Jan. 20, 2016
Recap | Box Score | Notes | USATSI Photos 
| Howell’s Photos
Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings
(Opening statement)
“Second half, defensively, I didn’t think we were nearly as good. But by that time, we kind of had the game under control. (Armani Moore) didn’t really play like it, but it didn’t seem like or sound like Moore was 100% for them. It sounded like he’s been banged up. We caught them on a night where they didn’t shoot it very well, which was fortunate for us. Just a different atmosphere with the weather and the crowd and that sort of thing. So there were probably some things that happened that were conducive for us to play well. But nevertheless, we feel good to come in here and win. It’s always a hard place to play, and they’ve been playing very well, so we feel good to get out of here with a victory.”
(On Vanderbilt making more 3-pointers than Tennessee)
“Well, that I think was just a function of them just not having a good shooting night on their part. For us, we made some in the first half and we made a lot of them because we’ve got a good threat inside with Damian (Jones). So, when we can throw him the ball, then they have to collapse on him, and it comes back out and we can make shots. Wade (Baldwin IV) gave us some really good penetration. I thought he was outstanding tonight. Matthew Fisher-Davis obviously came off the bench, as did Cam Justice in that first half, to really spark our three-point shooting. So, actually, a lot of it was off the bench. But anyway, you look down here and Luke (Kornet) gets 14 rebounds and blocks five shots. He’s so important to what we do. Jeff Roberson with another double-double. So we’ve got some guys that are playing pretty well for us right now.”
(On the difference for Vanderbilt during the last three games)
“I think just getting some guys healthy. Riley (LaChance) has been under the weather. He was outstanding on Saturday but he still looked under the weather tonight. Matt (Fisher-Davis) has been hurt. Matt’s foot is starting to feel a little better and hopefully that will continue to be okay. I just think it’s a matter of we’ve gotten healthy and had some time to practice and play together as a unit again and so we’re getting a hold of it better.”
(On Cam Justice making three 3-pointers in a row in the first half)
“I’m not surprised at all. Cam Justice is a bona fide, terrific shooter. He just hasn’t had as much of a chance lately and hasn’t shot as many lately, but that kid can really shoot the basketball.”
(On if this win helps make up for Vanderbilt’s home SEC loss against LSU)
“I don’t know that anything that makes up for a loss at home, but if you lose at home, you better go win some on the road. So you have to go win some and we broke through here and won and now we’ve got to go to Lexington, so it doesn’t get any easier. But we’re sure grateful and happy to win.”
(On what he told the team after their third straight SEC win)
“Just got to keep getting better. Going into last week, I said we have a chance to be better at the end of this week than we were at the end of January last year, because we won our first conference game a year ago and lost seven straight. So when we won two, we’d already won more than we won last January. But we just have to keep getting better as a team and trying to progress and stay healthy and get better at the things that we need to get better at. Right now, we’ve practiced well. You could kind of see this coming. We’ve been good in practice. I’m a firm believer that you play like you practice and we did tonight.”
(On the team building a lead despite Damian Jones going out early with two fouls)
“That was real helpful for us. That usually doesn’t happen, but it was very helpful for us. Damian is kind of snake-bit with the foul thing right now, so we’ve got to work to keep him out of foul trouble.”
(On if the weather worked in Vanderbilt’s favor)
“Well, certainly the crowd – it was almost ominous. It just didn’t feel like the normal environment, and understandably so. The roads are horrible. It kind of had a funky feeling to it all the way around, but nevertheless, you have to play. You have to perform. They’re not an easy team to play and they’re not an easy team to beat, so we’re happy to get in here and get a victory.”