area that greatly needs to improve.
vs. Savannah State (Nov. 27)
2017-18 Record: 15-17
Season Outlook:
Horace Broadnax’s team enters as the fastest-paced team in the country yet again, with the Tigers sporting an average possession length of 12.5 seconds last year.
Savannah State has to replace all five of its starters, but the incredible tempo should allow for plenty of potential upsets with shots going up at such a high frequency.
Of course, that type of style can also cause some issues on the defensive side of the floor, which was shown in the Tigers finishing last in scoring defense by allowing 93.5 points per game.
vs. NC State (Dec. 1, Hoophall Miami Invitational)
2017-18 Record: 21-12
Season Outlook:
Kevin Keatts will have an overhauled roster this season after leading the Wolfpack to the NCAA Tournament in his first season.
There are nine newcomers to the program, and as always, building chemistry will be crucial before entering the ACC gauntlet.
Keatts’ teams have always played fast, and NC State was very effective last season in defending the 3-point shot (18th nationally at 31.6 percent).
vs. Middle Tennessee (Dec. 5)
2017-18 Record: 25-8
Season Outlook:
It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from the Middle Tennessee program this year.
For the first time since 2001-02 season, the team will have someone other than Kermit Davis leading the charge, and that someone is former UNC Asheville head coach Nick McDevitt.
He’s rebuilt the roster with good talent, but it could be an up and down season with so many players to replace from last year’s CUSA regular season title team.
vs. Arizona State (Dec. 17)
2017-18 Record: 20-12
Season Outlook:
Last year’s trip to Tempe resulted in a 76-64 loss for the Commodores, and despite having to replace their three top scorers, the Sun Devils should prove to be a formidable challenge yet again.
Bobby Hurley may not have an explosive scorer like Tra Holder, but he does have one of his deepest teams yet, which includes the nation’s No. 11 recruiting class.
Arizona State turned the ball over 10.7 times per game last season (18th nationally), and that’s a trend that Hurley would certainly love to see continue this season.
vs. Kansas State (Dec. 22 in Kansas City, MO)
2017-18 Record: 25-12
Season Outlook:
The good news for Vanderbilt is that this isn’t a true road game. The bad news for Vanderbilt is that Kansas State is likely the team with the best shot of ending Kansas’ zillion-year run at the top of the Big 12 standings.
Bruce Weber gets all five starters back and his top seven scorers overall from a team that went to the Elite Eight last season, so the expectations are certainly warranted.
The Wildcats finished 21st in defensive efficiency last year, and with a group that has so much experience, they could be even tougher to score on this season.
vs. Tennessee State (Dec. 29)
2017-18 Record: 15-15
Season Outlook:
Brian “Penny” Collins is the new coach of the Tigers after Dana Ford’s departure to Missouri State.
The former Belmont standout will try to keep the program’s momentum going with a new-look roster that features a solid group of transfers and players that redshirted last year.
Kamar McKnight (8.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg) and Armani Chaney (7.8 ppg, 3.7 app) should lead the way as two of the most experienced players on the team.
vs. UNC Asheville (Dec. 31)
2017-18 Record: 21-13
Season Outlook:
With McDevitt taking over at Middle Tennessee, it’s now Mike Morrell’s turn to take the reigns of the Asheville program.
The former Shaka Smart assistant figures to play the high-pressured defensive style, but it may take a while to have things clicking considering that the Bulldogs lose all five starters from last season.
at Oklahoma (Jan. 26, SEC/Big 12 Challenge)
2017-18 Record: 18-14
Season Outlook:
It’s certainly going to be fascinating to watch how the Sooners adjust in the post-Trae Young era.
Fortunately for Lon Kruger, he’s got six seniors on the roster and two grad transfers, so that experience will valuable in a transition year.
It’s hard to discount a Kruger-coached team, and even with a lot of unknowns, Oklahoma may start to hit its stride by the time this game rolls around.
Overall Schedule Analysis
There’s a great mixture of teams on Vanderbilt’s non-conference schedule this season, and that should allow Drew to experiment with his revamped roster.
The trio of Darius Garland, Simi Shittu, and Saben Lee will present matchup problems for most teams on the schedule, and how other players expand their roles around them will be the key to the Commodores’ success.
Vanderbilt will play five of its first seven SEC games at home, so there’s a chance to build serious momentum in conference play if it can work out any prevalent issues in the pre-conference portion of the schedule.
It should be an entertaining season for the Commodores with a lot of young talent on the floor, and if all goes according to plan, they’ll be back in the madness come March.
For more SEC basketball coverage follow me on Twitter @theblakelovell. If you want more knowledge heading into the 2018-19 season, visit our full catalog of previews.