Anchor Drop, January 5, 2021: Rupp Arena Tonight

Good morning.

Optional Musical Accompaniment

The Vanderbilt Commodores play their first game of 2021 tonight, and things can only get better after a 2020 that saw the Commodores’ men’s basketball and football teams combine to go 7-27.

Okay, you’re right, I should never say that things can’t get worse (things can always get worse.) Vanderbilt plays the Kentucky Wildcats tonight in Rupp Arena, a place where Vanderbilt has not won since (checks notes) January 20, 2007, and a team that Vanderbilt has not beaten since February 27, 2016. You would think that a Kentucky team that’s 2-6 on the season and one of whose best players will likely be out for tonight’s game would be ripe for the picking, but that assumes that Vanderbilt is up to snuff and hasn’t lost (and I am not kidding about this) 36 of its last 39 games against the SEC. And also not if this quote applies tonight:

“They’re super-smart kids, but they can make some of the dumbest basketball plays you never want to see. We just got to figure that out.”

You know, something really does seem different about Jerry Stackhouse’s press conferences compared to the last guy. Anyway, tonight’s game will be at 6 PM CT on the SEC Network.

SEC Basketball Schedule

Bad Gambling Advice, Season to Date: 28-37-1 ATS, 29-37 totals

Vanderbilt at Kentucky (6:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Vanderbilt +11.5, Under 135.5

Florida at Alabama (6:00 PM CT, ESPN2): Alabama -3, Over 154.5

Missouri at Mississippi State (8:00 PM CT, SEC Network): Missouri -2, Under 138