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Vanderbilt freshmen shine at SEC Media Days

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The question: What is the best-tasting food you can make?
 
The answer, according to Vanderbilt freshman forward Simisola Shittu: Spaghetti.
 
In that moment, Shittu’s Commodore basketball teammate, freshman point guard Darius Garland, let out a hearty laugh. The two Vanderbilt players were midway through a live Twitter Q&A at the beginning of SEC Basketball Media Days on Wednesday at the Grand Bohemian Hotel. The Q&A was the first of several interviews and photo shoots that made up the SEC’s unofficial tipoff to the 2018-19 basketball season.
 
Garland and Shittu, two of the highest-rated players ever to sign with the Dores, made a little history in venturing to Birmingham: Vanderbilt became the first team in SEC history to bring two freshmen to Media Days. In fact, Garland and Shittu became just the fourth and fifth freshmen to ever represent teams at the event.
 
But the duo’s appearance at Media Days was less about history and more emblematic of a fresh era of Vanderbilt basketball under coach Bryce Drew – with Garland and Shittu at center-stage.

The Commodores kicked off Media Days with a stop on the SEC Network’s “SEC Now” set, positioned on a faux basketball court in a ballroom at the Grand Bohemian. Drew and Garland joined host Dari Nowkhah, former Kentucky star Antoine Walker and former Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy to preview the Dores. Nowkhah began by asking Drew to elaborate on his decision to bring Garland, a freshman, to Media Days.
 
Drew said the choice was easy. “He’s a leader on our team,” the coach said.
 
A few yards away, Shittu spent time filming a one-on-one interview with SEC Network analyst Pat Bradley. Bradley asked Shittu, a Burlington, Ontario, Canada native, for his take on Nashville hot chicken. Shittu admitted he is still adjusting to the heat of the Music City delicacy.
 
“We’ve got to toughen you up!” Bradley joked.
 
The Commodores wrapped their SEC Network stint and moved on to the SEC’s photo-shoot room. Garland and Shittu posed for several promo shots, with Garland showing off his skills by spinning a ball on his fingers in a few photos. Shittu, meanwhile, let out a celebratory-but-primal roar in one quick video.
 
While waiting for their next interview, Garland spotted a pool table lying dormant in an adjacent room. The freshman grabbed a pool cue, took aim and drilled the cue ball, barely missing an 8-ball on the far end of the table. Garland shrugged. “I haven’t lost a pool game at Commons yet,” Garland said with a smile. “Just so you know.”
 
Shittu let out a laugh. “You’re terrible at pool!” he said. The 6-10 forward stepped up and took a shot of his own, knocking a ball into the corner pocket. “That’s a real shot,” Shittu said, nudging his freshman teammate.
 
Vanderbilt next arrived at the Sirius XM radio room for interviews with host Chris Childers, who introduced Garland, a Brentwood Academy grad, as “a Nashville guy.” Garland fielded questions on his longtime relationship with Coach Drew, preseason practices – “Defense has been a priority.” – and his adjustment to campus life at Vanderbilt.
 
Finally, Childers asked Garland what ultimately sealed his decision to sign with Vanderbilt.
 
“It’s home,” Garland said. “You can’t get better than home.”

One of the Commodores’ final stops at Media Days was in the main interview room. Garland and Shittu posted up at separate raised podiums in front of gaggles of reporters. Finally, when the dust had settled, Garland walked to Shittu’s podium as the big man wrapped his session. Garland held his iPhone up as a recorder and did his best impression of a reporter: “What do you think of Media Days?”
 
Shittu smiled and stood up. “Let’s go,” he said.
 
Zac Ellis is the Writer and Digital Media Editor for Vanderbilt Athletics.