Game 1: Memphis Tigers at Vanderbilt Commodores — Open Game Thread

You know, for being just three hours apart, you’d think Vanderbilt would have played Memphis State (THEY WILL ALWAYS BE MEMPHIS STATE) more than the 14 times they actually have, but this will be the first time that the Commodores and Tigers have met on the hardwood since the 2005 NIT. That was a Tiger win, as was the last scheduled matchup on December 5, 1998. Still, Vanderbilt holds an 8-6 lead in the all-time series and is 5-2 in Memorial Gym.

One of Vanderbilt’s two losses to Memphis inside Memorial came in 1992, when Memphis’s current coach, Penny Hardaway, was their star player. We will see if Penny remembers the location of the benches when he brings his team into Memorial tonight.

Anyway, the fact that this game is on the SEC Network+ while the main SEC Network shows a Kentucky walkover remains a travesty. This is honestly probably the best matchup of college basketball’s opening night, and we’ll find out pretty quickly if Vanderbilt is good this year.