Jan. 29, 2018
By Zac Ellis
VUCommodores.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s last trip to Rupp Arena ended as a heartbreaker for the visiting team. On Feb. 28, 2017, the Commodores led Kentucky by as many as 13 points and held that lead for almost the entire game. But the stingy Wildcats grabbed the lead on a Malik Monk 3-pointer with 3:40 to go, holding on to steal a 73-67 victory.
Vanderbilt head coach Bryce Drew hasn’t forgotten that loss, but the Dores’ leader prefers a positive takeaway from that experience.
“Last year, we led for 35 straight minutes, then lost it at the end,” Drew said. “At least these guys have confidence. They know we can play well in there. Now, it’s a different team for them, and we’re different in a lot of ways. But hopefully we can play as well as we did last year.”
Ahead of Tuesday’s return to Lexington to face No. 21/22 Kentucky (8 p.m. CT ESPN), the Commodores boast even more confidence following Saturday’s 81-78 win over TCU in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. A 3-pointer from Riley LaChance with 1:17 left put Vanderbilt ahead for good in a tight battle at Memorial Gym. After the Horned Frogs pulled to within 79-78, LaChance sank two free throws with 10.8 ticks left to seal the victory.
But that win wasn’t just Vanderbilt’s biggest of the season. It was the way in which the Dores won that instills confidence in the coming weeks. LaChance (24 points), fellow senior Jeff Roberson (20) and freshman Saben Lee (11) carried the load as the Dores shot 52.5 percent from the floor, including 44 percent (11-25) from 3-point land. Vanderbilt scored 21 points off turnovers and responded each time TCU staged a rally.
“It’s a big confidence-builder for us,” Roberson said. “Coming off our biggest win of the season. I think guys have got a little confidence now. Hopefully we can just play and not think about it and enjoy the experience.”
Since falling 80-62 at Mississippi State on Jan. 16, Vanderbilt has now won two of its last three games. During that stretch, LaChance and Roberson have both scored 20 or more points in every game. That has helped Vanderbilt absorb the loss of fellow senior Matthew Fisher-Davis to season-ending injury.
Drew said that senior consistency has been a difference-maker for the Dores.
“At Mississippi State, we didn’t have a great game, and Jeff and Riley didn’t shoot it nearly as they are capable,” Drew said. “Since then they’ve played really, really well, fantastic the last three games. Our team’s played at a whole different level and won two games and had a chance to win another. They’re going to have to play well for us to be in this game.”
A trip to Rupp Arena is a familiar challenge for Vanderbilt, which nearly knocked off Kentucky earlier this season in Nashville. The Commodores trailed 70-66 with 40 seconds left in a Jan. 13 matchup at Memorial Gym when LaChance stepped to the foul line for three shots. But the 89-percent free-throw shooter missed all three freebies, allowing Kentucky to hold on for a 74-67 win.
Now Vanderbilt boasts a renewed confidence as it prepares for Tuesday’s rematch with Kentucky. That’s just what a team needs ahead of a trip to Rupp Arena.
“We believe in ourselves,” Roberson said. “We believe we can win every game. We go in with that mentality.”
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.