Feb. 21, 2011
The #18/18 Vanderbilt Commodores return home to Memorial Gym after a two-game road trip to take on in-state rival Tennessee in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The game tips off at 8 p.m. CT, and can be also heard live on the Vanderbilt Sports Network from IMG College and vucommodores.com.
Vanderbilt has won five consecutive SEC contests heading into Tuesday night’s game, which ties for the second-longest streak of the Kevin Stallings’ era. His 2008 team won seven in a row in league play that season, with SEC Player of the Year Shan Foster leading the way for the Commodores that year.
Series Info: Vanderbilt and Tennessee will meet for the 179th time on Tuesday evening, with the Volunteers owning a 109-69 advantage in the series. Vanderbilt owns a 51-36 advantage in games played in Nashville. Last Meeting: Tennessee defeated Vanderbilt, 67-64, in Knoxville on January 15, 2011.
Head Coaches: Kevin Stallings is in his 12th year at Vanderbilt (233-143) and his 18th overall (356-206). Bruce Pearl is in his sixth season at Tennessee (142-57) and 19th year overall (459-141).
Radio: Vanderbilt Sports Network from IMG College (WRQQ – 97.1 FM); vucommodores.com
Play-by-Play: Joe Fisher (13th year); Color: Tim Thompson (10th year)
TV: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Brad Nessler; Color: Jimmy Dykes
Sidelines: Shannon Spake
Live Audio, Video, Twitter Feed
About Tennessee
Tennessee enters the game with a 16-11 overall record, and a 6-6 mark in SEC contests this season. The Volunteers dropped a 69-63 decision to Georgia at Thompson-Boling Arena in their last time out.
Scotty Hopson leads all Volunteer players in scoring with 17.4 points per contest. Freshman Tobias Harris also averages double digits (14.4) for Tennessee. Senior Brian Williams leads UT on the glass with 7.7 rebounds per game.
The Tennessee Series
Vanderbilt and Tennessee will meet for the 179th time on Tuesday evening, with the Volunteers owning a 109-69 advantage in the series. Vanderbilt owns a 51-36 advantage in games played in Nashville, Tennessee holds a 67-17 edge in games played in Knoxville, and the Volunteers lead 6-1 in neutral site matchups.
The last meeting between the two schools came earlier this year on January 15 at Thompson Boling Arena. Tennessee came out on top in that contest, 67-64.
Stallings Versus Tennessee
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is 10-13 in games played against Tennessee, and is 6-5 against the Volunteers at Memorial Gym.
Stallings In SEC Play
Entering his 12th season of SEC play at the helm of the Commodores, Kevin Stallings has an 92-96 record in SEC play. In 2009-10, Stallings posted his best SEC record as a coach with a 12-4 mark.
Stallings Notches 6th 20-Win Season
With the win over Auburn on February 19, Kevin Stallings notched his sixth 20-win season in 12 seasons in Nashville. His six 20-win seasons ties Vanderbilt all-time win leader Roy Skinner for the most 20-win campaigns. Here’s a look at his six 20-win seasons at Vanderbilt:
Year Wins-Loss Postseason
2010-11 20-6 ?
2009-10 24-8 NCAA 1st Round
2007-08 26-8 NCAA 1st Round
2006-07 22-12 Sweet 16
2004-05 20-14 NIT Quarters
2003-04 23-10 Sweet 16
Vanderbilt-Auburn Tidbits
John Jenkins scored 22 points, his fourth consecutive 20+-point performance and his seventh in the last eight games, to lead the Commodores to a 77-60 road win over Auburn on Saturday. After a slow start, VU shot 60.0% from the floor in the second half and outscored the Tigers, 49-34, in the final 20 minutes. Jeffery Taylor notched his second double-double of the year with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Brad Tinsley added 16 points in the Commodore victory.
– Vanderbilt now leads the all-time series, 81-51, and now leads the series in Auburn, 32-29.
– Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings moves to 10-5 all-time against Auburn and 3-3 in games played in Auburn.
– The Commodores notched their 20th win of the season, the sixth time in the Stallings era that Vanderbilt has surpassed the 20-win barrier and the 18th time in the history of Vanderbilt basketball.
– A sixth 20-win season for Stallings ties him with all-time Vanderbilt win leader, Roy Skinner, for 20-win campaigns.
– VU moves to 4-4 on the season in true road games, and 3-3 in SEC road games.
– Vanderbilt has won five consecutive games, dating back to the Commodores’ 78-60 win over South Carolina on February 5. The five game streak marks a season-best – Vanderbilt won five consecutive games between November 21 and December 4.
– The five game SEC streak ties for the second-longest of the Stallings era (tied with five game streak in 2010). Vanderbilt won seven consecutive SEC games in 2008 (Feb. 2-26).
– The Commodores are now 4-1 against the SEC West this season, and 10-1 against the division in the last two regular seasons. VU has one more game left against the West (at LSU on February 26).
– Vanderbilt shot 48.0% (24-50) for the game, including a 60% mark (15-25) in the second half. The second half marked the 18th half this season in which the Commodores have surpassed the 50% barrier.
– Auburn shot 44.0% from the field (22-50). Saturday’s win moved Vanderbilt to 15-3 on the year when they outshoot their opponent.
– The Commodores outrebounded Auburn, 35-28, including 10-8 on the offensive glass. However, Auburn outscored VU, 8-6, in second-chance points.
– Vanderbilt is 13-1 on the season when they outrebound their opponent (lone loss at Tennessee)
– VU led 28-26 at the half; it marked the 16th time this season Vanderbilt has led their opponent at the half (14-2).
Player Notes vs. Auburn
– John Jenkins scored a game-high 22 points. It marked his 16th 20-point game of the season and 18th of his career.
– Jenkins is now the Commodores’ all-time leading sophomore scorer; he now has 498 points. He surpassed Matt Freije’s sophomore single-season total of 484 (2004).
– Jenkins has had 20 or more points in 9-of-12 league games.
– Jenkins is 16-31 (.516) from beyond-the-arc in the last three games, and has made five 3’s in eight games this season. In the second half of those three games, Jenkins has averaged 18.3 poinyts, is 17-25 from the floor (.680), 11-17 from three (.647), and 10-11 from the free throw line (.909)
– Jeffery Taylor notched his second double-double of 2010-11 and the seventh of his career with a 20-point, 10-rebound performance against Auburn.
– It was Taylor’s fourth 20+-point game of the season, and eighth of his career.
– It was his third 10+-rebounding game of the year and eighth of his career.
– Brad Tinsley had 16 points in the win. Tinsley has scored in double figures in five of his last six games.
– Festus Ezeli had five blocks in the game against Auburn. Ezeli has 12 blocks in his last two games and now has 63 blocks on the season.
– Ezeli’s 63 blocks is third on Vanderbilt’s all-time single-season list. His 128 blocks in his career also ranks third on the career all-time list.
– Andre Walker appeared on the court for the first time since spraining his ankle prior to the Commodores’ game against Davidson (13 games). Walker had six points and one assist in 11 minutes of action.