March 4, 2011
The #21/20 Vanderbilt Commodores will close out their regular season against SEC East champion #14/14 Florida Saturday evening at Memorial Gym in a nationally televised game on ESPN. The game tips off at 5 p.m. CT, and can also be heard live on the Vanderbilt Sports Network from IMG College and vucommodores.com.
Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes will have the call for ESPN.
The Commodores will honor two seniors, Joe Duffy and Chris Meriwether, and three senior managers after the game on Saturday.
Series Info: Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 63-57, and leads 40-13 in games played in Nashville.
Last Meeting: The last meeting between the two schools came on February 1, 2011, in Gainesville in a game Florida won in overtime, 65-61.
Head Coaches: Kevin Stallings is in his 12th year at Vanderbilt (234-145) and his 18th overall (357-208). Billy Donovan is in his 15th year at Florida (354-145) and 17th overall (389-165).
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
Live Audio, Video, Twitter Feed
Game Is A Sellout
A select number of allotted student section seats for the Commodores’ game against the University of Florida that were put on sale because of Vanderbilt’s spring break are now sold out. There are no tickets available for purchase.
The Commodores quickly sold out of season tickets earlier in the year, and Vanderbilt fans have shown up in droves for games this season. In fact, with a sellout crowd expected of 14,316 on Saturday, Vanderbilt will push its per-game average to 13,802, the most since 1994-95, when an average of 14,080 fans walked through the turnstiles. This year’s average is the most since Vanderbilt reduced the capacity of the gym from 15,311 to its current capacity.
About Florida
Florida enters Saturday’s game with a 23-6 overall record and a 12-3 mark in SEC play. The Gators have clinched the SEC East crown and can win the overall regular season title with a win or an Alabama loss on Saturday.
Guard Erving Walker leads four Florida players in double-figures with 14.4 points per game. Kenny Boynton (13.6), Vernon Macklin (11.5), and Chandler Parsons (11.4) also average double-digits. Parsons leads the Gators on the glass with 7.8 rebounds per contest.
The Florida Series
Vanderbilt leads the all-time series, 63-57, and leads 40-13 in games played in Nashville. Florida leads the series, 39-21 in games played in Gainesville. Florida leads the series, 5-2, in neutral site games.
Stallings Versus Florida
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings has a record of 7-17 all-time against the Gators as a head coach, and has a record of 5-6 against Florida in Memorial Gym.
Stallings In SEC Play
Now in his 12th season of SEC play at the helm of the Commodores, Kevin Stallings has an 93-98 record in SEC play. In 2009-10, Stallings posted his best SEC record as a coach with a 12-4 mark.
Vanderbilt Vs. The SEC
Vanderbilt has a 637-631 record against teams that currently comprise the SEC.
Free Throws
The Commodores lead the SEC in free throw attempts per game in all games (25.2), and in SEC games only (24.3). Vanderbilt has made more free throws in SEC play (276) than three teams have attempted.
Commodores In Top 25
Vanderbilt are number 21 in the AP poll and 20 in the ESPN/USA Today poll this week. It is the eighth week Vanderbilt has been ranked this season in the AP poll, and the sixth week in the ESPN/USA Today rankings.
This year marks the 20th season the Commodores have appeared in the Associated Press poll, and the fourth time in the last five.
O-For-Dykes, 1-For-Nessler
In games that Jimmy Dykes has broadcasted this season, Vanderbilt is 0-3 (at South Carolina, Tennessee, at Kentucky). When Brad Nessler is on the mic, Vanderbilt is 1-4 with the lone win coming at Mississippi State (losses at South Carolina, at Florida, Tennessee, at Kentucky).
Senior Days Under Stallings
Vanderbilt is 5-6 in senior day games under head coach Kevin Stallings.
SEC Tournament Scenarios
The following are Vanderbilt’s tournament scenarios for next week’s SEC Tournament in Atlanta.
– Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Georgia win, VU is 2, UK is 3, GA is 4 and UT is 5.
– Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Alabama win, UK is 2, VU is 3, GA is 4 and UT is 5.
– Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Georgia win, VU is 2, GA is 3, UK is 4 and UT is 5.
– Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Alabama win, VU is 2, UK is 3, UT is 4 and GA is 5.
– Florida, Kentucky and Georgia win, UK is 2, GA is 3, VU is 4 and UT is 5.
– Florida, Kentucky and Alabama win, UK is 2, VU is 3, GA is 4 and UT is 5.
– Florida, Tennessee and Georgia win, GA is 2, UT is 3, UK is 4 and VU is 5.
– Florida, Tennessee and Alabama win, UT is 2, UK is 3, VU is 4 and GA is 5.
Vanderbilt-Kentucky Tidbits
Festus Ezeli paced the Vanderbilt effort with his fifth double-double of the season with 22 points and 13 rebounds, but it was not enough as Kentucky squeaked by Vanderbilt Tuesday night at Rupp Arena, 68-66. Ezeli also had three blocks, and now has 76 for the year. Ezeli is now Vanderbilt’s all-time single-season leader, surpassing Will Perdue’s 1987-88’s total of 74. John Jenkins added 16 points and Jeffery Taylor scored 13 points for Vanderbilt.
– Kentucky leads the all-time series, 134-44, and 80-19 in games played in Lexington.
– Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings moves to 9-16 all-time against Kentucky and 2-10 in games played in Lexington.
– Vanderbilt moves to 21-8 overall and 9-6 in SEC play. Vanderbilt finished the regular season 5-5 in true road games and 4-4 in road league contests.
– John Jenkins’ three-pointer at the 15:49 mark in the second half pushed Vanderbilt’s three-point streak to 791 consecutive games with a three.
– Vanderbilt shot 44.8% for the game, compared to 42.4% for Kentucky. The Commodores moved to 16-4 when they outshoot their opponents in 2010-11.
– The Commodores were 2-for-11 from three, the fewest threes Vanderbilt has made this season. Previous low was three made threes against Tennessee on February 22. The 18.2 percentage from three is the team’s lowest of the year.
– VU outrebounded Kentucky, 36-34. The Commodores move to 13-2 when outrebounding their opponent.
– Vanderbilt was 12-17 from the free throw line on the night (70.6%).
– The Commodores are now 164-240 from the charity stripe in road games (.683). Vanderbilt has made more free throws than their opponents have attempted (162) in 10 road games this season.
– Vanderbilt outscored Kentucky, 44-40 in the paint. Both teams scored six points on the fast break. Kentucky outscored Vanderbilt 13-9 off of turnovers, 18-12 in second-chance points, and 7-0 in bench points. It was the first time this season VU scored no points from non-starters. The previous low was four at Mississippi State.
– Ties: 4; Lead Changes: 4; Vanderbilt largest lead: 1 (4:25 in 2nd half).
Player Notes vs. Kentucky
– Festus Ezeli paced the Vanderbilt effort with his fifth double-double of the season with 22 points and 13 rebounds. The 22 points was his second 20-point effort of the season and his career – the 22 points was two points shy of a career high (24 vs. Belmont).
– Ezeli also had three blocks, and now has 76 for the year. Ezeli is now Vanderbilt’s all-time single-season leader, surpassing Will Perdue’s 1987-88’s total of 74.
– Ezeli played a career-high 36 minutes.
– Brad Tinsley posted a nine points and nine assists. The nine assists ties for the most he has had in SEC play (vs. South Carolina).
– John Jenkins scored 16 points, and Jeffery Taylor added 13 points.
– Lance Goulbourne grabbed nine rebounds. He’s has grabbed 26 rebounds in his last two games.