Enter game-related thoughts here.

Will be at the game as well as the Vandy United event tonight. Looking forward to seeing the second half of this series after being at the first half in Knoxville.

Stackhouse and company are still searching for the first win over the Vols in Stack's tenure, they're also looking to avoid the 12th-straight loss to Tennessee for the Vanderbilt program. Feels like tonight would be a success if it's within the 9.5-point spread. That's a low bar for a program that should have higher expectations but one that is probably the reality at this point. What's also likely a reality is that this would probably be the biggest win of Stack's tenure, he said it yesterday and it checks out. His team is still looking for what he's referred to as a "signature win" and this would certainly provide that. It would also show administration that maybe there is something to work with here. Feels like the type of game that Vandy could get up for and stick around in if the intensity is there. Tennessee is averaging 50 points per game over its last two games and certainly looked beatable in Gainesville. That being said, it will take a lot from Vanderbilt to even be in this one, the battle from beyond the arc has to be Vandy's by a significant amount, think the key to that is just getting into more of a natural flow offensively. In Knoxville it felt like there was some hero ball going on early and that put Vandy in a significant hole until Robbins came in the game and changed things. Tennessee normally suffocates you around the rim and will likely do that again tonight, it's gotta come from beyond the arc for the most part and it's gotta be because of ball movement. Vanderbilt only had seven assists as a team in Knoxville and was led by Colin Smith in that category, that can't happen tonight. The only way Vandy is gonna get this one is if it can get good looks from 3-point range and can establish Robbins. Also have to pray for a similar offensive night to what Tennessee had on Saturday and Wednesday. Feels like there's a path to this one at least being coverable but that will be difficult if Vandy plays like it did on Saturday or last Tuesday. Has to be a whole different level of intensity tonight. Kinda think that will be there, as well. Gonna be tough with the crowd likely being UT heavy but there is a way in which this doesn't have the same feeling as the Kentucky game or the Alabama games. Think we get another gauge of the locker room tonight based on the intensity we see early on, should be a fun one.

Here’s a link to discounted tickets for tomorrow’s basketball game. Someone on twitter told me to pass it along. Guessing they’re for teacher day, but looks like anyone can buy them.

Comical how far our OC position has fallen

Bruce already RATTLED!! Haha

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I love this (from a YouTube podcast called The 2 Percent podcast - Kiambu Fentress, Ro Coleman, Harry Ray)

Recruiting update with Simmons. Vandy is one of the programs he wants to visit this offseason. No quotes on Vandy.

As y'all know, @Chris Lee has been running VandySports.com for over 20 years. He has no plans on going anywhere, but it's your turn to help Chris out so around the clock Vandy coverage can keep coming. This is a perfect time for your business to be front and center as a sponsor of either football spring practice, baseball season or year-round recruiting coverage. If you are part of a business who would love to be featured, let me know! He's got big plans this year so y'all get ready!

Holton, Owen, TBA.

Well, I just got these tickets from another board member and now I can't go. I've had a sudden change in plans and won't be in town Saturday night. I received the tickets free, and it's only right that I give them to someone else for free. The first one who sends me a DM gets the tickets (Section 2L, Row 3). I'm heading to bed in five minutes, so I'll reply in the morning.

I have not confirmed with my wife whether I need to take the kids. It will probably be just me since the game tips off at 7:30, I'm looking for at least one ticket. I'll confirm how many I will need tomorrow.

Predict your opening day lineup and who do you think supplants a current starter by postseason play.

CF Skinnyman

That’s all I got so ai need some help.

@Chris Lee @NewYorkDore @baseballbros @DoreFan @DansWillMakeYouDance @DanBNash

Vandy will be on Tuesday, July 18, with Auburn, Georgia and MSU.

It’ll be in Nashville at the Hyatt.

With five games to go, the SEC is shaping up to have a really good finish. The top 3 seeds seem to be all but locked in with Alabama, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. After that, seeds 4-9 could go a number of different ways. This is what it looks like today:

4) Auburn (8-5)
5) Kentucky (8-5)
6) Mizzou (7-6)
7) Vanderbilt (7-6)
8) Florida (7-6)
9) Arkansas (6-7)

Vandy has a two game lead when you factor in the tiebreaker over Arkansas and Georgia who sit at 6-7. When you look at the remaining schedules it gets interesting.

Kentucky: Tennessee, @ Florida, Auburn, Vanderbilt, @ Arkansas

Auburn: @ Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, @ Kentucky, @ Alabama, Tennessee

Mizzou: Texas A&M, Mississippi State, @ Georgia, @ LSU, Ole Miss

Vanderbilt: Auburn, @ LSU, Florida, @ Kentucky, Mississippi State

Florida (without Castleton): @ Arkansas, Kentucky, @ Vanderbilt, @ Georgia, LSU

Arkansas: Florida, Georgia, @ Alabama, @ Tennessee, Kentucky

Some really big games coming up and a lot of ways in which this could go. If I had to guess today, I think the order will end up close to this:

4) Auburn (11-7) *tiebreaker over Miz
5) Mizzou (11-7)
6) Kentucky (11-7)
7 Vanderbilt (10-8)
8) Arkansas (9-9)
9) Florida (9-9) * tie breaker will be decided when FL/Ark play

Feels good to be able to have some scenarios to talk about for the first time in a while. Hopefully the guys finish 4-1 or 5-0 and really make it interesting!

Is Vandy MBB still looking at MJ Thomas?

Bama up 40 to 33 at the half. Sacha Washington with 14 points and 6 boards at the half. We have come back after a disastrous 1st quarter that ended 27 to 10 Bama. . Bama is pretty good , sporting a 19 and 6 overall record with an 8 and 4 league slate.

I actually kinda like these

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If we beat Auburn and end up going 4-1 down the stretch with an additional 2 wins in the SEC tournament, will we get into the tourney at 20-13?

We are 6-0 against the teams below us in the standings. We are simply beating the teams we need to and in past years, we all know that hasn't been the case.

Look, if you’ve read my posts which have been plenty, they’ve all been to make the case for VU to make the tourney. Now all these are based on VU going at least 4-1 down the stretch. And I’ve talked about the tough SEC schedule they’ve played and 3 of losses came without Robbins. Now I’ll take the other side.

Easy point is VUs computer numbers are just not good and even winning out they aren’t going to be good going into the SEC tourney.

While they have played a tough SEC schedule, they only have 1 win vs the top 6 SEC teams, the buzzer beater 1 pnt win vs TN. They’ve racked up the wins vs the bottom 6 or 7 teams. And this modest 4 game winning streak 2 of 4 was against bottom 3 teams.

Nothing really points to VU being able to win next 5 or 4 out of 5. Really good teams have trouble winning 9 in a row or even going 8-1 down the stretch. It’s hard to have really good games every game.

VU isn’t a very good defensive team (saying it mildly), so how will they pull out a game when they don’t shoot it well, which they more than likely will have at least a couple of games left where they don’t. Makes it even harder to go on long win streaks when you struggle to stop other teams. Even the 2nd half vs SC they couldn’t stop them. Was that due to large lead and they let down or did they just get somewhat lucky first half. I don’t know.

Anyways short story here is I’m having fun like the rest of you looking and analyzing. But odds are still very long that VU even puts themselves in position to be considered , and even if they do they won’t have the computer numbers. So they have a doubly long shot to have both fall their way (win enough and committe look past the computers).

Let’s see what happens with Auburn then we can talk more of VUs NCAA chances and what ifs or focus more on the NIT than the NCAA.