Challenging Schedule Awaits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team officially announced Wednesday the nonconference portion of its 2022-23 schedule.

The Commodores are scheduled to play 13 contests before the start of Southeastern Conference play in January. Vandy will play two road games and three neutral-site affairs.

“We are excited to release the nonconference portion of our schedule,” head coach Jerry Stackhouse said. “Our intention was to build a schedule that not only helped us prepare for SEC competition, but also provided our program with postseason resume building opportunities. We know we accomplished that with the competitive matchups we’ve set up in Memorial Gymnasium and in other unique and challenging environments across the country.”

Here is more on Vanderbilt’s upcoming opponents:

MEMPHIS

It’s been almost 20 years since these two in-state foes have met on the court. That changes Nov. 7 when the Tigers visit Memorial Gymnasium for the first time since 1997. The game is considered one of the best in college basketball on opening night of the season.

Memphis and Vanderbilt have met 14 times prior with the Commodores winning eight of those matchups. The first recorded meeting came during the 1925-26 season when Memphis won a 37-20 game in Memphis.

Led by head coach and former NBA star Penny Hardaway, Memphis went 22-11 last season, beat Boise State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament nearly knocked off No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the second round. Hardaway and Stackhouse were in the NBA at the same time from 1995-2008.

Vandy is 5-2 all-time against Memphis at home. The Tigers claimed the last meeting in the 2005 NIT in Memphis.

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

Vandy will host Southern Mississippi on Nov. 11, the third meeting in history between the two programs.

The Commodores last hosted Southern Miss on Jan. 2 in 2010 and also during the 1987 NIT.

Southern Miss, coached by Jay Ladner, was aggressive in the transfer portal – adding a number of student-athletes including former Ole Miss guard Austin Crowley. Ladner was a player during the aforementioned 1987 NIT against Vanderbilt in Memorial Gymnasium.

TEMPLE

The Commodores will take their first road trip of the season to Temple in Philadelphia.

Temple finished last season with a 17-12 mark. The Owls return one of the top backcourt duos in the country featuring Khalif Battle (21.4 ppg) and Damian Dunn (14.9 ppg).

Vanderbilt has made the trip to Temple just one previous time, a 55-35 defeat in 1949.

MOREHEAD STATE

For the fifth time in its history, Vanderbilt faces Morehead State on the hardwood with all four previous meetings having come inside Memorial Gymnasium.

Morehead State went 23-11 last season and fell to Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference championship game in March. The Eagles also went 23-8 in 2020-21 and lost to West Virginia in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

Vandy is 4-0 all-time against Morehead having last won a 2008 matchup.

WOODEN LEGACY

Vanderbilt will be one of four strong teams taking the court Nov. 23 and 24 inside the Anaheim Arena at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

The Dores will take on Saint Mary’s in the opener before facing either Washington or Fresno State on the second day.

Saint Mary’s went 26-8 last season, earning a No. 5 seed and advancing to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after a win over Indiana. The Gaels had a NET ranking of 19 and notched a win over No. 1-ranked Gonzaga.

Vanderbilt is 3-0 in three previous meetings with Saint Mary’s having last won an NIT matchup in March of 2015 in Moraga, California.

Washington, a possible first-time opponent for the Commodores, went 17-15 in 2021-22 and 11-9 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Huskies had a 12-win turnaround from the season prior.

Fresno State is coming off a 22-13 season and finished with a NET ranking of 77. The Bulldogs claimed The Basketball Classic postseason tournament championship thanks to wins over Eastern Washington, Youngstown State, Southern Utah and Coastal Carolina, respectively.

Vandy and Fresno State have never met before.

VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH

Vandy will head to Richmond, Virginia, on Nov. 30 for a tough road test against the Rams.

The Commodores are 2-1 in the all-time series versus VCU.

Vandy has never been to VCU. The Rams, who finished with a NET ranking of 57, are coming off a 22-20 season (12-4 at home) and went 1-1 in the NIT with a win over Princeton and loss at Wake Forest.

WOFFORD

A first-time opponent for Vanderbilt, Wofford comes to Nashville on Dec. 3.

The Terriers went 19-13 a season ago and were invited to participate in The Basketball Classic postseason tournament but opted to withdraw.

Over the last five seasons, Wofford has averaged 20.8 wins per season headlined by victories over Georgia, North Carolina (2x), South Carolina and Seton Hall.

PITTSBURGH

In November, Vanderbilt got 14 points from Trey Thomas and 11 points from Scotty Pippen Jr. in a 68-52 win at Pittsburgh. A rematch of that contest is scheduled for Dec. 7 inside Memorial Gymnasium.

Vandy is 2-1 against Pitt, which is coached by Jeff Capel. The Dores will be facing the Panthers in Nashville for the first time.

Vandy is 94-88 versus teams that currently make up the ACC

GRAMBLING STATE

Vandy and Grambling State will meet for the second time in history when the Tigers visit Memorial Gymnasium on Dec. 9.

The Commodores beat Grambling 92-59 on Nov. 24, 2010. Festus Ezeli recorded his first career double-double in that matchup and John Jenkins poured in 22 points.

Grambling is coming off a 12-20 season and is led by head coach Donte’ Jackson.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE

Vandy will head north to the Windy City on Dec 17 to face North Carolina State at the United Center as part of Legends of Basketball Showcase.

The Wolfpack are led by projected first-round pick Terquavion Smith, who posted 16.3 points per game a season ago.

The Commodores are 3-2 all-time against NC State with the Wolfpack winning the last matchup 80-65 in a game played in Miami, Florida. Three of the previous five matchups have been played on a neutral court and Vanderbilt last beat NC State in 2011 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

ALABAMA A&M

On Dec. 22, Vanderbilt will try to improve to 7-0 all-time against Alabama A&M when the Bulldogs come to Memorial Gymnasium.

Vandy has won all six previous meetings – all in Nashville – with the last matchup coming in 2012.

Alabama A&M was 12-18 last season but had a winning record in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.

SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA

The Commodores will conclude the nonconference slate with a home matchup versus Southeastern Louisiana on Dec. 30.

The Lions won 19 games last season and made a run to the Southland Conference Tournament championship game.

Vandy is 3-0 in the all-time series, most recently defeating the Lions in 2019.