January 30, 2007

No. 24 'Dores Travel to No. 1 Florida Wednesday

Jan. 30, 2007

COMMODORE GAMEDAY
VUGUESS WHO’S BACK Three wins over nationally ranked teams in the past two weeks have helped Vanderbilt earn a No. 24 ranking in the latest AP Poll released Monday. The ranking is the first for VU since the Commodores were listed at No. 22 in the Jan. 19, 2004 AP poll. Vanderbilt later advanced to the Sweet 16 that year. The Commodores (15-6, 5-2 SEC) also own their best league start of the eight-year tenure of head coach Kevin Stallings after four consecutive conference wins. NUMBER ONE FOR A REASON Florida (19-2, 6-0 SEC) continues to prove itself as the nation’s best. A balanced inside-outside attack has helped the Gators lead the nation in field goal shooting (54.4 percent) this season. Throw in the fact that guard Lee Humphrey has made 23-of-32 of his 3-point tries (71.9 percent) in conference play. GAMEDAY CENTRAL Vanderbilt at Florida Jan. 31 \| 6 p.m. CT \| O’Connell Center Game Notes: View TV: Lincoln Financial Sports LFS Free Webcast: Click Here Local Radio: 104.5 FM Online Radio: Yahoo Sirius Radio: Channel 181 UF Live Stats: Next Home Game: Feb. 3 vs. Georgia

COMMODORE GAMEDAY

VUGUESS WHO’S BACK
Three wins over nationally ranked teams in the past two weeks have helped Vanderbilt earn a No. 24 ranking in the latest AP Poll released Monday. The ranking is the first for VU since the Commodores were listed at No. 22 in the Jan. 19, 2004 AP poll. Vanderbilt later advanced to the Sweet 16 that year. The Commodores (15-6, 5-2 SEC) also own their best league start of the eight-year tenure of head coach Kevin Stallings after four consecutive conference wins.

NUMBER ONE FOR A REASON
Florida (19-2, 6-0 SEC) continues to prove itself as the nation’s best. A balanced inside-outside attack has helped the Gators lead the nation in field goal shooting (54.4 percent) this season. Throw in the fact that guard Lee Humphrey has made 23-of-32 of his 3-point tries (71.9 percent) in conference play.

GAMEDAY CENTRAL
Vanderbilt at Florida
Jan. 31 | 6 p.m. CT | O’Connell Center
Game Notes: View
TV: Lincoln Financial Sports
LFS Free Webcast: Click Here
Local Radio: 104.5 FM
Online Radio: Yahoo
Sirius Radio: Channel 181
UF Live Stats:
Next Home Game: Feb. 3 vs. Georgia

Listen to Joe Fisher’s Game Preview courtesy of 104.5 the Zone

Next Home Game: February 3 vs. Georgia – Buy Tickets

Lincoln Financial Sports: Free Live Video Webcast

Fresh off receiving its first national ranking since 2004, No. 24 Vanderbilt travels to Gainesville to face top-ranked Florida Wednesday. The game starts at 6 p.m. CT and will be televised by Lincoln Financial Sports.

Vanderbilt (15-6, 5-2 Southeastern Conference) has won each of its last four league contest for the first time since 1997 and has claimed victories in each of its last five games against ranked foes this season.

Derrick Byars has led Vanderbilt in scoring in five of its last six games, including a 19-point effort in the Commodores’ 85-80 home win against Ole Miss on Saturday. Dan Cage added 18 points with a trio of 3-pointers. Shan Foster had 14 points. Ross Neltner contributed 10 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Winners of 12 consecutive games, Florida (19-2, 6-0 SEC) has started 6-0 in league play for the first time since 2003. The Gators easily handled Auburn on Saturday, posting a 91-66 road win. All five Florida starters average double figures in scoring led by junior guard Taurean Green’s 13.7 points per game.

Wednesday marks Vanderbilt’s first contest against a No. 1 team since the Commodores dropped a 101-63 decision at Kentucky on March 2, 1996. The Commodores have five victories in school history against No. 1 teams — second most among SEC teams (Kentucky – 6).

Florida claimed both meetings last season and owns a six-game series win streak.