March 11, 2009
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TAMPA, Fla. — The Vanderbilt Commodores head to Tampa, Fla. and the St. Pete Times Forum riding a three-game winning streak when they face the Alabama Crimson Tide in first round action at the 2009 SEC Tournament.
The game tips off at 6:30 p.m. CT, and will be televised live by Raycom Sports and other regional outlets around the Southeast. The action can also be heard live on the Vanderbilt-ISP Radio Network and VUcommodores.com, with Joe Fisher and Tim Thompson on the call.
Vanderbilt is making its 48th appearance in the SEC Tournament, and owns a 29-46 all-time mark at the SEC Tournament. In last year’s tournament, the Commodores defeated Auburn, 93-82, on March 13 at the Georgia Dome, and dropped an 81-65 decision to Arkansas in the quarterfinals on March 14.
VU has reached the semifinals nine times and the finals once. The lone trip to the finals resulted in Vanderbilt’s only SEC Tournament Title, which came in 1951 with a 61-57 win over Kentucky.
Alabama and Vanderbilt will meet for the 127th time overall, the eighth time at the SEC Tournament, and for the second time this season. Alabama owns a 64-62 advantage in the overall series, although the Commodores won the only meeting in 2009 at Memorial Gym, 79-74, on Feb. 5.
Vanderbilt owns a 5-3 advantage on neutral floors and a 4-3 record against the Crimson Tide at the SEC Tournament. The Commodores won the last meeting at the tournament, an 82-69 first-round decision on March 13, 2003, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
Vanderbilt improved to 19-11 overall, 8-8 in SEC play, after winning their third consecutive game and seventh in their last 10 games with a 75-58 win over Arkansas in their regular-season finale on March 8. Jeffery Taylor scored a team-high 16 points and had 10 rebounds to post his third double-double of the season.
Brad Tinsley scored 13 points, A.J. Ogilvy added 12, Jermaine Beal tallied 11, and Festus Ezeli chipped in 10 for the Commodores in the winning effort. Vanderbilt will enter the SEC Tournament on a three-game win streak for the first time since the 1993-94 season, and only Auburn has a longer winning streak entering the tournament than the Commodores.
Vanderbilt shot 48.0 percent from the floor against the Razorbacks, and posted their best defensive performance in SEC play, limiting Arkansas to 29.4 percent from the field. It was Vanderbilt’s second-best defensive outing of the year – UMass shot only 28.6 percent from the floor in a 78-48 win on Jan. 5. Vanderbilt has now outshot its opponent in three straight games, and in those games, Vanderbilt is a combined 82-for-152 (53.9 percent).
Ogilvy leads the Commodores in scoring on the 2008-09 season at 15.7 points per game. Beal adds 12.7 points per game, and Taylor chips in 12.0 points per contest. Tinsley also averages double digits with 10.7 points per contest. Ogilvy leads all VU players on the glass with 7.1 rebounds per game, and Taylor pulls down 6.2 rebounds per contest and is second on the team behind Ogilvy.
Alabama enters the game as the No. 4 seed in the SEC West and has an overall record of 17-13, and finished the season 7-9 in SEC play. Alonzo Gee averages 14.8 points per game to lead the Crimson Tide. Senario Hillman (13.3) and JaMychal Green (10.2) also average double digits. Green leads Alabama on the glass with 7.5 rebounds per game.
Commodore head coach Kevin Stallings is 7-5 all-time vs. Alabama and 1-1 against the Crimson Tide at the SEC Tournament.
Vanderbilt and the SEC Tournament
Vanderbilt will play on the first day of the tournament for the 14th time since the league split into two divisions prior to the 1992 season. The Commodores have received two byes at the SEC Tournament since 1992 – when they won the overall crown with a 14-2 record in 1993, and in 2007, when Vanderbilt was a No. 2 seed after finishing 10-6 in league action.
Vanderbilt owns a 29-46 all-time mark at the SEC Tournament. In last year’s tournament, the Commodores defeated Auburn, 93-82, on March 13 at the Georgia Dome, and dropped an 81-65 decision to Arkansas in the quarterfinals on March 14.
In all, Vanderbilt is making its 48th appearance in the SEC Tournament. VU has reached the semifinals nine times and the finals once. The lone trip to the finals resulted in Vanderbilt’s only SEC Tournament Title, which came in 1951 with a 61-57 win over Kentucky.
Vanderbilt’s SEC Tournament record against each opponent follows: Alabama (4-3), Arkansas (0-3), Auburn (2-6), LSU (3-6), Ole Miss (2-3), MississippiState (7-4), Florida (2-5), Georgia (4-1), Kentucky (3-4), South Carolina (0-0), Tennessee (1-7).
The SEC Tournament in Tampa
This will be the first year for the tournament in Tampa and the St. Pete Times Forum. The tournament has been held in Florida one other time – in Orlando in March of 1990 at the Orlando Arena. The Commodores went 2-1 in that tournament, knocking off Florida and Georgia before losing to Ole Miss in the tournament’s semifinals.
Stallings At The SEC Tournament
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is 5-8 all-time at the SEC Tournament, and has advanced to the semifinals one time during his 10-year tenure. The Commodores advanced to the semifinals in 2004 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
The Commodores At The St. Pete Times Forum
Vanderbilt is very familiar with the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa after playing in the arena last March as a No. 4 seed in the 2008 NCAA Tournament. The Commodores lost their first round game at the venue to No. 13 seed Siena, 83-62.
Vanderbilt as a No. 5 Seed in the East
This year’s tournament marks the sixth time the Commodores have been a five seed in the East Division since 1992, when the league was split into two divisions. Vanderbilt has a record of 2-4 at the SEC Tournament when it is the No. 5 seed in the East.
Round by Round at the Tournament
Since the SEC split into two divisions beginning with the 1992 campaign Vanderbilt owns the following records at the SEC Tournament: 8-7 in the first round; 2-8 in the quarterfinal round; and 0-2 in the semifinal round.
Commodores vs. the Field
The Alabama Series
(VU leads 4-3 at SEC Tourney)
Alabama leads the all-time series 64-62, including a 43-18 advantage in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Vanderbilt leads the series in Nashville 39-18 and at neutral sites, 5-3… Vanderbilt knocked off Alabama in the only meeting between the two schools this year, 79-74, in Memorial Gym on Feb. 5… Vanderbilt has won six of the last eight series meetings… The Commodores won the last meeting at the tournament, an 82-69 first-round decision on March 13, 2003… Kevin Stallings is 7-5 all-time vs. Alabama.
The Arkansas Series
(ARK Leads 3-0 at SEC Tourney)
Arkansas leads the all-time series 15-8, including a 8-1 advantage in Fayetteville, Ark., and a 3-0 lead at neutral sites. Vanderbilt leads the series in Nashville, 7-4… Vanderbilt claimed the only meeting this year in Nashville, 75-58… Arkansas had won five straight against the Commodores before the VU win… The Razorbacks defeated Vanderbilt in the 2008 SEC Quartefinals, 81-65 in their last tournament meeting… Kevin Stallings is 3-8 against Arkansas.
The Auburn Series
(AU leads 6-2 at SEC Tourney)
Vanderbilt owns a 77-51 advantage in the all-time series, leading 45-16 in Nashville and 31-29 in Auburn, Ala. … The Commodores defeated Auburn this year at Auburn, 82-75, on Jan. 31 behind seven Jermaine Beal 3-pointers… The Tigers are 6-2 against the Commodores at neutral sites with all eight meetings coming at the SEC Tournament… The Commodores defeated Auburn, 93-82, in the opening round of the 2008 SEC Tournament in Vanderbilt’s highest scoring SEC Tournament game ever… Kevin Stallings is 6-5 all-time against Auburn.
The Florida Series
(UF leads 5-2 at SEC Tourney)
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 61-56 and 39-13 in Nashville. Florida owns a 38-20 advantage in Gainesville, Fla., and a 5-2 lead at neutral sites… The Gators won both meetings between the two schools this year (1/25 in Nashville, 94-69; 2/21 in Gainesville, 82-68)… Florida won the last meeting at the SEC Tournament, 91-69 in the 2004 semifinal round on March 13… Florida has won 18 of the last 24 meetings dating back to a pair of victories during the 1998 season… Vanderbilt’s last win in Gainesville came on Jan. 20, 2001 when the Commodores topped the seventh-ranked Gators 63-61… VU’s Kevin Stallings is 5-16 all-time against Florida.
The Georgia Series
(VU Leads 4-1 at the SEC Tourney)
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 81-47 and owns a 50-13 advantage in Nashville. Georgia leads the series 31-26 in Athens, Ga. Vanderbilt enjoys a 5-3 lead at neutral sites… Earlier this season, Vanderbilt won 50-40 in Nashville (1/14) and Georgia won 61-57 in Athens (2/25) while Vanderbilt won 66-61 in Nashville (2/3)… Georgia won the last meeting at the SEC Tournament, 80-72, in Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville on March 8, 1991… Kevin Stallings is 11-9 against Georgia.
The Kentucky Series
(UK Leads 4-3 at SEC Tourney)
Kentucky leads the overall series 130-42, including a 76-14 advantage in Lexington, Ky., 47-25 lead in Nashville and 6-3 edge at neutral sites… Vanderbilt split the two meetings with the Wildcats this season – Kentucky won 70-60 in Lexington (1/10), and Vanderbilt prevailed in Nashville, 77-64 (2/17)… Kentucky eliminated Vanderbilt from the 2003 SEC Tournament, 81-63 on March 14 in the last tournament meeting… Vanderbilt’s 42 wins against Kentucky rank second most among SEC members behind only Tennessee (64)… Kevin Stallings is 8-13 against Kentucky.
The LSU Series
(LSU Leads 5-3 at SEC Tourney)
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 56-48, including a 32-13 advantage in Nashville. LSU leads the series 28-20 in Baton Rouge, La., and 7-4 at neutral sites… Vanderbilt won the lone meeting this year on March 4 in Baton Rouge, 75-67… The Tigers eliminated Vanderbilt from the 2006 SEC Tournament with a 92-73 quarterfinal victory… LSU is 6-3 against Vanderbilt at the SEC Tournament… Kevin Stallings is 7-6 all-time vs. LSU.
The Ole Miss Series
(UM leads 3-2 at SEC Tourney)
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 70-39, including a 46-5 lead in Nashville. Ole Miss owns a 30-21 advantage in Oxford, Miss., and a 4-3 advantage at neutral sites… The Commodores defeated Ole Miss in their only meeting this year, 71-61, in Nashville on Feb. 7… The Commodores won the last meeting at the SEC Tournament, a 91-69 decision on March 13, 2004 in Atlanta… The Commodores also have won 14 of the last 15 games against Ole Miss at Memorial Gymnasium… VU’s Kevin Stallings is 7-4 all-time vs. Ole Miss.
The Mississippi State Series
(VU leads 7-4 at SEC Tourney)
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series 71-43, including a 43-8 advantage in Nashville and a 7-4 lead at neutral sites. Mississippi State leads 31-21 in Starkville, Miss. … The Bulldogs won in Starkville, 73-66, on Jan. 17… The Commodores won the last meeting at the SEC Tournament, a 74-70 overtime victory on March 12, 2004… Mississippi State has won seven of the last 10 meetings overall… Vanderbilt has lost seven of the last nine meetings in Starkville since claiming an 80-39 victory on Feb. 27, 1993… VU’s Kevin Stallings is 5-7 all-time against Mississippi State.
The South Carolina Series
(No Previous Meetings at SEC Tourney)
The overall series between the two schools is tied at 22. South Carolina holds a 11-9 advantage in Columbia, S.C., and a 2-1 lead at neutral sites. Vanderbilt leads 12-9 in Nashville… The two teams won on their home floor this season; South Carolina won 86-76 in Columbia (86-76) and Vanderbilt won 96-83 in Nashville (2/28)… Vanderbilt has won six out of seven games in the series… The Gamecocks hold an 20-16 lead in the series since joining the SEC in 1992… VU’s Kevin Stallings is 9-11 vs. South Carolina.
The Tennessee Series
(UT Leads 7-1 at SEC Tourney)
Tennessee leads the all-time series 108-68. The Volunteers lead 69-20 in Knoxville, Tenn., and 7-1 at neutral sites. Vanderbilt owns a 46-3s advantage in Nashville… Tennessee swept the season series with Vanderbilt, winning 76-63 in Nashville (1/20) and 69-50 in Knoxville (2/14)… Tennessee won the last meeting at the SEC Tournament, a 74-57 decision on March 5, 1987… Vanderbilt has played more games (176) against Tennessee than any other league opponent… Kevin Stallings is 8-12 all-time against Tennessee.