Game thread for Butler (3-0) and Vanderbilt (3-0).

One team will leave here with its first loss of the season.

Justine Pissott is warming up after missing the first three games.

Iyana Moore also looks to be available after being limited at USF with back spasms.

NM

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He will make a good OC for someone. Suggested they may go after Lustig.


Penn State special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach Justin Lustig was a Ball State assistant from 2011 to ’15. He spent 2016 as head coach at Edinboro and went 9-2 before heading to Syracuse to be an assistant. He was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2022.

Expect good news.

Manon came out and showed me something in that last 10 minutes. Those two slams plus a nice 3 were impressive.

He has a Bruce Elder quality about him and could be a factor this season. We really have amazing depth.

These rankings are based solely on game three:

1) AJ Hoggard - I have AJ here because of the way he dominated the beginning of the game, and the huge 3 he hit in the second half. Hoggard had 9 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists (0 turnover) and 4 steals. That is an incredible stat line from your point guard and TEAM LEADER. I know it's a small thing, but I told my son walking into the game that all I wanted to see from AJ tonight was a smile. In his first game, he looked miserable and pissed the whole game, on the court and on the bench. Last night, he had fun on the court and off the court and saw him smile a good bit. Sounds weird, I know, but for this team to be good, AJ needs to lead and lead by example.

2) Grant Huffman - I know a few of you have been wondering why we give this guy so many minutes and I think those people got their answer last night. Huffman was an absolute monster last night on both ends of the floor. He doesn't have to score to help the team win but his 6 points were all important and he added 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. To have two guards produce 15 pts, 10 rebounds, 12 assists (1 combined TO), and 8 steals is kind of unheard of.

3) Tyler Tanner - Uhhhhhhhhhh, this dude is good. Tanner is fast, quick, skilled, and energetic, but he has the competitive drive that is only found in the highest level players in sport. 14 pts, 3 rbs, 2 ast, 3 steals. Just a remarkable game from Tanner who brought the team's level up a notch when he came in the game. Very interesting that TT got 24 minutes last night because it shows his role on the team is growing but also Byington's ability to ride the hot hand. Edwards started off the game poorly, so Tanner was getting more minutes. What a luxary.

4) Devin McGlockton - 16 pts, 4 rbs, 3 blks - This guy continues to be a leader and a beast. Through 3 games, he's averaging 18 ppg, 12 rpb, and 3 bpg. Definitely our team MVP so far, but the beautiful thing is... he gets his through work rate and effort, love this guy.

5) Jason Edwards - Hard to believe a guy that scored 18 points in 19 minutes is 5th but I think that's about right. Edwards had a rough start to the game but because he's Jason Buckets, he finds a way to get the ball in the basket. He is a prolific scorer and a real joy to watch play the game.

6) Tyler Nickel - 8 points, and not much else, but because he is known as our best shooter, he creates spacing for the rest of the offense when he's on the floor. He did have a big block and a few nice plays but was noticeably quiet last night.

7) Jaylen Carey - Had another rough game including 2 early fouls. The charge call against him should have been called on the defender and then received a technical foul for embellishment, what an epic flop. The ref that called it should be flogged. Carey is here because he had 4 big rebounds and because he got the stripe for 6 free throws. He has to get better from the stripe but his body and presence does help this team, even if he isn't contributing a lot offensively.

8) MJ Collins - 7 pts in 16 minutes, added 2 steals, 2 rbs, and an assist. I'd love it if Collins could make wide open threes, but his pump fake late in the shot clock drew a huge 3 shot foul and he knocked down all 3. I really like Collins in a limited role where he can come in and defend like hell and hopefully give the team a little on offense too.

9) Chris Manon - Big Energy Chris made his presence felt on both ends of the floor. He didn't do much scoring wise but he's a very good defender and he had a couple of incredible drives. He has to make more free throws but is a guy that helps us win night in and night out.

10) JQ - Came in after Carey drew 2 early fouls, defended well and threw his right paw up for a huge alley oop dunk that was nasty. Also had a couple of nice defensive rebounds.

11) Jordan Williams - Tough defender that I like seeing get 2-4 minutes per game to help get into the legs of opposing guards and keep our guards fresh, There is ZERO drop off when he comes in defensively.

Thoughts?

I became a member last week but thus far haven’t heard a word. Not even an acknowledgement of the contribution. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

If anyone wants 2 in 2C let me know. Can’t make it today

Haha, pretty funny, especially during hunting season.

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December 4 at 1:30 in the United States District Court for the Middle Tennessee District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.

What a game. Probably the most fun I’ve had at one in years. Although Cal is likely an NIT team at best, it’s a big early win for Mark Byington as it shows proof of concept. It’s a game Vanderbilt needed to win, and they did it convincingly.

- Hoggard and Huffman were exactly who we needed them to be. Hoggard played really well. Super effective on D, passed the ball well on offense, and was an effective scorer. He didn’t force anything, and that was the biggest difference from Sunday. Huffman was a difference maker on D and was way more aggressive on O. If we can get that out of him on most nights, that’s a good formula to win games.

- The defense has been a very pleasant surprise. What this team lacks in size down low, they make up for with length and defense pressure from the guards. We’ve got 6 or 7 guys who will apply on ball pressure all game, and that is tough to battle for 40 minutes.

- Glock continues to be a stud and is our best player.

- Edwards is averaging the quietest 18ppg I’ve ever seen. When he really gets it going from deep, he’ll have some huge games.

- I still think Manon needs more minutes. He does a lot of good things out there.

- We need more from Carey

- Charleston Classic is big and it’d be huge to walk away with 2 wins

The goalposts arrived today. They came with an attractive stand. They are great and worth the price paid. I do think it was a bit of a missed opportunity. If I were Vandy, I would have included $50-100 in Vandy odds and ends like stickers and pens and such and a high end glossy NIL/fundraising plea. They have someone captive, why not strike while the iron is hot? I might have also offered some add ons like an extra $250 or $500 a player will sign it or a deluxe case for a $250 or $500 upgrade. Why? The people who paid these prices at auction are classic donors who will way overpay but want something in return--so why not humor them.

Game thread for Vanderbilt’s road game at USF.

Brandon and I will be providing some coverage remotely (although I wish I was enjoying some Florida weather right now lol).

The Commodores had lots of success last season on the road, finishing 8-3 in true away games.

USF (2-1) is coming off a loss at UConn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt football program completed a historic signing class on Wednesday. Nikhil Jefferson signed a letter of intent to join the Commodores, completing the class.
The 2024 signing class is the first in school history to include four four-star prospects per 247Sports. For a complete look at the class, visit Signing Day Central.
Tight end Brycen Coleman, safety Dontae Carter, wide receiver Joseph McVay and athlete Witt Edwards all received four-star ratings from 247Sports, topping Vanderbilt’s previous mark of three which last occurred in 2022.
Carter is one of five members of the signing class who has enrolled early at Vanderbilt and will be with the Commodores for spring practice. He is joined by edges Simeon Boulware, Callahan Blair and Mason Carter and defensive back Alvin Williamson Jr.
The five early enrollees are joined by 11 transfer student-athletes who are new to the roster for spring ball. Vanderbilt’s transfer class is rated in the top-40 nationally by 247Sports and includes four-star quarterback Nate Johnson.
Season tickets for the 2024 season, which opens at home against Virginia Tech on Aug. 31, are now available. Click here for more information.

Spring 2024 Mid-Year Enrollees
LS Julian Ashby
QB Blaze Berlowitz
EDGE Callahan Blair
EDGE Simeon Boulware
S Dontae Carter
EDGE Mason Carter
WR Jeremiah Dillon
S Randon Fontenette
TE Tyler Fortenberry
QB Nate Johnson
OL Steven Losoya
P Jesse Mirco
EDGE Khordae Sydnor
CB Kolbey Taylor
DB Alivin Williamson Jr.
DL Zaylin Wood

Baseball America has Vanderbilt as the 3rd best recruiting class below LSU and Texas. Tennessee is 4th.

Thanks, Chris for having Alaina and Brandon on board to cover women's basketball. It is great to have the women get equal coverage and Alaina and Brandon are doing a terrific job. Coach Byington is just getting started but it sure looks as though things are going to go well and we know for sure that Coach Ralph is top-notch. So with the increased coverage for WBB, it is shaping up to be an exciting basketball season on VandySports.. Both teams need and deserve better fan support so I hope Vandy fans will get out to Memorial to see some good basketball.

That girl good… she can play!


Is there a better freshman guard tandem in the country than Tanner/Blakes?!

I know VU doesn't have a big fanbase, but I am really jealous of all the schools that have the onit football, basketball, and baseball cards. The cards are really well done with relics and autos. It just seems like an easy way to generate NIL money. Is it that VU doesn't want to do them, or they just aren't a big enough school/fanbase? I mean Hawaii, Wake Forest and Wyoming have them and it is not like they have massive followings.

Is there a coach more miserable with his job than Stoops?

Just announced.

Here's the commit story from a few weeks back: