Suffice it to say, Vanderbilt overmatches Middle Tennessee State. Ken Pomeroy's statistics say Vanderbilt has a 96% chance of victory today (78-60 is the predicted score, with a tempo of 68).

MTSU has "Boogie" Yates. Their offensive and defensive ratings are right around 100, which is average for all D-I programs. Their Coach is named Kermit.

Vandy has the Rally 'Stache.

Vandy has done a great job of continuing to build upon their successes over the last 4 games. Considering this is the final "tune-up" before Florida Saturday (and the SEC slate), Vanderbilt needs to continue to show improvement so that momentum is heading in the proper direction as the "new season" begins.

TSN Preview

Through 13 outings, Middle Tennessee is scoring 70.0 ppg while allowing 65.4 ppg to opponents. In the recent victory over UL-Lafayette, the Blue Raiders managed to overcome their high total of 20 turnovers by earning a 37-24 rebounding advantage and a 21-14 edge in points from the foul line. James Washington led Middle Tennessee with 23 points and five assists, while J.T. Sulton pitched in 11 points off the bench. Yates has only played six of the 13 games thus far, but his is averaging a team-high 15.3 ppg. Montarrio Haddock checks in with 13.4 ppg, and Washington provides an additional 12.2 ppg.

Traditional Stats - Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders

Game Previews

When you beat up on less-talented teams you are sup­po­sed to beat up, it can be dif­fi­cult to tell how much bet­ter your team in getting. Take, for exam­ple, Ten­nes­see State, Mer­cer and Manhattan. Van­der­bilt Coach Kevin Sta­llings was won­de­ring that very thing before the Com­mo­do­res mau­led an ath­le­tic, nine-win Southern Miss squad 82-46 on Satur­day at Memo­rial Gym. "I thought (Satur­day) would give us a real good indi­ca­tion of how much pro­gress we’ve made. I would say, based on what I saw, we’ve made quite a bit of progress."

That pro­gress ran­ges from the play of fresh­man John Jen­kins, who has led the Com­mo­do­res in sco­ring the last three games and is shoo­ting lights-out from 3-point range (6-of-6 on Saturday), to a defense that is giving up just 56 points per game during this homes­tand while regis­te­ring 10 blocks in each of the last two games. We all know Van­der­bilt is a dif­fe­rent team at Memo­rial Gym, where they are 7-0 this sea­son. But at least we're now seeing signs and a level of effort that could trans­late to suc­cess on any court when SEC play begins Satur­day with an unpre­di­cat­ble Flo­rida club visi­ting West End.

"I know both teams (MTSU and Vanderbilt) didn't play as well as both coaches would like that night," MTSU Coach Kermit Davis said, referring to the Sun Belt Classic on Dec. 11 at Sommet Center. "(Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings) was disappointed in his team, and I was disappointed in our team with the Tennessee game. I thought we played hard, but we didn't execute well. But from reading (Stallings') comments in the paper, it sounds like they've become a lot better practice team. That's the same for us, and that's probably why both teams are improving."

Only three current Blue Raiders have played at Memorial Gym, so MTSU's players said they will focus on adjusting to the arena's unique layout at a shootaround today.

"I just don't like the way the court is set up," said MTSU senior Calvin O'Neil, who played in last season's loss at Memorial Gym. "I guess it's a regular gym, but it's a little weird and the baskets are poked out. But you just have to hoop. It's still just a basketball court."

Dear Calvin,

That jackass sitting behind you reminding you of the way the court is set up each and every time you miss a shot is just me.

Best,

-Anchor of Gold

MTSU-Vanderbilt game at a glance | The Tennessean

Previewing MTSU at Vanderbilt | VandySports.com (Rivals - Premium)

Vanderbilt – Middle Tennessee State Preview | VandyMania.com (Scout - Premium)

Preview: Vanderbilt - Middle Tennessee | DorePosts.com

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