This is where, as your not-particularly-neutral basketball writer, I preview the Vanderbilt Commodores as though they are any other SEC team. Don’t worry, there will be plenty of more in-depth content coming. This is your 20,000-foot view.
Two years ago, Vanderbilt suckered Pitt into hiring Kevin Stallings to replace Jamie Dixon, and then hired former Valparaiso head coach Bryce Drew to replace him. With a team entirely recruited by Stallings, Drew went 19-16 in his first year — which doesn’t sound terribly impressive, but the Commodores did stick it to Jerry Palm by becoming the first team to ever make the NCAA Tournament with 15 regular-season losses.