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Two teams on opposite ends of the SEC standings faceoff when the Vanderbilt Commodores (6-16, 1-8 SEC) travel to take on the #15 South Carolina Gamecocks (20-3, 8-2 SEC). Vanderbilt just got run off their own floor, losing to Kentucky 109-77 as just 8.5-point home underdogs. South Carolina continues their success by defeated Ole Miss 68-65 as 3.5-point home favorites. This is the only meeting between these teams this season, and Vanderbilt won last year's matchup by 11 on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 1:00 EST from Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina and can be found on the SEC Network.
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Unfortunately for the Commodores, the only positive spin they can put on their SEC run this season is that at least they are not in last place. This was due to an important-to-some matchup between Vandy and Missouri last Saturday, where the teams were a combined 0-16 in league play going into that matchup. Vanderbilt was down 17-6 early, but turned the game around and controlled the rest of the way leading to a seven point win. In their most recent game, they got crushed by Kentucky despite a 20-point game from guard Evan Taylor.
Back-to-back triples for ET ?? pic.twitter.com/3rSH0JMm6V
— Vanderbilt Men's Basketball (@VandyMBB) February 7, 2024
They are led by their 6'0 senior point guard Ezra Manjon, he leads the team with 14.7 PPG and 3.7 APG. He had 14 points and nine assists in the recent loss to Kentucky and scored 17 in the win over Missouri. Tyrin Lawrence is a bigger guard on the wing, he is a 6'4 senior getting 13.9 PPG and 5.2 RPG. Lawrence has reached double figures in his last 12 games, including a high of 22 in a win over Dartmouth. Their top frontcourt player is 6'8, 230-pound sophomore Ven-Allen Lubin with 10.1 PPG and 5.8 RPG. The top shooter is 6'6 senior guard Evan Taylor, he has 34 made threes on the year and averages 8.7 PPG from the perimeter.
Vanderbilt is currently ranked 202nd overall according the KenPom. They rank 236th in offensive efficiency and 184th in defensive efficiency. Vandy plays slow, they rank 273rd in the nation in tempo based on their pace of play. Vanderbilt has too many losses for an at-large bid, they would have to win the SEC Tournament to play their way in to the NCAA Tourney.
Injury Report: None listed