Jan. 26, 2011
Tuesday Interview with Stallings | Barca’s MBB Roundup | Around the Web, Jan. 26
The #19/22-ranked Vanderbilt Commodores head to Starkville, Miss., for a Thursday night encounter with Mississippi State at the Humphrey Coliseum. The game tips off at 6 p.m. CT, and can be heard on the Vanderbilt Sports Network from IMG College and vucommodores.com.
The game will be televised to a national audience on ESPN2, with Brad Nessler and Mark Gottfried on the call.
Series Info: Vanderbilt owns a 72-44 advantage in the career series, but Mississippi State leads the all-time series in Starkville, 31-21.
Last Meeting: Mississippi State defeated Vanderbilt, 62-52, in the semifinals of the 2010 SEC Tournament on March 13.
Head Coaches: Kevin Stallings is in his 12th year at Vanderbilt (227-141) and his 18th overall (350-204). Rick Stansbury is in his 13th year with Mississippi State (265-148) and 13th year overall.
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: ESPN2
Play-by-Play: Brad Nessler; Color: Mark Gottfried
Vanderbilt Gamenotes 
Mississippi State Gamenotes
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About Mississippi State
Mississippi State enters the game with a 10-8 overall record and a 2-2 mark in SEC play. In their last time out, the Bulldogs dropped an 86-64 decision to Georgia in Athens on Saturday.
Ravern Johnson leads four Bulldog players in double figures with 16.8 points per game. Renardo Sidney (16.1), Dee Bost (13.6), and Kodi Augustus (11.7) also average double digits. Augustus leads the team on the glass with 8.4 rebounds per contest.
The Mississippi State Series
Vanderbilt owns a 72-44 advantage in the career series, but Mississippi State leads the all-time series in Starkville, 31-21. The Commodores lead the series, 44-8, in games played in Nashville, and 7-5 in game played on neutral floors.
Stallings Versus Mississippi State
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings has a record of 6-8 all-time against the Bulldogs as the Vanderbilt head coach, and has never won in Starkville (0-5). Humphrey Coliseum is the only venue in the SEC that a Stallings’-coached team has not won in.
Stallings In SEC Play
Entering his 12th season of SEC play at the helm of the Commodores, Kevin Stallings has an 86-94 record in SEC play. In 2009-10, Stallings posted his best SEC record as a coach with a 12-4 mark.
Stallings In Non-Conference Play
Kevin Stallings is 141-47 in non-conference games and an astounding 104-8 in home non-conference games.
Vanderbilt Vs. The SEC
Vanderbilt has a 630-627 record against teams that currently comprise the SEC.
Goulbourne Wins SEC POTW, Joins Three Other Starters Who Have Won Award
Junior forward Lance Goulbourne claimed the Commodore’s fourth SEC Player of the Week award this season and the first of his career after his two double-doubles last week against Ole Miss and St. Mary’s.
Goulbourne joins juniors Brad Tinsley and Festus Ezeli, and sophomore John Jenkins as SEC weekly award winners this season.
The 6’8 forward from Brooklyn, N.Y. averaged 14.5 points and 13.0 rebounds in wins over Ole Miss and 22nd-ranked St. Mary’s (Calif.). Goulbourne, who leads the SEC in rebounding in SEC games only (11.5 per game), had 14 points and 16 rebounds against the Rebels and 15 points and 10 boards against the Gaels. The 16 rebounds against Ole Miss was a new career-high and tied the Stallings-era record in a single game. They are also the most in an SEC game this season. The two double-doubles are the first two of his career.
3-Point D
In the latest national rankings, the Commodores come in at number six in three-point field goal percentage defense at 28.2%. Vanderbilt’s last opponent, St. Mary’s, entered the game shooting 40.6% from three, and the Commodores limited them to 6-for-23 from beyond-the-arc (26.1%).
Free Throws
The Commodores lead the SEC in free throw attempts per game in all games (26.7), and in SEC games only (28.8).
On the road in four games thus far, Vanderbilt has made more free throws than their opponents have attempted. In the four games, VU is 70-104 (.673), while opponents are 41-61 (.672).
Commodores Move Back Into Top 25
After falling out of the top 25 after their loss to South Carolina, Vanderbilt surged back into the rankings with their wins over Ole Miss and St. Mary’s. Vanderbilt jumped 15 spots from 34 to 19 in the AP poll, and 13 positions to number 22 in the ESPN/USA Today Poll. It is the third time Vanderbilt has been ranked this season in the AP poll, and the second time in the ESPN/USA Today rankings.
Commodores Vs. Ranked Teams
Vanderbilt is now 3-1 against ranked teams in 2010-11 and 2-0 in games played at Memorial Gym. In the Stallings’ era, Vanderbilt is 29-48 and 20-17 in games played at Memorial Gym.
VU Finishes Non-Conference Unbeaten At Home
With the win over St. Mary’s on Saturday, the Commodores finished a perfect 10-0 at home in non-conference play, and pushed its non-conference home win streak to 21 (last loss vs. UIC on 12/8/08). VU has posted a 706-188 (.789) all-time record at the 59-year old facility.
Memorial Gym is the oldest basketball building in use in the Southeastern Conference.
Injury Updates
The Commodores are still without the services of junior forward Andre Walker, who is still out with a sprained ankle. Festus Ezeli (left knee) and Steve Tchiengang (right ankle) will play against Mississippi State.
Player Notes
#23 John Jenkins
– Leads SEC in scoring in all games (18.7) and SEC games only (21.5), 3-point field goals made per game in all games (3.2/game) and is second in SEC games only (3.8); second in the SEC in free throw percentage (.885) in all games and in SEC games only (.958); leads the league in 3-point FG % in SEC games only (.558).
– Scored 20 or more points in nine games this season; made at least 5 threes in four games.
– Since going 2-for-15 from the three against Marquette on December 29, he is 19-for-34 from three (.559, six games).
#44 Jeffery Taylor
– Has scored in double-digits in 61 career games, and has started every game of his Vanderbilt career.
– Tied a team high with 19 points against St. Mary’s (1/22)…was 9-of-10 from free throw line.
#1 Brad Tinsley
– Started every game this season and leads SEC in assists in all games; Has had five or more assists in nine games this season; dished out seven assists vs. SE Louisiana (12/18) and had eight eight assists against Marquette (12/29).
– Scored in double figures in 10 games this season, including a season-high 18-point game against St. Mary’s; scored 14 points against Ole Miss.
– Tied a career-high with eight free throws made vs. St. Mary’s – his 10 FT attempts set a new career best.
#3 Festus Ezeli
– One of nation’s most improved big men…averaged 3.8 points and 3.2 rebounds last year – this season, he’s pushed his averages to 12.6 and 6.3, respectively.
– Scored 16 points and was 10-for-12 from free throw line vs. Ole Miss (1/19); the 10 free throws made tied a career high.
#5 Lance Goulbourne
– Started the last six games in place of the injured Andre Walker. He leads the SEC in rebounding in SEC games only (11.5) and is fourth in all games (8.0). Has averaged 8.8 points and 10.2 rebounds in his six starts.
Vanderbilt-St. Mary’s Tidbits
The Commodores closed out their non-conference schedule with a 12-2 record after knocking off nationally ranked St. Mary’s Saturday at Memorial Gym, 89-70. John Jenkins and Jeffery Taylor each scored 19 points, Brad Tinsley scored a season-high 18, and Lance Goulbourne added his second consecutive double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in the win.
– Vanderbilt improved to 2-0 against St. Mary’s.
– The Commodores are 13-1 when winning the opening tip.
– The 19-point win matches the third largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent in the Stallings era.
– It was the largest margin of victory over a ranked non-conference foe in the Stallings era.
– Vanderbilt has now won 21 consecutive games against non-conference foes at home and finished the season 9-0 against non-conference foes at Memorial Gym.
– Vanderbilt moved to 3-1 over ranked opponents (wins over St. Mary’s, Georgia, and North Carolina; loss at Missouri). – Vanderbilt moves to 4-0 this season when shooting 50% or better.
– Vanderbilt’s 23 turnovers matched a season high set against Western Kentucky on December 1, 2010.
– The 11 three-point field goals are the most since making 13 against Southeastern Louisiana on December 18, 2010.
– When shooting 50% or better in the first half, the `Dores are 7-1.