Anchor Of Gold: FanPosts

Vandy Baseball Rankings

2010-03-09T02:25:09Z

Thought this may be of some interest to the baseball followers:

#24 in Baseball America

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/top-25/2010/269622.html

#20 in USA Today/ESPN

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/baseball/usatpoll.htm

We also lead the SEC with a 2.21 ERA overall and 108 Strike outs despite having pitched the 2nd most innings in the conference (102 IP compared to a league high of 103 by Georgia). Hitting wise, the team averages a .349, only behind Auburn who hits a .373.

http://www.secsports.com/sport_stats/Baseball/2010/lgsumm.htm

SEC COY V2.0

2010-03-08T20:35:19Z

I think it is safe to say that the SEC Coach of the Year race is likely down to essentially one candidate with a second in tow for consideration. Sure, Calipari won the conference with 14 total wins, but name one respected media analyst that picked Kentucky to finish worse than first during the preseason media days? Anyone? Even Vegas thought Kentucky was a slam dunk – here was the prospect bet on November 12 for the SEC East champion:

Kentucky	1-8
Tennessee	5-1
Florida	8-1
South Carolina	10-1
Vanderbilt	15-1
Georgia	30-1

By default, the coach of the conference champion is normally the coach of the year winner. But because Kentucky was a clear frontrunner from the beginning, I would encourage the voters to take a closer look. (hold your “but he can recruit” BS)

Kentucky	Class	Rivals Rank
Wall	2009	1
Bledsoe	2009	23
Miller	2008	42
Patterson	2007	17
Cousins	2009	2
Vanderbilt
Beal	2006	87
Tinsley	2008	94
Taylor	2008	52
Walker	2007	150
Ogilvy	2007	41

Going back to the original COY analysis, you will find that the starting five for Kentucky includes four 5-star recruits while Vanderbilt starts four 4-star recruits. The predictive player effectiveness calculations based on actual results shows that Kevin Stallings (+3.19) got more production out of his players than John Calipari (+.76)

Do you want to talk recruiting now? Ok. How many of Vanderbilt’s starting five would get accepted to UK? All five. How about UK’s starting five getting accepted to Vanderbilt? And I am talking with true standardized test scores, not some phony GPA boosted by taking beginners math as a Senior in high school. I don’t know this answer because ACT’s aren’t published for recruits that don’t achieve high marks. So if you truly want to compare apples to apples in recruiting, Stallings did a great job getting students who play ball while Calipari did an excellent job getting ballers into school. Don’t believe me, flop admission standards for Stallings and Calipari to see what recruits land where. Recruiting is not everything, just ask Gillespie. Here is a look at Gillespie’s recruits:

Last	Class	Rivals Rank
Jasper	2006	38
Meeks	2006	39
Stevenson	2006	63
Patterson	2007	17
Liggins	2007	28
Miller	2008	42
Legion	2008	44
Orton	2009	22
Hood	2009	40

Each of his recruiting classes were better than Stallings’ but Gillespie was run from town. Calipari brought in two recruits that far outpace anyone on this list. However, most of these players are still on the team making the bench talent that much better and Calipari didn’t even recruit them. Hey UK fan, if you take the recruiting argument as to why Cal should win COY, then explain why you lost a single game in conference when this talent (Gillespie’s and Calipari’s) far exceeds any other team in the league.

Sadly, most voters will go with the default choice of league champion and select Calipari as COY when he got outcoached by others with less talent.

What about…

Bruce Pearl: He motivated through his depth issues during conference play. But, UT still started two 5-star athletes all year to achieve 10 conference victories – admirable work Bruce (+1.35).

Billy Donovan: Donovan’s 9 wins starting two 5- and 4-star recruits underperformed the likes of UT and Vandy. (-1.97) Donovan is a great coach but his numbers haven’t shown it. Are the recruits more interested in the scenery of Gainesville?

Trent Johnson: Tasmin Mitchell’s production (and 20th rank in the 2005 class) wasn’t enough for LSU. (-5.11)

SEC Dance Tracker

2010-02-27T04:14:05Z

This is just for fun ... based on the other data I'm tracking, I made a composite ranking (1/2 RPI, 1/6 Pomeroy, 1/6 Sagarin, 1/6 BBState) and graphed it over the past month and a half. I'm putting the NCAA bubble line at 50. Mississippi State is the closest to crashing the party, with Florida the most tenuous of the teams on the inside.

Let me know what you think!

Poll

How many teams will the SEC get into the NCAA Tournament?

SEC in the Rankings

2010-02-26T18:43:08Z

A somwhat volatile week in the SEC. Florida continues their steady rise into NCAA Tournament contention, while Tennessee slips a little further back in the seedings. I think we have four clear NCAA Tournament teams now - Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Florida, and Tennessee. Some might argue that Florida is still near the bubble, but I think a 1-2 finish should keep them in there since their remaining schedule is very RPI favorable.

What's wrong with the SEC West? Shouldn't Mississippi or Mississippi State have run away from that nasty junkyard dog pack by now? I actually think State might still do that, but now is definitely the time.

Numbers for your consideration ...

CBS Sportsline* RPI	Rank	SOS	1wk-trend	6wk-trend
Kentucky	3	48	+1	+8
Vanderbilt	15	14	-4	+6
Tennessee	20	25	-3	+5
Florida	45	46	+13	+38
Mississippi State	58	109	+5	-8
Ole Miss	62	60	-8	-17
South Carolina	73	13	+4	-4
Georgia	101	10	-6	-1
Alabama	105	44	-14	-25
Arkansas	135	58	-22	?
Auburn	143	56	+9	?
LSU	215	78	+1	?

More rankings after the jump ...

Pomeroy	Rank	SOS	1wk-trend	6wk-trend
Kentucky	7	68	+1	+4
Vanderbilt	29	22	-3	-5
Tennessee	32	38	-3	-20
Mississippi State	44	98	-4	-7
Florida	46	69	+8	+1
Ole Miss	52	63	-9	-12
Alabama	68	57	+4	+10
Georgia	80	8	+9	+8
South Carolina	83	29	-4	-14
Arkansas	98	99	-8	?
Auburn	100	66	+6	?
LSU	185	65	+15	?

Sagarin	Rank	SOS	Predictor	1wk-trend	6wk-trend
Kentucky	4	71	9	0	+1
Vanderbilt	19	37	26	-5	+2
Tennessee	22	45	23	-2	-9
Florida	35	51	46	+10	+18
Ole Miss	48	68	42	-5	-26
Mississippi State	49	100	43	+2	-23
South Carolina	74	12	76	0	-1
Alabama	82	54	67	-2	-10
Georgia	87	7	88	+6	+16
Arkansas	115	84	106	-11	?
Auburn	121	66	105	+11	?
LSU	181	69	172	+17	?

Basketball State	Rank	1wk-trend	3wk-trend2
Kentucky	3	+3	+4
Vanderbilt	13	-2	-3
Tennessee	24	-5	-7
Mississippi State	49	+2	-1
Florida	54	+17	+20
Ole Miss	61	-2	-11
South Carolina	95	-11	-17
Georgia	96	+6	+9
Alabama	106	-9	-16
Arkansas	129	-16	?
Auburn	148	+1	?
LSU	210	+8	?

SEC Coach of the Year

2010-02-22T22:44:28Z

After the loss to Kentucky, I heard a number of national sports radio hosts discuss how John Calipari could be the national Coach of the Year. Calipari is an excellent recruiter and damn good motivator (components of a good coach), but he should not be national coach of the year. But, I quickly realized the velocity that this message began to circulate throughout sports circles. So, I thought I would use a test sample of SEC East programs to determine who would be the best coach in the division. The winner is Kevin Stallings.

In the SEC East, there are (as of February 22nd) four teams with a winning league record. The starting five players on each of these teams were assigned a recruiting rank by our friends at Rivals.com. The rank was given as a comparative number to peers within that same graduation year. In (), you will see the average rank of the Rivals.com starting five per team. Here is the breakdown for the SEC East starting lineups on February 20th:

Kentucky (17)	Class	Rivals Rank
Wall	2009	1
Bledsoe	2009	23
Miller	2008	42
Patterson	2007	17
Cousins	2009	2
Vanderbilt (85)
Beal	2006	87
Tinsley	2008	94
Taylor	2008	52
Walker	2007	150
Ogilvy	2007	41
Tennessee (72)
Maze	2006	150
Goins	2007	150
Hopson	2008	5
Prince	2005	21
Chism	2006	34
Florida (44)
Walker	2008	102
Boynton	2009	12
Parsons	2007	19
Tyus	2007	50
Macklin	2006	37

My calculation uses this ranking as a foundation for the player effectiveness. For example, John Wall was the #1 player in 2009, so he receives a value of 150. Demarcus Cousins was the #2 player in 2009, so he receives a value of 149. For a player that was not ranked by Rivals.com, they are assigned a value of 1. In measuring this calculation, one must factor in the productivity of a player. For example, a Freshman should not be as effective as a Senior due to the level of experience. So, I calculated an experience coefficient to measure the ability of a recruit at any point in their career. Senior's are assigned the highest productivity marks within the coefficient which helps weight experience with JUCO transfers. Save boring you with the details, the (+/-) of 2009-2010 season outcomes to date based on recruit rankings are:

Stallings, +3.587

Pearl, +.8575

Calipari, +.787

Donovan, -1.220

From this outcome, you could assess that Kevin Stallings has done more with his players than any other coach in the SEC East. Since the SEC West sucks (with all due respect, you too Mrs. Stansberry), I didn't waste my time.

In summary, Calipari can obviously recruit and should deserve bonus points for his ability to get recruits. But a storied basketball tradition does as much to draw recruits as a coach (ie. Notre Dame football). To me, the Coach of the Year is someone who gets the most out of his recruits to perform. So far this year in the SEC, it is Kevin Stallings.

As a disclaimer, I currently pay student loans every month that paid for a degree from Vanderbilt University. This either makes me a "homer", or a stereotypical nerd that can efficiently use analytics to accurately predict the outcome of a qualitative assessment by voters.

What to do in Nashville?

2010-02-22T19:31:26Z

I hope you guys don't mind, but I have a non-sports related topic for those of you familiar with the Nashville area. I will be in Nashville next week for business. I have not been there since I was kid. I will only have one day to really get out and visit different places. That being said, for any of you familiar with the area, if you only had one day to visit the city, what places would you choose to visit? I am a bit of a music junkie and a history buff. I have also heard that Nashville has a good science museum (Cumberland Science Museum?). Any input you guys may have would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and have a great day.

U-G-L-Y = UK @ VU

2010-02-21T04:15:51Z

The best thing about today's game? The season continues.

It was UGLY. It was ROUGH. We had horrible shooting, and we still only lost by two. The defensive swagga was there. The offensive swagga was lacking. However, this is a loss that in the past could destroy a season. This year? It is just another game.

Yes, we would have loved to have beaten the C-A-T-S. Yes, we would have loved to be tied for 1st the in SEC East. Yes, we would love to have risen in the ranking and perhaps even been bumped up to a projected 2 or 3 seed.

But in the end, it will be okay. We'll get back to work and learn from this game. The season continues, and we'll hopefully have another shot at the 'Cats...next time with a Commodore W.

Vandy Students Ready to Dominate

2010-02-20T20:59:44Z

http://www.vanderbiltsportsline.com/2010/02/students-are-out-in-force.html

It's all about the Swagga

2010-02-20T00:58:24Z

(via curtischoate.tripod.com) (via 1.bp.blogspot.com)

I had thought it couldn't be easier to make fun of UK than when the Tubster was around...little did I know that Calipari would make it even harder not to make fun of UK. (That aside, they are playing great ball and I am looking forward to the game tomorrow...I just hope to goodness we win by ourselves and not in retrospect five years from now).

Anyway, I've never been comfortable with the idea of playing with "house money" though many analysts continue to apply that terminology to the game tomorrow. However, if one thing this season has made me more comfortable with this team than teams of the past, it is the "swagga" factor. I am a firm believer in the power of Memorial Magic, and I look for Memorial to be at its best for tomorrow's game. CKS suggested before the game at Ole Miss that the team needed to get its road swagga back. Though rough at first, the team did eventually reach a comfort level and the swagga returned. After the last outing in Memorial, I'm hoping the Magic and the swagga combine to leave us with a win that we'll be talking about for years to come.

Swagga factors after the jump.

The swagga factors I'm anticipating we'll see in tomorrow's game:

Jermaine Beal: Expect some Dolla swagga threes and a fading jumpshot.
Jeffery Taylor: Expect at least two emphatic dunks and at least one those in transition.
Brad Tinsley: BT played some excellent and intense D on Thursday...if he keeps that up, it will definitely qualify as swagga.
A.J. Ogilvy: Sometimes swagga is subtle...I'm expecting some soft rolls from down under and a definite swagga at the free throw line.
Andre Walker: Is there any smoother swagga than a glue guy that seems to fly under the radar? I'm hoping his shoulder is at full strength and that his foul issues at Ole Miss have been forgotten.
Festus Ezeli: I'm anticipating at least one huge (and timely) block from Fes, and a dunk that gets the student section even louder.
John Jenkins: No need to define JoJen's swagga...I'm hoping he comes back at full strength tomorrow after illness and some not-as-hot-as-normal shooting in his last two games.
Lance Goulbourne: I'd love to see a powerful dunk or a key three...though my heart sinks every time he shoots one of the shots Alex Gordon would support.

I think a good balance between the players (as opposed to a solo or duo performance) will be essential. In my opinion, the most important key to the swagga for this game is to make sure Kentucky doesn't get a swagga of their own. Keeping them off balance and not letting them get comfortable will point to a Vanderbilt victory.

Go 'Dores.

SEC in the Rankings

2010-02-19T16:36:19Z

Another week has passed, with another series of Southeastern Conference games. One trend that seems apparent is that the SEC as a whole, particularly the "middle six", are steadily losing traction in the rankings. Unfortunately, with the exception of Florida, this is notable in the RPI rankings -- which are used directly by the NCAA Tournament committee. There are three clear NCAA Tournament teams right now - Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tennessee - but, it's not clear who's going to make a statement and join them.

Moreover, the biggest game of the conference season takes place this week, as Kentucky visits Vanderbilt. Kentucky can all but lock up the SEC Championship and a #1 seed with a road win in Nashville. A Vanderbilt win means that the Conference race will come down to the wire, and Vanderbilt will have a legitimate shot at a top 3 seed in the dance. (I'm pretty sure that my dream last night, in which I attended the opening round NCAA tournament game between 1 seed Kentucky and 4 seed Vanderbilt, was not prescient.)

Numbers for your consideration ...

CBS Sportsline* RPI	Rank	SOS	1wk-trend	5wk-trend
Kentucky	4	49	+2	+7
Vanderbilt	11	21	0	+10
Tennessee	17	19	+5	+8
Ole Miss	54	57	-15	-9
Florida	58	62	-2	+25
Mississippi State	63	99	+9	-13
South Carolina	77	31	-13	-8
Alabama	91	37	+7	-11
Georgia	95	9	+7	+5
Arkansas	113	45	+1	?
Auburn	152	63	-9	?
LSU	216	83	+4	?
* CBS Sportsline used because it is a consistently good approximation of the actual NCAA published weekly RPI.

More rankings after the jump ...

Pomeroy	Rank	SOS	1wk-trend	5wk-trend
Kentucky	8	77	-1	+3
Vanderbilt	26	22	-6	-2
Tennessee	29	47	-1	-17
Mississippi State	40	98	-1	-3
Ole Miss	43	58	-3	-26
Florida	54	91	-6	-7
Alabama	72	62	-2	+6
South Carolina	79	36	-1	-10
Georgia	89	11	-1	-1
Arkansas	90	106	+3	?
Auburn	106	78	+2	?
LSU	200	63	+8	?

Sagarin	Rank	SOS	Predictor	1wk-trend	5wk-trend
Kentucky	4	80	8	+2	+1
Vanderbilt	14	35	24	+1	+7
Tennessee	20	51	23	-4	-7
Ole Miss	43	68	39	-7	-21
Florida	45	59	51	-2	+8
Mississippi State	51	99	41	+5	-25
South Carolina	74	22	76	-5	-1
Alabama	80	64	70	+2	-8
Georgia	93	4	93	+2	+10
Arkansas	104	95	97	+2	?
Auburn	126	72	107	-3	?
LSU	198	71	186	-1	?

Basketball State	Rank	1wk-trend	2wk-trend
Kentucky	4	+2	+3
Vanderbilt	11	+1	-1
Tennessee	19	-1	-2
Mississippi State	51	+4	-3
Ole Miss	59	-10	-9
Florida	71	-6	+3
South Carolina	84	-5	-6
Alabama	97	+8	-7
Georgia	102	-4	+3
Arkansas	113	+10	?
Auburn	149	+8	?
LSU	218	+2	?

Interesting facts about STAT KING

2010-02-13T07:04:55Z

You've grown up playing STAT KING. You love it more than your own mother. But, do you really know the STAT KING? Take the following quiz to see how you stack up on your STAT KING knowledge ... 10 simple STAT KING questions all STAT KING fans will love.

1. Can I, an average Joe Fan, become STAT KING?

2. Can my favorite Commodore basketball player win the contest?

3. Who has the most STAT KING crowns?

4. Who is that lady admiring King Freije's guns?

5. What causes STAT KING to take unplanned leaves of absence?

6. How many minutes must a player contribute in order to be eligible for the STAT KING crown?

7. Can family members play STAT KING?

8. Who has won the STAT KING contest more than anyone else (not counting "NO WINNER")?

9. Does STAT KING recruit middle school students?

10. Can I question the STAT KING?

Answers after the jump ...

1. Can I, an average Joe Fan become STAT KING?

No. Average Joe Fans can win the STAT KING contest, but they cannot become the STAT KING. This is an important distinction. Only uniform-wearing Vanderbilt basketballsmen can become STAT KING. We prefer the big guys, which is why we skewed the competition in their favor; but, we even enjoy seeing guards win on occassion. But, you're not going to become STAT KING by simmering pantsless in a natural sauna in the deep south with a bottle of beer in one hand and your favorite clicker in the other.

2. Can my favorite Commodore basketball player win the contest?

Yes, with a qualifier. Vanderbilt student athletes are entirely welcomed to play the STAT KING and even to win. But, Vanderbilt student athletes will never get the STAT KING prize of a small image bearing their contest nickname and King Freije (below). That is expressly against NCAA rules.

3. Who has the most STAT KING crowns?

A.J. Ogilvy. The contest was created with the Big Aussie in mind, as he has taken no less than 30 of the 209 STAT KING crowns.

4. Who is that lady admiring King Freije's guns?

Everyone's favorite first lady, Nancy Reagan, graces the STAT KING site with her beauty and advancing age. We love this woman, and we know you do, too. King Freije is rumored to have said once that "Mrs. Reagan is the reason I came to Vanderbilt. You don't get first ladies like that at other arenas."

No, Mrs. Reagan will not marry me.

I love her anyway.

5. What causes STAT KING to take unplanned leaves of absence?

We hate losing. When the team loses, we lose it. We're petulant and unrepentant. Like it or not, we're likely to disappear if the 'Dores start dropping games (see 02/03). We might even take a year off, in an ingeniously subtle plan to inspire Derrick Byars into realizing his potential as the best player in the league. Powerful are we.

6. How many minutes must a player contribute in order to be eligible for the STAT KING crown?

10 minutes.

7. Can family members play STAT KING?

Yes, and they often do. My father and daughter have combined for 7 STAT KING crowns. TommyDore's wife even won once.

8. Who has won the STAT KING contest more than anyone else (not counting "NO WINNER")?

CDore78 has won 7 crowns by himself. Well, actually, we think Ben's really picking for the old guy, because CDore78 doesn't have the sense God gave a penny whistle. Ben's our favorite Vandy fan. Better than Lance.

9. Does STAT KING recruit middle school students?

We don't think it's ever too early to bring in new talent. Will we be here in 6 years when you graduate high school? Not a freaking clue, but we're young, reckless, drunk, and never once played college sports, so what do we have to lose? Stay in school kids. And, just say no (to STAT KING, Lane Kiffin, and dear Lord especially that freakshow Billy Gillispie.)

10. Can I question the STAT KING?

That's an open invitation to a good old-fashioned Nancy Reagan butt-whipping.

SEC in the Rankings

2010-02-11T16:58:32Z

This is my first attempt to post, so bear with me. Gemini, green eyes, free safety, enjoys long walks on the beach, virgin daiquiris, and Commodore basketball. I'm trying out this whole beard thing, so you'll have to let me know what you think; have to admit, I'm a little surprised at how much gray I have in the chin area. I'm not old enough for that yet.

Introductions out of the way, let's talk SEC basketball. The conference is having a nice bounce-back from last year's disaster, and it bears out when the computers do their computations. Perhaps not to the '06/'07 heights yet, but we'll get there soon enough. Here are the numbers for your consideration & discussion:

CBS Sportsline* RPI	Rank	SOS	1wk-trend	4wk-trend
Kentucky	6	57	-3	+5
Vanderbilt	11	19	-1	+10
Tennessee	22	29	0	+3
Ole Miss	39	58	0	+6
Florida	56	68	-2	+27
South Carolina	64	25	-3	+5
Mississippi State	72	132	-9	-22
Alabama	98	44	-3	-18
Georgia	102	9	+3	-2
Arkansas	114	47	?	?
Auburn	143	75	?	?
LSU	220	91	?	?
* CBS Sportsline used because it is a consistently good approximation of the actual NCAA published weekly RPI.

More rankings after the jump...

Pomeroy	Rank	SOS	1wk-trend	4wk-tren
Kentucky	7	87	+3	+4
Vanderbilt	20	13	+2	+4
Tennessee	28	46	-3	-16
Mississippi State	39	113	-7	-2
Ole Miss	40	63	0	-23
Florida	48	91	-1	-1
Alabama	70	54	+4	+8
South Carolina	78	36	-3	-9
Georgia	88	11	+2	0
Arkansas	93	114	?	?
Auburn	108	98	?	?
LSU	208	73	?	?

Sagarin	Rank	SOS	Predictor	1wk-trend	4wk-trend
Kentucky	6	97	9	+1	-1
Vanderbilt	15	27	22	0	+6
Tennessee	16	53	20	0	-3
Ole Miss	36	82	32	0	-14
Florida	43	55	49	-1	+10
Mississippi State	56	113	41	-5	-30
South Carolina	69	24	72	0	+4
Alabama	82	52	70	-3	-10
Georgia	95	7	94	+4	+8
Arkansas	106	101	101	?	?
Auburn	123	96	108	?	?
LSU	197	81	195	?	?

Basketball State	Rank	1wk-trend
Kentucky	6	+1
Vanderbilt	12	-2
Tennessee	18	-1
Ole Miss	49	+1
Mississippi State	55	-7
Florida	65	+9
South Carolina	79	-1
Georgia	98	+7
Alabama	105	-15
Arkansas	123	?
Auburn	157	?
LSU	220	?

Vanderbilt at Georgia Gut-Check Reaction

2010-02-07T03:55:52Z

Having just watched the Vandy-UGA game I feel compelled to share some of my reactions to the game. A sincere salute to Tins and Beal for playing some really solid basketball. That being said, when the rest of the team goes 6-33 from the floor against an SEC opponent, there is no way you can expect to pull out a win. More in-depth analysis... after the jump.

Georgia showed some inspired moments but this game should have been ours. A couple of reactions to some of the players out on the floor.

AJ Ogilvy

Man. Up. I have never seen a big man play so weak. It kills me watching him. The only solid play he had tonight was that 3-point play he had in transition off a nice dish from Tinsley I believe. As a Junior, he really needs to lead by example, and I just haven't seen that in League play. Of course that has been the case since his Freshman year, but I keep hoping that I will see him rise to his potential. I find myself screaming at Stallings to put Fez in to get some physicality down under the rim, because AJ's just not bringing it.

Jermaine Beal.

The man is a beast. His two pull-up threes during the closing minutes of the first half both came off of steals and really got Vandy back in the game. It seems like every year we have a player who has a knack for stepping up in big moments and making plays, whether its Byars, Shan Foster, or Beal, there is a always a player hungry for the big moment, and capable of making it happen, I continue to be impressed with Jermaine's play every game, as I am sure the NBA scouts in attendance were as well.

Brad Tinsley:

The Tin Man is definitely one of my favorite players for the Dores this year. Congratulations to him for getting his season high tonight, just wish it wasn't in a loss. I really like the slash move that he has added to his repertoire, he had a couple of nice floaters in the lane tonight which makes him just as dangerous off the dribble as from behind the arc where he has been struggling.

Turnovers:

This game really is about missed opportunities. With an almost 2-1 turnover ratio in our favor there is no excuse for not taking advantage and pulling out another SEC road win. This really comes down to execution. I give credit to Georgia's second half defense, but there just wasn't any fire and intensity on our side tonight, which worries me for the future. We also got killed on the glass, which is always disappointing and again indicative of uninspired play.

At the beginning of the season, looking through this section of the schedule, I would have been extremely pleased to be where we are now with only 2 SEC loses. However, we really gave this game away tonight with dismal shooting and uninspired play down the stretch (reminiscent of the MSST game a couple of nights ago unfortunately). I don't think we will see many nights where Jenkins goes 0-9, and Taylor has been struggling ever since that missed reverse dunk during the UK game. That being said, I hope this game serves as a real wake-up call to our players. There are no cupcakes in the SEC, and we are going to need to bring some intensity to the UT game on Tuesday night. I know I will be bringing it. Look for me in the front row screaming my head off at Jism, Brian "I'm not fat I just get the munchies" Williams and the rest of the UT thugs.

Any Vandy Fans in L.A.?

2010-01-30T19:06:46Z

Just putting the feeler out for any other Vandy fans in the great city of Los Angeles. It would be nice to get together at a local sports bar for the occasional big basketball or football game or women's bowling championship.

About me: Nashville native (Hume-Fogg H.S.) who went to Lipscomb U. but grew up rooting for Vandy because my grandfather and dad both did, so I had no choice. Actor/writer/(waiter). Had newspaper cutouts of the "Mac Attack" ('92) on my bedroom wall as a kid, nearly cried when Cutler beat UT in Knoxville, Barry Goheen is still my favorite Commodore of all time, and I hate the school to the East.

Mother Nature Bleeds Black and Gold

2010-01-29T22:05:10Z

via nashvillewx.com

There are many important things to consider when preparing to play a team ranked number one. There have been many great posts here at AoG that give you some of that analysis. I, however, have found a different area to analyze: the loyalty of Mother Nature.

Any of you in Nashville are currently dealing with what Twitter has dubbed #thesituation2010. While I'm not in Nashville, the snow has just arrived in eastern Tennessee, and this brings to mind a great moment in Vandy basketball history...February 26, 2008. A white-out by the fans for a game in Memorial versus the number one ranked (24 hours previously) Tennessee Vols was aided by a little help from Mother Nature with all of Nashville turning white for the game.

This year's team just pulled out a road win against the Vols on Wednesday. Tomorrow, they arrive at Rupp Arena to take on the currently number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats. There is snow in Nashville...and the forecast for Lexington includes a bit of snow as well. I'm beginning to believe that Mother Nature may, in fact, be cheering for the 'Dores this weekend.

Vanderbilt Women's Basketball: A model of inconsistency.

2010-01-20T17:34:22Z

Vanderbilt's most successful team of the 2000s -- rankings-wise -- has also been its most inconsistent.

In 2009-2010, it's been more of the same. Lose to unranked Kentucky, then turn around and blow out #6 Georgia the next game -- just business as usual for the Commodores women's basketball team. The team is one of the powerhouses in the most feared conference in all of women's college basketball, but when Vanderbilt drops a game to Bowling Green, UC-Riverside, or Indiana State, no one blinks. It's the same when they upset Tennessee, Auburn, or Duke. SEC Tournament titles have been canceled out by NCAA Tournament runs that end at the Sweet Sixteen or earlier. No matter what the schedule says, it seems every season shares the same predictable unpredictability - some big wins here, some strange losses there, and then a crushing NCAA tourney defeat.

The 1911 Girls' Basket-Ball Team - rolled 7 deep and apparently played in ballet slippers. Intense.
via www.library.vanderbilt.edu

So is 2009 the year that this team finally gets over the top eight hump? Over the past three years, the team has ended the regular season with top 15 rankings (2007 - #7, 2008 - #15, 2009 - #8) and two SEC championships, but just two Sweet Sixteen appearances to show for it. 2010 looks like it will offer more of the same - some big, ultimately meaningless wins along with upset losses that set the tone for big-stage disappointment. In fact, even if this team outperforms past expectations and journeys deep into the NCAA tournament, there's a chance that they could run into buzzsaw Connecticut, who is establishing a Northwestern-esque run towards a second straight undefeated season.

There are some glimmers of hope, however. Their 66-44 trashing of the sixth-ranked Bulldogs was either a revelation of what the team can do at full potential or the de-pantsing of an overrated Georgia team. An eight point first half lead turned into a five point loss to #3 Notre Dame that wasn't as close as the final score indicated, but the Dores showed a gritty 2-minute style that they've been missing in tight games. Are these the tenets of a team that's turning the corner? Or just more of the same from a squad that covers more highs and lows than a game of Ice Climber? With games against Tennessee, LSU, and Kentucky on the horizon, we'll have a better idea soon. Meanwhile, Commodore fans will continue to wait for the first Elite Eight banner - men's or women's - to rise in Memorial Gym since the days of Clyde Lee.

Lane Kiffin Thought for the Day

2010-01-14T20:56:51Z

Click here to see a gentleman from Greene County who has some strong words for Kiffin. Really rather brilliant.

Is Keegan Bell regressing after leaving Vanderbilt?

2010-01-05T22:43:43Z

I was excited for the Keegan Bell era at Vanderbilt. He was a top 30 high school point guard that Coach Stallings wrestled away from LSU and Mississippi in 2007's recruiting process. Bell was supposed to add stability at guard behind Jermaine Beal and eventually run the point in Beal's absence. He was a decent athlete who, as the son of a basketball coach, was touted as having a great basketball IQ and slick shot. As a freshman, he played in 34 games and showed flashes of talent, but was turnover prone, a weak defender, and developed a nasty habit of taking bad shots and missing 3-pointers in SEC games.

These all seemed to be growing pains for a young basketball player, and Bell was expected to keep improving and work his way deeper into the Commodore rotation as a ballhandler and distributor. However, his decision to transfer changed that, and left the 'Dores temporarily shorthanded on a 2008-2009 squad that needed veteran players. Citing philosophical disagreements with the coaching style, Bell left Vandy to play for Chattanooga, a system where he'd be guaranteed more playing time and a chance to put his talents to their best use. Vanderbilt, meanwhile, used his now vacated scholarship spot to recruit Brad Tinsley, who would immediately step in to the backup PG role as a true freshman in 2008.

Expectations were high for Bell coming into this year - his status made him one of the highest profile players to take the court for tiny Chattanooga. Rivals.com named him the S outhern Conference's preseason Newcomer of the Year in their annual preview. With a year of SEC experience and two years of college practices under his belt, Keegan Bell seemed prepared to take the SoCon by storm; unfortunately, Bell's impact has been underwhelming so far. Read more after the jump:

Any excuse I have to post a picture of Alex Gordon, I'm going to use. via cache.daylife.com

Bell's been a backcourt presence for the Mocs, starting all but one game and playing big minutes for the squad. In his first two games as a member of the SoCon, he averaged 17.5 points and 6.5 assists and looked to be the big time player the team needed. However, when competition has stepped up, Bell has shrunk in the face of adversity. Take into account the stats from Chattanooga's three biggest out of conference games:

Min

FGM

Pct

3ptM

Pct

FTM

Pct

Off

Def

Tot

Ast

Stl

Blk

PPG

vs. Richmond:

0.0

100.0

vs. Missouri:

50.0

33.3

0.0

vs. Georgia Tech:

29.4

23.1

0.0

All in all, Bell is averaging 6.7 points in 32 minutes per game against good teams. He's shooting 29% from the field, 22% on threes, and has 9 turnovers versus 11 assists in three games. In short, he's playing poorly and his team is getting blown out by a higher level of competition. And while his stats look better when factoring in games against Longwood, Mississippi Valley State, and Eastern Kentucky, the young PG had been underwhelming so far.

All this leads to the question: was transferring out of the SEC the right move? Bell has had a year to acclimate to his new team, but even facing lesser opponents, doesn't appear to be any better than he was two years ago with Coach Stallings. While Chattanooga was supposed to be the right fit for his playing style, it seems to just foster the same problems he had in Nashville, just with more minutes to showcase these shortcomings.

Of course, I may be wrong. I haven't actually seen Bell play other than a few clips this year, and it's entirely possible that he's just slumping or having trouble adjusting to the pressure of starting for a NCAA team. There is a chance he'll snap back and become the floor general that scouts thought he would become, limiting turnovers and draining threes. However, it appears that his basketball IQ might just be a step ahead of his athleticism - he understands the moves he wants to make, but just can't pull them off against a higher level of competition. Only time will tell if Keegan Bell can reconcile the two and become a consistent leader for a team that could desperately need one.

Our Third Best NBA Prospect Is...Festus?

2009-12-18T16:19:21Z

Check Chad Ford's stuff on ESPN or Jonathan Givony's over at DraftExpress.com, and you'll see a common thread regarding Vanderbilt basketball; they've got three professional prospects this year. The first two jump right out at you - A.J. Ogilvy is a bonafide center who, despite being a little undersized and not extremely athletic, is fundamentally strong and can carry his team on both ends of the court. The second, Jeffery Taylor, is a jump-out-of the-gym athlete who is only a developing jump shot away from first team All-SEC honors or better. In some point in their Vandy tenures, both guys have been labeled as potential lottery picks - though Ogilvy now seems to be sliding down the ranks as quickly as Taylor is rising.

So who's the third piece? Jermaine Beal, with his solid playmaking and ball control would be a worthy candidate to be a key bench player on a needy team right away. Or maybe Lance Goulbourne, based on flashes of potential and athletic ability could fill a role in the pros over time. Could it be John Jenkins with his impressive shooting and high freshman recruit ranking? Nope. The third member of this esteemed trio is Festus Ezeli, the backup sophomore center who averages 10 minutes and 2 fouls per game. So how is a player whose offensive game is best described as "childlike and anxious" Vandy's third best hope to break into the NBA?

Festus Ezeli, bringing back blocks...and also Jams shorts. via www.vandymania.com

Of course, being the third best prospect doesn't necessarily make you the third best player - in this case Festus barely cracks the top ten of a talented Vandy squad. What these scouts see is a mound of potential in a young man who looks the NBA part and is still nailing down the fundamentals of the game. When he was recruited in 2006, his only experience with the game was one year at the AAU level, making the Commodores his first real team. He came to Nashville as a skinny, 6'11" kid who could grab rebounds and not much else. And now, slowly, he's progressing. He made big leaps in his redshirt year to become a fringe rotation player - and though his rate of improvement seems to have simmered from freshman to sophomore year, he's still a key member of the 'Dores. He's shown he can contribute in spurts, limit his mistakes, and be effective with the right coaching.

Ezeli's strengths are rebounding and shot blocking. Once he learns to defend without fouling - a.k.a. Greg Oden Syndrome - he'll be an invaluable presence inside. But his weaknesses are just as obvious as well; he's a turnover machine, a terrible passer, a frequent fouler, and an offensive black hole. His assist-to-turnover ratio in 2008/09 was 1:43. In 2009/10, it's 0:8 - which actually denotes fewer turnovers per game, likely due to playing fewer minutes. His strength makes it possible for him to score off putbacks and absorb lots of punishment and fouls inside, but he also shoots free throws like he's angry at the rim (45%!). Still, that potential is there, hidden away in a made-for-basketball body.

Though Ezeli is still a fringe contributor, he's still in that raw clay form where he can be molded. We know what we're getting from Jermaine Beal, and it's understood that the ceiling of his basketball career is likely a smaller Jamont Gordon. His knowledge of the game is nearly maxed out, as are his natural athletic talents. Goulbourne, Tinsley, and Tchiengang can still learn, but are hampered by size, athletic ability, or both. They still have room to improve, but a jump from solid college player to NBA caliber prospect seems unlikely.

Ezeli has almost ideal size and athleticism; analysts like Ford and Givony recognize this and understand that while you can't coach size or speed, you can increase his basketball IQ. He could use a little more bulk, but that will come easily in time. These natural talents, combined with his play at a position of need in the NBA, have made him a top 25 prospect at his position, despite not even being a top eight player on his own team. His body is saying that he's got what it takes to play in the pros - but he hasn't figured out how to translate that into post moves and rotation defense yet.

Best case scenario, he turns into a smaller Hasheem Thabeet in his junior/senior years, and anchors the team defensively inside, allowing guys like Taylor and Tinsley to be aggressive on the wings and galvanizes Vanderbilt in Oligvy's absence. Worst case scenario, he becomes a more athletic Ted Skuchas - which would still be helpful if he could fill that role without bogging down the offense. Even if that means he doesn't progress beyond "big, awkward guy who's fun to watch," it'll still be a boost to the 'Dores.

Vandy Guard Play

2009-12-17T19:14:13Z

Whenever I hear the words "Vanderbilt Basketball" and "guard" mentioned in the same sentence, I usually get a feeling of calm, of comfort, and most of all, warm fuzziness. Obviously partly because of this and definitely this, most definitely the first minute of this, and finally of something like The Artist formerly known as Jermaine Beal.

This season, however, Vandy guard play has given me a deathly cold feeling of dread and trepidation, as if I expect a turnover or a brick to happen every possession. Now, I know it's early in the season, but these are things that need to get worked out sooner or later or it's gonna be a long SEC road.

Let's take a look at some numbers. Brad Tinsley is averaging close to 29 minutes a game. He is only contributing 6.5 points a game, with 3 assists and 2 boards. Most distressingly, Tinsley is missing open three after open three, going 33 % from beyond the arc. I love his quick play, quick drives, and willingness to take an open shot, but if Vandy can't get the inside / outside game working with Brad, defenses will gobble up A.J.

Now, this is not all on Tinsley. Golden boy John Jenkins, (How many times have we heard on broadcasts that he was the leading scorer in the country last year) is hitting only 37 percent of his threes (15-41), and has missed open threes consistently in big situations. The one saving grace for John is how big he came up at the line in the Missouri game.

Jermaine is probably the most distressing, seeing his attitude during the WKU game (I'm not sure if Kevin's message was a good one to send), and more importantly his performance. Jermaine is only 17-53 from beyond the arc for a 32 % clip. I think all this great player needs is some confidence, and that is not provided by a benching in Nashville vs. WKU.

Hopefully Saturday will be a start to a recovery for our three point ills. As we hear all the time, shooters need to keep shooting. I agree, but eventually some need to go down or we keep losing games that we should win vs teams like Illinois and Western Kentucky. Gross.