Sept. 22, 2014
2014-15 MBB Schedule | 2014-15 MBB Schedule 
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings has announced his team’s 2014-15 non-conference schedule, a slate that is highlighted by a trip to the Barclays Center Classic in Brooklyn, N.Y., the weekend after Thanksgiving and home games against Baylor and Purdue. The Commodores will also open their regular season with three home games against teams from Nashville.
“We’re excited about our non-conference schedule this year,” said Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings. “We have a good variety of games against high-level conferences which will prepare us for a rigorous 18-game league schedule. I’m also excited to play against some teams from Nashville. We always try to add a local angle to our non-conference schedule, and this season we begin our regular season with three teams from Nashville. Our young team is ready and eager for the challenge that awaits us.”
Early Non-Conference has Nashville flare
After two exhibition games against Illinois-Springfield on November 6 (7 p.m.) and a matchup with former SEC foe Sewanee on November 11 (7 p.m.), the Commodores will face three consecutive opponents from the city of Nashville – Trevecca on November 16 (2 p.m., SEC Network Plus), Lipscomb on November 20 (8 p.m., FSN), and Tennessee State on November 23 (6 p.m., FSN).
Barclays Center Classic
The game with Tennessee State will be a part of the Barclays Center Classic, as will the Commodores’ matchup with Norfolk State at Memorial Gym on November 25 (7 p.m., SEC Network Plus). The contest with Norfolk State precedes Vanderbilt’s trip to Brooklyn, N.Y., to play in the Barclays Center against Rutgers on the Friday after Thanksgiving (6 p.m., NBC Sports Network), and then either Virginia or LaSalle on Saturday (6 or 8:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network).
Big 12 and Big 10 teams at Memorial
On December 4, Big 12 team Baylor comes to Memorial for the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, their first trip to Memorial Gym since the 1985-86 campaign. The game will tip off at 6 p.m. and will be televised on ESPNU.
After final exams, Vanderbilt will host Purdue, head coach Kevin Stallings’ alma mater, on December 13 (8 p.m., SEC Network). The game is first of a home-and-home series between the two schools, and the first meeting since the 1965-66 campaign.
Close of home non-conference schedule
Vanderbilt will host Western Carolina (8 p.m., SEC Network) on December 16th, and then close out play before the Christmas break with a home contest against Ivy League member Penn (7 p.m., SEC Network Plus). The Commodores end non-conference play with a game against Yale on January 3 (1 p.m, SEC Network Plus).
Road non-conference games
Vanderbilt will return two home games from last season as part of a home-and-home agreement, at Georgia Tech on December 20 (1 p.m., ESPN3) and at Saint Louis on December 31 (1 p.m., FSN Midwest). The Commodores tallied a 1-1 record against the two schools last season at Memorial Gym.
Schedule Notes
- Trevecca will be playing their first season as a Division II member of the NCAA.
- This will be the second consecutive season the Commodores have played Lipscomb.
- Trevecca, Norfolk State, and Rutgers are all first-time opponents.
- The meeting with Sewanee, a former SEC member, in an exhibition game will be the 51st time the two schools have met. The last meeting came in the 1961-62.
- Georgia Tech is also a former SEC member. The meeting in December will be the 83rd meeting between the Commodores and Yellow Jackets.
- Conference breakdown – Divison II (1), Atlantic Sun (1), Ohio Valley (1), MEAC (1), Big 10 (2), ACC (1, possibly 2), Atlantic 10 (1, possibly 2), Big 12 (1), Southern (1), Ivy League (2).
Record against non-conference opponents
Trevecca – First meeting
Lipscomb – 23-4
Tennessee State – 7-0
Norfolk State – First meeting
Rutgers – First meeting
Virginia – 5-1
LaSalle – 1-0
Baylor – 8-1
Purdue – 1-1
Western Carolina – 2-0
Georgia Tech – 40-32
Penn – 2-1
Saint Louis – 5-4
Yale – 4-1