March 4, 2015
Note: Vanderbilt’s men’s basketball team was invited to the 2015 NIT, securing a men’s or women’s postseason bid for the 29th time in 30 seasons. Vanderbilt is now one of 15 schools with at least 29 postseason appearances in 30 years.
Vanderbilt’s men’s and women’s basketball programs have been staples in the postseason for nearly three decades.
In the past 29 seasons, Vanderbilt has had a men’s and/or women’s basketball team in the NCAA Tournament 28 times. The only year the Commodores missed the NCAA Tournament came in 1999 when both teams finished under .500.
The remarkable run of success has put Vanderbilt in an elite class of programs. Beginning with the 1985-86 season when Vanderbilt’s women’s team qualified for its first NCAA Tournament, the men’s and women’s programs have combined to make 38 appearances.
In the 29 years, Vanderbilt is one of six schools to have its men’s and/or women’s basketball team in the NCAA Tournament at least 28 of the last 29 years. The others are Duke, Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Vanderbilt’s current 15-year NCAA Tournament streak has been buoyed by the women’s basketball team which has made the Big Dance each year. The Commodores are one of eight women’s programs nationally with streaks of at least 15 years.
Whether the Commodores can add yet another NCAA Tournament bid in 2015 and make the field 29 of the last 30 years remains to be seen. The women will begin their quest Wednesday at the SEC Tournament against Alabama. The men have two regular season games remaining heading into the SEC Tournament.
Even if Vanderbilt’s squads miss the NCAA Tournament this year, a postseason NIT bid would keep the Commodores among a select few schools to participate in the NCAA or NIT in 29 of the last 30 seasons. Currently, there are 17 schools that have participated in the NCAA Tournament, NIT or WNIT 28 of the last 29 years. Those schools are: Arizona, Duke, Kansas, Louisville, Maryland, Memphis, New Mexico, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Utah, Vanderbilt, Villanova and Virginia.
No matter what happens this March, Vanderbilt’s programs have already cemented themselves among the most successful in Division I basketball over the last three decades.
Men’s or Women’s NCAA Tournament Bids in at least 28 of 29 Years
(Through 2013-14 and since 1985-86)
Duke
Kansas
Maryland
North Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt (Dropped off list in 2015)
Men’s or Women’s NCAA Tournament or NIT/WNIT Bids in at least 28 of 29 Years
(Through 2013-14 and since 1985-86)
Arizona
Duke
Kansas
Louisville
Maryland
Memphis
New Mexico
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Syracuse
Temple
Tennessee
Utah
Vanderbilt
Villanova
Virginia
Men’s or Women’s NCAA Tournament or NIT/WNIT Bids in at least 29 of 30 Years
(Through 2014-15 and since 1985-86)
Arizona
Duke
Kansas
Louisville
Maryland
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Oklahoma
Syracuse
Temple
Tennessee
Utah
Vanderbilt
Villanova
Virginia
Memphis and New Mexico did not qualify of the men’s or women’s NCAA Tournament or NIT in 2015.