Nov. 15, 2014
The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team will get its 2014-15 season underway on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Gym when the Commodores take on Trevecca at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on SEC Network Plus, and can be heard on the Vanderbilt IMG College Radio Network throughout Middle Tennessee.
Media Information
Game 1/Vanderbilt (0-0) vs. Trevecca (0-1)
Nashville, Tenn. – Memorial Gym – 2 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network Plus
TV Talent: Kevin Ingram (pxp), Ross Neltner (analyst)
Radio: Vanderbilt Radio Network from IMG College, vucommodores.com
Radio Talent: Joe Fisher (pxp), Tim Thompson (analyst)
Live Stats: vucommodores.com
Twitter Updates: @VandyMBB
Series Information
Series Record: The two teams have never met.
About Trevecca
The Trojans, who have transitioned to Division II this season after being a NAIA member, are 0-1 on the season after dropping their season opener Friday to Maryville University-St. Louis, 75-68. Trevecca takes on Truman State on Saturday before their appearance at Memorial Gym Sunday.
- Junior guard Byron Sanford is the Trojans’ leading scorer (12.2 ppg), rebounder (5.2 rpg), and assist man (2.8).
- The two teams have never met on the hardwood.
- Trevecca Athletic Director Mark Elliott is a Vanderbilt alum and played basketball for the Commodores from 1977-80. Elliott played with current Vanderbilt radio color commentator Tim Thompson.
112th Year for Vanderbilt Basketball
The 2014-15 campaign will be Vanderbilt’s 112th varsity team that it has put on the floor, with the first team playing in the 1900-01 school year. The Commodores did not sport a team in 1904-05 and scores were not recorded in the 1905-06 season.
Seven Letterwinners Return
The Commodores return seven letterwinners from 2013-14 and welcome six newcomers to the fold. Seniors Josh Henderson, Shelby Moats, and James Siakam, juniors Carter Josephs and Nathan Watkins, and sophomores Damian Jones and Luke Kornet all return from a year ago.
Jones a Preseason All-SEC First-Team Selection
Sophomore post player Damian Jones had an outstanding freshman campaign, and was named to the All-SEC Freshman team last season by the league’s coaches. Prior to the 2014-15 season, he was named to the Preseason All-SEC 1st Team. Last year he averaged 11.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest and blocked 43 shots, which tied him for ninth on the single-season Vanderbilt all-time list.
Three-Point Streak Still Intact
Vanderbilt has made a 3-pointer in 896 consecutive games, a streak which began at the inception of the 3-point line in 1986-87. The Commodores rank second only to UNLV for the longest streak in Division I basketball. Vanderbilt, UNLV and Princeton are the only three schools in college basketball to have made at least one 3-pointer in every game played since the 3-point line was implemented.
Coach Stallings in 16th Year
Head Coach Kevin Stallings, the school’s all-time winningest coach, returns for his 16th season with the Commodores and 21st overall as a head coach. Stallings has 292 career wins at Vanderbilt and 415 overall as a head coach. He has seven 20-win seasons in the last 10 seasons, with six NCAA tournament appearances and two Sweet 16’s (2004 and 2007). Stallings has the most 20-win campaigns in Vanderbilt history with seven.
Stallings in Season Openers
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is 14-1 in season openers with the Commodores, with the only loss coming against Georgetown on November 15, 2006, at Memorial Gym.
Stallings’ Non-Conference Success
Coach Stallings has a 121-14 record at Memorial Gym in non-conference games (15 years).
Three is the Magic Number
The Commodores will start three true freshmen on Sunday for the first time since the 2009 SEC Tournament against Alabama on March 12, 2009. In that game, Vanderbilt started true freshmen Brad Tinsley, Jeffery Taylor, and Steve Tchiengang.
Memorial Gym Home Openers
Vanderbilt’s record in home openers at Memorial Gym – the SEC’s oldest basketball facility is in its 63rd season. Memorial Gym, the oldest gymnaisum in the Southeastern Conference, is entering its 63rd season this year. The Commodores have a 743-209 all-time record at the arena, and Vanderbilt has had six undefeated seasons at home. Coach Stallings is the building’s all-time coaching leader with 197 career victories.
Siakam to miss Trevecca game
Senior forward James Siakam will miss the Trevecca game due to the death of his father in his native Cameroon.
Scoring Lost
The Commodores lost their first, third, and fourth leading scorers from 2013-14 in seniors Rod Odom, Kyle Fuller, and junior Dai-Jon Parker. Odom, a second-team All-SEC selection by the league’s coaches, averaged 13.6 points per game, while Fuller added 11.0 ppg and Parker 8.3 ppg. Odom and Fuller both graduated, while Parker transferred for his senior season.
Division II Opponents
Trevecca will be Vanderbilt’s first regular season Division II opponent since playing Chaminade in the EA Sports Maui Invitational on November 24, 2009 (W, 68-41).
Big Man Shoots Threes
Sophomore seven-footer Luke Kornet was one of only eight seven footers in the SEC in 2013-14, but was the only one who shot threes on a regular basis. Kornet finished 21-89 for the season, and was one of only two to have shot a three in 2013-14 (Darcy Malone, LSU, 3-7 in 2013-14). Against Ole Miss in Oxford, he scored a career high 13 points in a career-best 34 minutes of action.
SEC Network Plus
Vanderbilt will produce four contests this season in house for the SEC Network Plus Digitial Network, with Trevecca leading off the broadcasts. Local radio personality Kevin Ingram and former Commodore player Ross Neltner will serve as the talent for the game against the Trojans, with the game being produced by Doug Stanton, a former producer for WGN Sports, where he produced Cubs, Blackhawks, and Bulls games, and for FSN Midwest, where he produced St. Louis Cardinals broadcasts.