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Vanderbilt Begins Preseason Play with Visit from Panamericana (Mexico) 11/9/2004
Vanderbilt Begins Preseason Play with Visit from Panamericana (Mexico) Vanderbilt plays the first of two exhibition contests Tuesday when the University of Panamericana (Mexico) visits Memorial Gymnasium for a 7 p.m tip-off. Game Notes The Commodores take the floor for the first time during the 2004-05 season looking to build on their run to the 2004 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16. VU will take on Alabama-Huntsville on Nov. 13 in its final tune-up before the regular season opener against Toledo on Nov. 19. The Vanderbilt game marks the second exhibition contest for Panamericana, having lost at Mississippi State, 102-54, on Saturday. The Panthers are on a 10-day, seven-game exhibition tour. Vanderbilt returns five players who started 15 or more games last season and welcomes one of the nation’s top recruiting classes for the 2004-05 season. In all, seven players return from last year’s 23-10 squad. THE RETURNERS Junior guard Mario Moore picked up Preseason Second Team All-Southeastern Conference accolades from the league coaches two weeks ago. Moore is VU’s returning leading scorer at 11.2 points per game. He led the Commodores in scoring in five of their final six games of the year, averaging 17.4 points. However, it will take a balanced attack from all returners and key contributions from the newcomers to record Vanderbilt’s first back-to-back trip to the NCAA Tournament since the 1988 and 1989 campaigns. The wing positions feature two staples in the Vanderbilt program in senior guard Jason Holwerda (4.2 ppg, 2.7 apg) and senior swingman Corey Smith (6.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg). The pair has provided quality defensive work and toughness during their tenure and now will be counted on for additional scoring. Sophomore sharp shooter Dan Cage (2.4 ppg) will also see action on the wing. He made 42.6 percent of his 3-pointers a year ago. Vanderbilt Head Coach Kevin Stallings can maneuver several returners at the post positions. The trio of senior Dawid Przybyszewski (8.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg), junior Julian Terrell (6.4ppg, 4.2 rpg) and redshirt sophomore Ted Skuchas (2.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg) return with the most experience. THE NEWCOMERS Five newcomers make up a freshmen class that has been ranked among the nation’s Top 20 according to some recruiting services. Alex Gordon (G, 5-11, 165) couples well with Moore to give Vanderbilt a quick and accurate shooting tandem at point guard. Shan Foster (G/F, 6-6, 189) and DeMarre Carroll (F, 6-7, 200) bring added athleticism, rebounding and shooting ability to the wing for the Commodores. Alan Metcalfe (F, 6-9, 248) and Davis Nwankwo (F, 6-9, 240) bring depth to the post area. Nwankwo missed the first three weeks of preseason practice after suffering an ankle sprain on the first day of practice. Junior Derrick Byars (G/F, 6-7, 217) will sit out this season after transferring from Virginia. |
