Rivalry night is back in Nashville, and Vanderbilt gets Memphis in a matchup that already carries a little extra juice after last season’s overtime finish in Memphis.
The Commodores and Tigers will wrap up their home-and-home series Tuesday at Memorial Gymnasium, with both teams entering at 2-0 after strong opening-week wins. Tipoff is set for 6:15 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
Vanderbilt is coming off a 74-51 win over Wake Forest, while Memphis also stayed perfect with a key home victory over VCU.
The Commodores still hold the edge in the series, leading the all-time matchup 9-7.
There is one injury note for Vanderbilt heading into the game: guard Gabe Nesmith remains out with a leg injury and will miss at least a couple of months, according to Mark Byington after the Bellarmine opener.
If a player goes down during the game, updates will be tracked as they come in.
Vanderbilt’s last outing also drew NBA scouts to the building, and Tyler Tanner showed enough in that game to give a glimpse of his next-level potential even though it was not his sharpest night. The Commodores also showed against Wake Forest that they do not need Tanner to carry everything; the supporting cast was enough to get the job done.
Another bright spot from the early season has been freshman guard Ant Brown Jr., who had his first big night in Memorial Gymnasium and earned a standing ovation from the crowd for his performance.
In Other News...
Jared Curtis Gives Vanderbilt A Reason To Believe On Offense
Jared Curtis had reason to smile after Vanderbilts 25-23 win over Mississippi State, a result that gave the freshman quarterback his first conference victory and offered a clearer glimpse of what the offense can become. Curtis pointed to the Commodores improved running game and cleaner execution in key moments, while Clark Lea said the young quarterback has grown into a more confident presence as the season has gone on.
Curtis has also become more vocal as he settles in, a meaningful development for a team still trying to establish consistency on that side of the ball. For Vanderbilt, the encouraging part is not just the win itself but the way Curtis is starting to connect his own comfort level with the offenses broader progress, leaving the Commodores with something tangible to build on as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces A Brutal SEC Test Against Alabama's Surging Offense
Alabamas win over LSU in Week 10 only sharpened the focus on what comes next for Vanderbilt, because the Crimson Tide arrive in Nashville looking every bit like a team that has found its rhythm on offense. The matchup is a difficult one on paper for the Commodores, who have already had a rough go of it in SEC play and now draw a ranked opponent with real momentum.
Keelon Russell has been a big part of that surge for Alabama, giving the Tide a steady presence at quarterback as they keep stacking wins. For Vanderbilt, the challenge is less about style points and more about finding a way to make the game competitive against a team that has already shown it can handle high-level competition and punish mistakes. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Faces Early Rival Test With Unbeaten Start On The Line
A quick early-season test is waiting Tuesday night at Memorial Gymnasium, where No. 22/19 Vanderbilt will host in-state rival Memphis at 6:15 p.m. CT. The Commodores have opened 2-0 and have already shown the kind of defensive edge that can travel into bigger games, while Tyler Tanners recent double-double gave them another sign of balance as the schedule begins to tighten.
Memphis arrives unbeaten as well, setting up a matchup that carries a little more weight than a typical November nonconference game. For Vanderbilt, it is the first real chance to protect its start against a rival with its own momentum, with the game set for SEC Network+ and radio coverage on 94.9 The Fan and the Vanderbilt Athletics app. [Read more 🡒]