Vanderbilt didn’t have to sweat the result Friday night, but Mark Byington still walked away with plenty to chew on.
The Commodores rolled past Prairie View A&M, 89-62, at Memorial Gymnasium to move to 4-0, and the game was never really in doubt. Vanderbilt led by as many as 45, never trailed and spent long stretches looking every bit like the bigger, faster, more physical team on the floor. At times, Prairie View A&M looked overwhelmed by the pressure, the active hands and the way Vanderbilt kept turning defense into easy offense.
That part fit the script. This is the kind of game Byington built this roster to win - by imposing size and strength and making life miserable for the other side. For stretches late in the first half and early in the second, Vanderbilt looked like it could get whatever it wanted, even to the point of piling up dunks on the other end.
But the second half left a different taste.
Prairie View A&M won the final 20 minutes, and Byington made it clear afterward that he wasn’t pleased. He called the performance sloppy, suggested Vanderbilt needs stronger leadership and said he’ll adjust the rotation based on what he saw Friday, for better or worse. The frustration carried through the entire press conference, and the message was plain: this group still has growing up to do.
There were bright spots, though, and two of them stood out in a big way.
Chandler Bing and Jayden Leverett both posted career highs and looked like real difference-makers. Bing brought full-court defense and kept doing the right things while plenty of his teammates were uneven.
Leverett played with force and used his size well all night. Leverett finished with eight points on 4-for-4 shooting, while Bing scored 15 on 5-for-7 shooting.
Sebastian Williams-Adams also chipped in with nine points on 4-for-5 shooting, giving Vanderbilt another useful piece in a night that otherwise left Byington searching for more consistency.
The rotation picture, at least for now, looks like it’s still taking shape. Byington said not everyone who has played through the first four games will keep the same role.
Tyler Tanner and Ace Glass appear set as the main minute-eaters, with Bing next in line. Williams-Adams, Berke Buyuktuncel, Bangot Dak, T.O.
Barrett and Leverett seem to have earned at least some standing in the group. Ant Brown and Jackson Sheffield are still in the mix, but their margins may not be as wide if they aren’t affecting winning the way they need to.
So Vanderbilt leaves Friday with the record intact and the margin of victory in hand, but also with a reminder that the standard inside the program is higher than simply blowing out a buy-game opponent. Byington made sure of that.
In Other News...
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Vanderbilts Alabama Upset Hopes Suddenly Feel Tied To One Situation
Vanderbilts trip to Alabama has taken on a different feel with the Crimson Tides quarterback situation suddenly in question. The matchup already carried plenty of intrigue after the Commodores recent play and the way both teams have stacked up statistically, but the uncertainty under center for Alabama adds another layer to a game that was going to be closely watched anyway.
For Vanderbilt, the timing matters because this is the kind of opening that can change the tone of a season if the Commodores are sharp enough to take advantage. The discussion around the game has already turned to injuries, recent form and who has the edge on paper, and now the spotlight is on whether Alabama can settle things at quarterback before kickoff. If it cannot, Vanderbilts upset hopes will feel a lot more realistic than they did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]