March 14, 2010
WEST REGION FIRST ROUND
San Jose, Calif. – Thursday, March 18
[4] Vanderbilt (24-8) vs. [13] Murray State (30-4) – 1:30 CT
[5] Butler (28-4) vs. [12] UTEP (26-6) – 3:45 CT
Vanderbilt’s NCAA Ticket Information
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Press Conference with Stallings, Beal & Ogilvy
NASHVILLE — The Vanderbilt Commodores, the number four seed in the West Region, will face off against the #13 seed Murray State at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The time for the game is 1:30 p.m. CT.
Vanderbilt, who is making their third trip in four years to the NCAA Tournament for only the second time in school history, will be a four seed at the tournament for the second time in the history of the school. The Commodores were also a four seed in their last tournament appearance in 2008, and reached the tournament in three out of four years in 1988, 1989, and 1991.
Thursday’s matchup with Murray State will mark the third game Vanderbilt has played an NCAA Tournament game in the state of California. The Commodores are 2-0 in the state after advancing to the Sweet 16 out of Sacramento in 2007 after defeating George Washington in the first round, 77-44, and Washington State, 78-74 in double overtime, in the second round. Vanderbilt lost to Georgetown, 66-65, in the East Regional Semifinal that year.
The Commodores have a 5-5 all-time record in the first round of the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded to at least 64 teams in 1985, and have won their first round games in 1965, 1988, 2004, and 2007. Vanderbilt lost its last first-round game on March 21, 2008, to Siena, 83-62, in Tampa.
This will be the tenth overall appearance for Vanderbilt in the tournament, with the Commodores sporting an all-time record of 9-11. This will mark head coach Kevin Stallings’ fourth appearance in the Big Dance as the Vanderbilt mentor – he has a 4-3 overall record in the tournament with Vanderbilt. Including his six-year tenure at Illinois State, he has an overall record of 5-5 in four NCAA Tournament berths.
Thursday’s appearance in the West Region marks the third time Vanderbilt has appeared in the West Region. Vanderbilt also played in the West Region in 1991 (0-1) and 1993 (2-1). The West Regional semifinals and finals will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 25 and 27. Vanderbilt is 2-0 in tournament games in Salt Lake City -the Commodores defeated Boise State, 92-72, and Illinois, 85-68, in 1993 to advance to the Sweet 16.
Murray State, who finished 30-4, won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2009-10. The Racers have five players that average double figures – Ivan Aska (10.6), B.J. Jenkins (10.5), Danero Thomas (10.4), Tony Easley (10.4), and Isaiah Canaan (10.3).
Vanderbilt is 3-1 all time against the Racers, with the last meeting coming in a 74-57 win December 19, 1988, and 54-7 all-time against teams from the Ohio Valley Conference. Prior to the 1988 meeting with the Racers, Vanderbilt had not faced Murray State since the 1945-46 campaign.
The winner of the Vanderbilt-Murray State contest would take on the winner of the #5 Butler-#12 UTEP matchup on Saturday.
There are still general public tickets available through the HP Pavilion by calling 408-287-9200 or by clicking here. Tickets for both sessions on Thursday and Saturday are $249 plus processing fees.
