Dec. 17, 2009
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Joe Fisher’s Mailbag Submit Your Question | View Archive Wondering about a player, a past game or another topic involving the Commodores? The Voice of the Commodores Joe Fisher will answer a variety of email questions from fans during the season on VUcommodores.com. |
Joe, it looks like Jeff Taylor is playing with a lot more confidence. How would you rate his performance so far?
— Bryan
I would say Jeff has probably been our most consistent player. He did not feel well at all last week; had a fever and chills at Illinois, and wasn’t 100% against Western Kentucky. But, you always get his best effort. He is explosive to the basket, and is one of the best I’ve seen at springing right back up off the floor after taking a shot to get his own rebound if need be. Certainly the experience of playing right off the bat as a freshman last year has helped convince him that he can succeed at this level.
Joe, are you aware that 10 on Vanderbilt’s foes in football for 2010 are bowl teams? Last year, Maurice Patton wrote an article about the fact that we played eight bowl teams in our 2009 schedule. We will still go undefeated and win the national championship, regardless of schedule. Go ‘Dores!
— Darrell from Nashville, Tenn.
I had not done the math until you mentioned it. I was already excited about our schedule for next year, primarily because we feature seven home games (Northwestern, LSU, South Carolina, Eastern Michigan, Florida, Tennessee and Wake Forest). Even if you’re not a die hard Vanderbilt fan, if you love college football at all, you need to get season tickets here next year because it’s one of the best home schedules Vanderbilt’s ever had, in my opinion.
What is your take on A.J. Ogilvy’s inconsistent performance? Will he be able to play more physical and become a dominant center in SEC play?
— Pacala from Nashville, Tenn.
I certainly hope so. At times this season, A.J. has been dominant and in fact taken over a couple of games in the second half. He does, for some reason, have a tendency to start slow. I know the coaches and A.J. are hoping to address that. He also is still bothered now and then by that nagging foot problem that sometimes makes it very painful for A.J. to practice or play. We’ll need him at his best to contend in a much-improved SEC race this year.
Joe, if Jeff Taylor developed some confidence in shooting his mid-range jumper, just how dangerous could he be?
— Stan from Columbia, Tenn.
I know Jeff has spent a lot of time working on just that aspect of his game. I’ve seen very few defenders that can stop him one-on-one from getting to the basket. The addition of a solid, consistent jump shot from 15-feet or so would make him something no defense would want to deal with.
Hi Joe. Did you take your clubs to Hawaii? I played the public Silver Sword course a few years ago. Really nice. Best wishes!
— Chuck
Chuck, since I did not travel with team to Hawaii because of their earlier game in San Francisco on the way out, I did in fact drag my clubs along. My broadcast partner, Tim Thompson, and I were fortunate to play the Plantation Course at Kapalua once while we were there. What a gorgeous course! And the scenery and weather aren’t bad either!
Did I just miss “And the streak goes continues,” at the Missouri game or have the Commodores broken their 3-point streak?
I guess you did. The streak is in fact in tact, currently at 738 and counting. Only UNLV has a longer streak at 746. Princeton is the only other school besides VU and UNLV to have made a three pointer in every game they’ve played since the 3-point line came into existence.