The Vanderbilt Commodores welcome the Georgia Bulldogs to Memorial Gym tomorrow for an afternoon of fun, dunks, and three pointers. The Georgia Bulldogs are in a bit of a rebuilding year, having lost stars Travis Leslie and Trey Thompkins to the Los Angeles Clippers in the 2011 NBA Draft. Vanderbilt has the opportunity to go 3-0 in SEC play, a feat they last accomplished in 2009-2010.
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Click through the jump for a breakdown of the team's opponents thus far and a closer look at their personnel.
Schedule Breakdown
To date, Vanderbilt has played 16 total games, 10 at home, 2 on neutral courts, and 4 on the road against an average KenPom rated opponent of 134.9. Georgia has played 16 total games, 10 at home, 2 on neutral courts, and 4 on the road, against an average rated D-I opponent of 118.3. Based on their performances to date, Kenpom rates Vanderbilt to be the fourth most efficient offensive and defensive team that the Bulldogs will have played. Georgia rates as the tenth most efficient offensive team and the ninth most efficient defensive team that the Commodores will have played. Keep in mind that these numbers do not account for players that have missed games.
Based on previous opponents offensive and defensive efficiencies, Georgia most closely resembles South Carolina. Vanderbilt most closely resembles Xavier or California.
Statistical Breakdown
Looking solely at the tempo free statistics, Vanderbilt has a sweeping edge not only at the starting positions and the bench, but also nearly across the board in the major tempo free statistics. Keep in mind that the individual statistics are not adjusted for the strength of the opponents and the location of games.
Four Factors: Offensively, Vanderbilt is better everywhere but taking care of the ball. Defensively, Vanderbilt is better everywhere but blocking shots (though in reality, Festus' return to play probably makes this a Vanderbilt strength). Prediction: Vanderbilt wins eFG%, FTRate and OReb%. Georgia wins TO%.
Ken Pomeroy predicts a 70-58 Vanderbilt win in a game with a tempo of 63. He rates Vanderbilt's win percentage at 88%.
Traditional Statistics -- Georgia Bulldogs
Tipoff is scheduled for 1500 CT and the game will be available on the SEC Network (as well as ESPN3). Our open gamethread will go live two hours before tipoff. Also, don't forget to head over to Stat-King to submit your predictions for the game.