Previously Underachieving Vanderbilt Upsets #8 Texas A&M

Vanderbilt’s basketball team began the season with high expectations. The Commodores were picked to finish second in the SEC according to Those In the Know, and they were ranked 18th in the country in the preseason poll.

However, when the games started, the season didn’t go according to plan. The Commodores were fair to middling, a status that makes it difficult for a team to make it to the NCAA Tournament. Going into Vandy’s Feburary 4th game against #8 Texas A&M, the Commodores had played five games against teams ranked in the Top 25, and lost all five games. That string of futility against ranked opponents actually stretched back to 2012.

But things were different this time. Vanderbilt finally showed up for a game against a ranked opponent, handily beating A&M 77-60 in Nashville. Four Commodores scored in double figures, led by forward Jeff Roberson’s career high 20 points. Vanderbilt improved to 13-9 overall, 5-4 in the Southeast Conference, while Texas A&M lost for the fourth time this season, (18-4, 7-2) and second time in three games.

If Vanderbilt can put a good run together, there’s still time to get in a good position for selection to the NCAA Tournament. As an added bonus, the Southeast Conference Tournament will be held in Nashville. The opportunity is there if Vandy has indeed put it all together.