17/16 Vanderbilt (8-0, 0-0 SEC) vs. RV SMU (8-0, 0-0 ACC)
Wednesday, Dec. 3 • 8:15 p.m. CT
Memorial Gymnasium • Nashville, Tenn.
SEC Network • 102.5 The Game • Game Notes • Game Day Central
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No. 17 Vanderbilt men’s basketball hosts SMU in a clash of unbeatens in Wednesday night’s ACC/SEC Challenge. Tipoff is set for 8:15 p.m. on SEC Network.
Roy Philpott and Brooke Weisbrod will call the action on SEC Network. Fans can also tune in to 102.5 The Game as Kevin Ingram and Tim Thompson bring the contest to the Vanderbilt Sports Network.
KINGS OF ATLANTIS
- Vanderbilt stormed its way to the Battle 4 Atlantis title with three wins in three days over Western Kentucky, VCU and Saint Mary’s.
- The Commodores set tournament records for points scored (268) and points in the title game (96). Graduate Duke Miles also set the tourney (73) and championship game (25) individual scoring records.
- Vanderbilt claimed the crown with a 96-71 thrashing of Saint Mary’s in the title bout. Vandy’s 96 points are the most scored in regulation against the Gaels in Randy Bennett’s 25-year tenure.
- Miles was named the Battle 4 Atlantis MVP while Tyler Tanner and Jalen Washington each earned spots on the All-Tournament team.
DUKE DELIVERS
- Duke Miles was named SEC Player of the Week for his Feast Week performance featuring a record-setting 73 points over three games at the Battle 4 Atlantis.
- Miles topped the 20-point mark in all three contests, making him the first Dore to do so in three-straight games since the 2023-24 season.
- The guard averaged 24.3 points per game, leading the Dores in scoring in all three matchups. He posted a season-high 28 points against Western Kentucky to open the tournament.
- Miles already owns five 20-point outings this season, but he also leads Vanderbilt with 38 assists.
- The SEC Player of the Week nod is Vandy’s first since Liam Robbins in February 2023.
- Miles was also tabbed the Lute Olson Award National Player of the Week by CollegeInsider.
POLL + NET TALK
- Vandy enters Wednesday night ranked 17th in the AP Poll and 16th in the Coaches. The marks are the highest for the Dores since the 2015-16 season.
- Vanderbilt was the biggest mover in the polls in Week 5, gaining seven spots in both rankings.
- The Commodores were ranked fourth in the first NET rankings of the season.
WASHINGTON BREAKS OUT
- Veteran Jalen Washington popped in the Battle 4 Atlantis Championship game with a career-high 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field.
- Washington was dominant in the pick-and-roll against the Gaels while adding a pair of three-pointers.
- The 6-11 big also scored 11 points with eight rebounds in the semifinal against VCU.
- Washington has now dropped double figures in three of the past four games heading into Wednesday’s ACC/SEC Challenge matchup.
SERIES HISTORY
- Vanderbilt and SMU meet for the 23rd time with Vandy owning a 14-8 edge in the all-time series. The Dores are 10-1 at home against the Mustangs.
- SMU won each of the past two meetings in the series, a home-and-home in 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.
- Vanderbilt is looking for back-to-back wins in the ACC/SEC Challenge after downing Virginia Tech last season.
