Ready for Ranked Rivals

Dores continue top-25 conference slate

 
at No. 1/1 South Carolina Gamecocks (17-1, 5-1 SEC) vs. [RV] Kentucky Wildcats (9-6, 2-3 SEC)
Monday, Jan. 24 • 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27 • 7 p.m.
Colonial Life Arena (18,000) Memorial Gymnasium (14,326)
Columbia, S.C. Nashville, Tenn.
Watch: SEC Network Watch: SEC Network+
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Audio Stream: Charlie Mattos (play-by-play)
Listen: WNSR 560AM/95.9 FM
Audio Stream: Charlie Mattos (play-by-play)
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Vanderbilt Game Notes Vanderbilt Game Notes

About the opponent: South Carolina 

  • Aliyah Boston was named SEC Player of the Week for the fourth time this season after extending the program record for consecutive double-doubles, reaching 11 in a row.
  • The trio of Boston, Zia Cooke, and Destanni Henderson were named to the John R. Wooden Award. Helping to represent the seven players from the SEC.
  • Missouri stunned No. 1 South Carolina back on Dec. 30 in overtime, 70-69 thanks to a driving layup by Lauren Hansen with 0.1 seconds left in the Southeastern Conference debut for both teams.
  • Back on Dec. 15, head coach Dawn Staley was named USA Basketball National co-Coach of the Year, along with Greg Popovich, in recognition of their leadership of gold-medal winning USA Basketball teams in 2021.
  • After defeating the second-ranked Huskies of UConn 73-57 in the inaugural Battle 4 Atlantis tournament, the Gamecocks were crowned the champions on November 22.
  • The media and coaches of the SEC tabbed South Carolina as league favorites, highlighted by Boston and Cooke receiving preseason All-SEC recognition.
  • Back on October 15, South Carolina made Staley the highest paid African-American head coach in women’s basketball and one of the highest paid women’s basketball coaches in the country. The seven-year $22.4 million dollar deal secures Staley through the 2027-28 season.

About the opponent: Kentucky

  • The Wildcats commenced SEC play against Georgia on Jan. 6, defeating the Bulldogs 84-76. Since then Kentucky has lost to South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida.
  • Prior to making the trip to Nashville the Wildcats will face Ole Miss on Sunday and travel to Auburn on Tuesday.
  • Three signees for Kentucky [Tionna Herron, Amiya Jenkins, and Saniah Tyler] were named 2022 McDonald’s All-American Games nominees, making them some of the best high school seniors in the nation.
  • Some of recognition for senior guard Rhyne Howard include being named to the John R. Wooden award top-25 midseason watch list, Wade Trophy, Cheryl Miller award preseason watch list, Associated Press preseason First-Team All-America honoree, SEC Preseason Player of the Year [as voted on by coaches], as well as Preseason All-America by Lindy’s Sports and The Athletic.

Competing in the conference 

  • Out of the 14 teams that make up the SEC, Vanderbilt sits 11 in the standings. The Commodores do lead all teams in total steals [331] and steals per game [10.9].

Numbers Don’t Lie 

  • In Division I women’s basketball the Commodores are ranked 67th in assists, 95th in free throw attempts, 90th in rebound margin, 40th in rebounds, 79th in scoring defense, 10th in steals, 26th in steals per game, 82nd in 3-point field goals made, 91st in turnover margin and 45th in turnovers forced.
  • Jordyn Cambridge is ranked 201st in assist to turnover ratio, 43rd in assists, 91st in assists per game, 81st in minutes played, 2nd in steals, and 4th in steals per game.
  • Brinae Alexander ranks 45th in field goals made, 59th in final points, 62nd in minutes played, 166th in points per game, 87th in steals, 243rd in steals per game, and 150th in 3-point field goals made.
  • Iyana Moore is ranked 191st in final points, 52nd in 3-point field goals attempted, 40th in 3-point field goals made, 91st in 3-point field goals made per game, and 73rd in 3-point field goal percentage.

Fresh Faces 

  • The freshmen quartet in Moore, De’Mauri Flournoy, Kendal Cheesman and Washington have combined for 425 points this season, 35 percent of the total points scored for Vanderbilt.

A Vandy Win Would

  • Put the Commodores back in the win column.
  • Be the first time that Vanderbilt has won against South Carolina since the 2010-11 season [Feb. 27, 74-60, OT].
  • Be the first victory over a ranked opponent since March 1 against Kentucky15/16 [70-64].

A Vandy Loss Would

  • Push Vanderbilt to a six game losing streak, in the event of back-to-back losses.
  • Be South Carolina’s 14th consecutive victory over Vanderbilt.
  • Push the Gamecocks to a six game winning streak.
  • Give Kentucky back-to-back wins over Vanderbilt after winning in Lexington in the 2020-21 season, 80-73.

On Deck

  • Vanderbilt hosts No. 23 Kentucky on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.