19/18 Vanderbilt (21-5, 8-5 SEC) vs. Tennessee (19-7, 9-4 SEC)
Saturday, Feb. 21 • 1 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn.
ESPN • 102.5 The Game • Game Notes • Game Day Central
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 19 Vanderbilt men’s basketball welcomes rival Tennessee to a sold-out Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. on ESPN with Dave O’Brien, Cory Alexander and Dick Vitale on the call.
Fans can also tune in on 102.5 The Game and the Vanderbilt Athletics app to listen to Kevin Ingram and Tim Thompson’s view of the action.
BYINGTON ADDED TO WATCH LIST
- Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington was named to the Werner Ladder Naismith Men’s College Coach of the Year watch list on Friday.
- Byington has guided the Commodores to back-to-back 20-win seasons in his first two years at the helm.
TANNER ON WATCHLIST FOR WOODEN, COUSY
- Sophomore Tyler Tanner was named to the Bob Cousy Award Point Guard of the Year midseason top 10 list and the Wooden Award Top 20 watch list, placing him among the front runners for National Player of the Year and All-America honors.
- It’s easy to see why as the point guard is averaging 18.6 points, 5.3 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He’s the only major conference player averaging better than 17.5/5/2 in those categories.
- Tanner has scored in double figures 25-of-26 games this season and has elevated in SEC play, averaging 20.8 points and 5.9 assists.
- With 65 steals on the season, Tanner already ranks eighth among single seasons in program history. He’s just 12 off the single-season record of 77.
- His 139 assists rank fifth by a sophomore in Vanderbilt history. The record is 172.
- With 484 points this season, Tanner is tied for third alongside Matt Freije for most points as a sophomore. His 18.6 ppg would rank fourth among Vandy sophomores behind Scotty Pippen Jr., John Jenkins and Clyde Lee.
DEFENSIVE DUO
- Both Tanner and Miles were also named to the Naismith Men’s Defensive Player of the Year watchlist.
- The Commodore duo accounts for half of the SEC’s representation on the 25-man list.
- Miles and Tanner rank first and second in the SEC in steals per game and fourth top 10 nationally.
- The pair have combined for 115 steals this season, despite Miles missing five games. Vandy’s opponents have just 130 total.
SERIES HISTORY
- Vanderbilt and Tennessee meet for the 210th time on Saturday. It is the first of two meetings this season. Tennessee holds a 132-77 edge in the all-time series.
- Vandy is 55-45 against the Vols in Memorial Gymnasium.
- The rivals split last season’s meetings with Vandy earning a 76-75 victory at home and Tennessee rallying for an 81-76 win in Knoxville.
