Shan Foster and the Vanderbilt Commodores saw to it that the Tennessee Volunteers' reign as college basketball's top-ranked team would not last long with a 72-69 win at Memorial Gymnasium Tuesday night.
Foster scored 32 points and made six 3-pointers to lead the No. 16 Commodores to yet another home victory over a top-ranked team.
The last four teams to enter a contest at Vandy carrying a No. 1 ranking have fallen, including the Florida Gators a season ago.
Chris Lofton scored 25 points and also made six 3s to keep the Vols in contention after they fell behind early. Vandy led by as many 11 points in the first half before Tennessee fought back to trim the lead to three at halftime.
The Vols continued to battle early in the second half and took a 43-40 lead on Tyler Smith's pair of free throws with 16:29 left in the game.
Vandy then went on an 8-0 run keyed by five Alex Gordon free throws to regain the lead and never trailed again.
Tennessee would stay within striking distance into the final minute of the game, but JaJuan Smith's desperation heave as time expired sailed into the crowd and ended the Vols' chances at pulling off a miracle victory.
Tyler Smith recorded another double-double for the Vols with 11 points and a career high 17 rebounds. Jermaine Beal chipped in with 17 points and Alex Gordon finished with 11 for Vandy.
My Take
Maybe I was being naïve. Other people thought the Vols could lose this game. I was definitely not one of them.
I did not think Vanderbilt was good enough to beat Tennessee entering the game. However, Memorial Gymnasium is clearly a ridiculously tough place to play with its odd set up and, as is the case with nearly every game, the home team was clearly the beneficiary of some questionable calls.
The game changed my mind about the Commodores, and not in an obvious way. This game proved to me beyond a shadow of a doubt that Vandy will not be a threat when it comes to the NCAA tournament.
This team is very good in Nashville. Very close to unbeatable, but when they leave the comforts of home they will be done quickly.
ESPN's Jimmy Dykes said the ‘Dores could play their way up to a three-seed if all things go well. I sincerely hope they do get that high, because if they do I will score a lot of points in my bracket pools when they are upset by a 14-seed.
I don't think it's likely they will get that high, though. They aren't good away from home and a trip to Arkansas is on the horizon this weekend. Look for Vandy to drop that one and fall earlier than expected in both the SEC and NCAA tournaments.
One thing I do not want to hear following this game is Tennessee wasn't ready to play following Saturday night's game at Memphis. That's not a valid excuse.
The team will be forced to play on less rest next month in the Big Dance than they had to prepare for this game, so if that was really an issue a national title is out of the question.
However, this game did not change my feelings about Tennessee. I still believe the Vols will wind up as a one-seed and are one of three teams that can win it all this year.
And I also expect them to bounce back in a big way Sunday against Kentucky.
Comments
Thomas Prince commented, on February 27, 2008 at 2:10 a.m.:
You are entitled to your opinion. Memorial is the Fenway Park of college baseketball and a wonderful place to see a game. You may be right about Vandy. I don't think you are correct about UT. They can't hit foul shots. Also, Vandy played the game without its center. I know he is a learning freshman but he is a good freshman. I feel better than you tonight. The boys, who have to crack a book, won.
A UT graduate,
tp
Art VanDelay commented, on February 27, 2008 at 7:44 a.m.:
You vandy fans really need to get off your horse. The writers opinions is more true than you care to believe. A one-man show in foster can only take you so far, especially when he rarely shows up on the road. You make an excuse for your center, but I do recall him playing a full game in knoxville in the 20-point loss. I'll give you two wins TOPS in each post-season tourney, and that's being generous.
Oh, and go ahead and keep throwing around the classic, "crack a book" comments, I love it when vandy fans show their lack of class. Congrats on not being able to get into the ivy league school you really wanted but still having daddy's money to waste.
Ura Homer commented, on February 27, 2008 at 11:19 a.m.:
No "maybe" about you being naïve.
Anonymouse commented, on February 27, 2008 at 11:41 a.m.:
I hated to see us lose, but wasn't altogether surprised. Vandy always seems to put forth extra effort against us, and we usually struggle to stay ahead--even in football. That Vandy has knocked off so many #1 teams at home speaks to the atmosphere of Memorial Gym.
Is it really necessary to trot out the trite "we're smarter than you" arguments? Just how smart is it for someone to go hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for *undergrad* when they can get paid to go to a state school?
Last night was an exciting, stressful game. I look forward to the Vols returning home this weekend.
buddy commented, on February 27, 2008 at 1:18 p.m.:
you really think there are only 3 teams that can win the national championship? name them.
this is arguably the most wide open year in college hoops in a decade.
if tennessee is one of the 3, then texas must be another (they crushed tenn, beat UCLA and Kansas), and that leaves Memphis (who was a joey dorsey tackle away from beating the Vols), North Carolina, Kansas, UCLA.
You're going to have a hard time arguing that UNC, Texas, UCLA, Memphis, and Kansas don't all have a chance at winning the national championship. On any given night these teams have looked like a wash, and of the top 6 teams in the country the Vols still have the least top level (future NBA) talent...
buddy commented, on February 27, 2008 at 1:23 p.m.:
by the way, how did a vandy home game prove to you that they can't play on the road? ignorant logic there. if you've forgotten this was a sweet sixteen dores team last year, and that was without an all-SEC center... good luck picking Cornell to beat Vanderbilt in the tourney...
corey commented, on February 27, 2008 at 1:47 p.m.:
There's a reason the 'Dores are 18-0 at home and only 4-4 on the road. Those four road wins are against two of the SEC's worst, South Carolina and Georgia, and two other team's who have zero chance of making the tournament, DePaul and Toledo.
No Vandy didn't have Ogilvy on last year's sweet 16 team but they did have Byars. Oh by the way, he was last year's SEC Player of the Year. If you actually paid attention you'd realize Ogilvy actually hit a wall a long time ago. His last 20-point game came January 9, and he hasn't had 20 points in away from Nashville since November.
They live and die with what Foster does, and he averages over six points per game less when he's not at Memorial. When they leave Nashville they will have a hard time with any team that has a pulse.
And as for the comment on Vandy's athletes having to go to class, as has already been said, get off your high horse. How'd Mario Moore and his cocaine habit work out for you guys?
Stick to women's bowling.
buddy commented, on February 27, 2008 at 5:51 p.m.:
well they beat our beloved vols for 40 minutes, so running them into the ground makes little sense if you believe the vols are legit. let's see if vandy really bombs out in the first round...
sampsonite commented, on February 28, 2008 at 12:36 a.m.:
count on it.
ps...you and tprince just got owned.