NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Before the start of the 2021-22 season, Vanderbilt has already been dealt with a touch of adversity.
Third-year head coach Jerry Stackhouse announced Wednesday that guard Rodney Chatman will miss about 4-6 weeks while he recovers from a knee injury sustained during a recent scrimmage.
“That’s just how fickle this thing is,” Stackhouse said. “We felt great about where we were having a really veteran team. We still feel good, but now it forces Tyrin Lawrence, who is working his way back (from injury), to get up to speed a little bit sooner than he would have had to otherwise.
“Ultimately it’s going to be good for us. Shane Dezonie and Peyton Daniels will get a few more reps than they probably would otherwise. In the long run it’s going to be really good for us.”
A 6-foot-1, 215-pound guard, Chatman was expected to be in the starting rotation for the Commodores. The Georgia native began his career at Chattanooga before spending three seasons at Dayton.
Chatman has played 104 games and needs 105 points to reach 1,000 and 52 assists to reach 400. A 42-percent career shooter, Chatman has scored at least 20 points in a game six times and dealt out a career-high 14 assists in a single game in 2017.
The absence of Thomas means Vandy will be now down two potential starters when the season begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday against Alabama State at Memorial Gymnasium.
Liam Robbins, a transfer from Minnesota, has been steadily working his way back from an offseason injury. Stackhouse said the 7-foot center has been in a day-on, day-off rehab routine this week as he gets closer to joining the Dores for on-court activities.
Robbins has played in 88 games, first Drake and then Minnesota. He has 196 career blocked shots while averaging 10 points and 5.4 rebounds over three seasons.
The Iowa native has also recorded 10 career double-doubles.
With Robbins and Chatman being sidelined for the near future, Stackhouse will turn to some of his younger players to fill the gaps in expected minutes. Vandy has four freshmen and six sophomores on the roster, many of whom will be expected to contribute in a myriad of ways.
“Those guys, they just need to follow the lead of their leaders,” Stackhouse said. “I told them when we were watching our scrimmage games (on film), ‘What you need to do is just go back and watch Scotty (Pippen), watch (Chatman) and the things that they did in the game. If you can find a way to bring the things that they did in those scrimmage games to what we do, then you can find your way to earning yourself some minutes.’ ”
Vandy’s start to the campaign includes a four-game home stretch starting with Wednesday’s matchup with Alabama State. The Commodores also host Texas State at 7 p.m. on Nov. 14 during its opening week.
— Chad Bishop covers Vanderbilt for VUCommodores.com.
Follow him @MrChadBishop.