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Periscope: Vanderbilt vs. Auburn

By KingJamesIV

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REMINDER: Please bring new or gently used shoes to the game to support the folks in Haiti. Vanderbilt has partnered with Soles4Souls, a Nashville-based company. Soles4Souls' goal is to deliver 1 million shoes to the earthquake victims. Your support is genuinely appreciated by Festus Ezeli and Steve Tchiengang.

Of the remaining matchups on the Commodore schedule, Auburn in Nashville currently presents itself as the second-most-winnable. First, it's at Memorial Gym, where the Commodores are undefeated on the season. Next, it's against Auburn, the team I recently ranked 11th in the latest SEC Basketball Power Poll. Ken Pomeroy gives Vandy a 94% likelihood of victory (88-69 with a tempo of 74). (The LSU game in Nashville over Valentine's Day Weekend currently rates as the most winnable game -- plan accordingly)

DeWayne Reed certainly qualifies as Auburn's biggest threat. He leads a 3 guard, 2 forward lineup that is perimeter heavy. As their 3-point shooting goes, so goes the team. Vanderbilt should have a tremendous advantage in the post, and Tiger fans should expect the Commodores to take advantage of that fact.

Tigers vs Commodores coverage

Schedule Breakdown

Considering that Vanderbilt has played a much more difficult schedule, the Commodores present a more formidable challenge to the Tigers relatively than vice versa. The Commodore offense will be the second most efficient of the ones Auburn has faced this season. Likewise, Vandy's defense will be the fourth toughest for Auburn. On the flip side, Auburn's offense will be the eleventh best and their defense will be the 14th best that the Commodores will have faced.

Statistical Breakdown

Auburn's key players look to be putting up some decent tempo-free numbers. Considering that four players average in double-figures, this isn't surprising, especially once you factor in the difference in strength of schedule. Despite this, Vanderbilt still holds the edge in personnel thanks to a very deep, talented bench.

Four Factors: Vandy holds an advantage in all four categories versus Auburn, despite the SOS disparity. Vandy's interior game should present itself again on the stat sheet in offensive rebound percentage and free throw rate.

Traditional Statistics - Auburn Tigers

FG 3PT FT Rebounds Misc
G M M A Pct M A Pct M A Pct Off Def Tot Ast TO Stl Blk PF PPG
DeWayne Reed 19 32.2 5.3 13.3 40.1 1.6 4.8 34.1 4.2 6.4 65.6 0.6 2.2 2.8 4.5 3.2 1.6 0.3 2.4 16.5
Frankie Sullivan 19 30.3 4.4 9.6 46.2 2.3 5.6 41.5 2.6 3.1 84.7 0.9 2.9 3.8 2.4 1.7 2.0 0.2 3.2 13.8
Lucas Hargrove 19 31.6 5.1 10.1 50.0 0.8 3.1 25.4 2.1 2.9 69.6 1.9 5.2 7.1 2.5 2.9 1.5 0.4 2.8 12.9
Tay Waller 13 27.2 4.0 8.7 46.0 2.5 6.6 38.4 1.2 1.5 75.0 0.8 2.1 2.9 1.0 1.3 1.0 0.1 2.2 11.7
Brendan Knox 19 20.4 3.4 4.9 69.9 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.0 3.5 56.7 2.0 2.1 4.1 0.3 1.5 0.4 0.7 2.5 8.8
Andre Malone 19 13.7 1.4 4.2 34.2 0.5 2.4 21.7 0.4 0.7 53.8 0.5 2.1 2.6 0.3 0.4 0.6 0.1 0.9 3.7
Earnest Ross 19 15.3 1.2 4.0 30.3 0.5 2.4 22.2 0.6 0.8 73.3 1.4 1.7 3.1 0.8 1.0 1.1 0.2 1.6 3.5
Kenny Gabriel 13 8.5 1.0 2.6 38.2 0.5 1.8 30.4 0.3 0.5 66.7 0.2 1.2 1.5 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.2 1.0 2.8
Johnnie Lett 19 14.0 1.0 2.4 42.2 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.9 33.3 1.3 1.9 3.2 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.2 2.1 2.3
Larry Williams Jr 7 4.6 0.7 1.6 45.5 0.6 1.4 40.0 0.1 0.7 20.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.7 2.1
Ty Armstrong 18 5.5 0.8 1.7 48.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.9 43.8 1.0 0.7 1.7 0.2 0.6 0.1 0.1 0.9 2.1
Rob Chubb 5 4.6 0.8 1.2 66.7 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.8 25.0 0.4 1.8 2.2 0.2 0.8 0.4 0.0 1.2 1.8
Josh Wallace 13 8.1 0.5 1.1 42.9 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.7 1.2 60.0 0.1 0.4 0.5 1.2 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.7 1.6
Jake Drum 4 3.3 0.5 0.8 66.7 0.3 0.5 50.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.3 0.8 0.3 1.0 0.0 0.0 0.8 1.3
Tony Neysmith 13 5.5 0.1 0.4 20.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.3 25.0 0.2 0.8 0.9 0.6 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.8 0.2


With a victory over the Tigers, Vanderbilt would move to 4-0 in the SEC, a feat which hasn't been accomplished by the Commodores since the era of Clyde Lee: 1965-66.

Game Previews (Will Be Updated As Released By Sources)

Vanderbilt And Auburn Meet Saturday - VANDERBILT OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

VSL Gets You Ready: Vanderbilt Hosts Auburn | Vanderbilt Sports Line

Commodores look to extend winning streak against Tigers | InsideVandy

Preview: Vanderbilt hosts Auburn | VandyMania.com (Scout - Premium)

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

Reunion of sorts for Lebo, Rice when VU takes on Auburn | Nashville City Paper

Vanderbilt won't look beyond Auburn | The Tennessean

Track 'Em Tigers is our Auburn SB Nation affiliate. This post [video!] shouldn't be missed.

Tipoff is set for 1230 pm CT and the game will be televised on the SEC Network (ESPN Full Court & ESPN360 as well). Join us in the game thread, which will open about an hour before the tip. Don't forget to stop by Stat King to make your selection for the Auburn game. Also, make sure to vote in the three polls we put up this week (here, here, and one below).

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