March 16, 2007
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Coming off a strong showing in its 77-44 first round victory over George Washington, No. 6 seed Vanderbilt prepares to battle No. 3 seed Washington State, Saturday, March 17 at 4:40 CT.
Vanderbilt’s 33-point win over the No. 11 seed Colonials on Thursday marked the most lopsided victory by a No. 6 seed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded to as many as 64 teams in 1985. Vanderbilt (21-11) made 10 of its 12 3-pointers in the first half while playing solid defense, holding GW to five field goals in the first 20 minutes and limiting the Colonials to 27.1 percent field goal shooting (13-of-48) on the day.
Shan Foster led all Commodores with 18 points thanks in part to four 3-pointers. Fellow wing player Derrick Byars posted 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Alex Gordon added 10 points.
Washington State (26-7) advanced to the second round after registering a 70-54 victory over No. 14 seed Oral Roberts on Thursday. Four Cougars scored in double figures led by Ivory Clark’s 19 points, six rebounds and five blocks. Taylor Rochestie contributed 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Saturday’s contests matches two coaches listed as finalists for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year award. Vanderbilt’s Kevin Stallings has led the Commodores’ turnaround from a 1-3 start to post his third 20-win season in Nashville and finish with the second-best league record in the Southeastern Conference at 10-6.
Only the defending national champions Florida Gators (13-3), with all five starters returning, posted a better league mark.
Stallings was named the SEC Coach of the Year by the league’s coaches and CollegeInsider.com. He also was named the National Basketball Coaches Association’s District 7 Coach of the Year.
Washington State’s Tony Bennett received coach of the year accolades from the Pac-10 Conference, NABC District 14 and United States Basketball Writers Association District 9.
Saturday’s contest marks the first series meeting between the schools. Vanderbilt has never played a Pacific 10 Conference member in the NCAA Tournament.
Vanderbilt is 3-0 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament since the field expanded to as many as 64 teams. The winner advances to the East Regional semifinals to play the winner of the Georgetown-Boston College contest Friday, March 23 in East Rutherford, N.J.
