18/15 Vanderbilt (17-3, 4-3 SEC) vs. RV/RV Kentucky (14-6, 5-2 SEC)
Tuesday, Jan. 26 • 8 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn.
ESPN • 94.9 The Fan • Game Notes • Game Day Central
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 18 Vanderbilt men’s basketball returns to Memorial Gymnasium for an 8 p.m. showdown against Kentucky on Tuesday night. The battle between the Commodores and Wildcats will air on ESPN.
Fans can also tune in on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Athletics app to listen to Kevin Ingram and Tim Thompson’s view of the action.
DOMINANCE AT THE HUMP
- Vanderbilt hit nine of its first 10 shots to open a 22-4 lead which it never surrendered in an 88-56 romp at Mississippi State.
- The 32-point victory was Vandy’s largest against an SEC foe since a 35-point win over Georgia in the 2022 SEC Tournament. It’s the largest win in an SEC road game for the Dores since a 72-31 victory at Mississippi State back in 2013.
- It’s only the third time in the past 33 years the Dores have won a conference road contest by 32 or more, all coming at Mississippi State.
AT 20 GAMES
- Vanderbilt is off to its third-best 20-game start in program history at 17-3.
- The 1973-74 Commodores opened the season 19-1, the best 20-game start in program history.
- Vandy opened the 1955-56 season at 18-2, the second-best mark through 20 games.
- The Dores have started a season 17-3 on six other occasions, coming in 1963-64, 1964-65, 1965-66, 1966-67, 1992-93 and 2007-08.
DUKE OF DEFENSE
- Duke Miles led a lockdown defensive effort in the win at Mississippi State, notching a career-high seven steals.
- The seven swipes are the most by any SEC player in a conference game since Cameron Matthews (Miss St.) did so against Mizzou in 2024.
- Miles is one of just four players to rack up seven or more steals against a high-major foe this season.
- His seven steals fell one shy of the Vanderbilt school record. It was the most takeaways by a Commodore since James Strong had seven in 1998. The total also tied the most swipes by a Commodores in an SEC game in program history, joining Pax Whitehead who notched seven against South Carolina in 1997.
- Miles’ 2.8 steals per game is the highest mark by any major conference player in the country.
TANNER’S TALLY
- Tyler Tanner continued his stellar play with 24 points, five rebounds and five assists at Mississippi State.
- Tanner is the first Commodore with 20 or more points and at least five rebounds and assists since Scotty Pippen Jr. in 2022. It’s just the ninth time a Dore has produced the stat line since 1996-97.
- Tanner has now scored in double figures in all 20 games this season, including seven 20-point outings. Four of those seven have come in SEC play for the sophomore.
- Through seven SEC games, Tanner is averaging 20 points and six assists.
SERIES HISTORY
- Vanderbilt and Kentucky meet for the first of two battles this season when the rivals clash Tuesday. The Wildcats lead the series 157-50.
- The Dores and Cats split last season’s matchups, with Vandy earning a 74-69 takedown of the ninth-ranked Cats in Memorial Gymnasium.
- Byington became the first Vandy head coach to win his first game against Kentucky since Eddie Fogler in 1990.
