ABOUT VANDERBILT
• Since taking on the Vols in the middle of last month, Vanderbilt is 2-6 overall and has fallen in four of its last five outings. However, all four of its losses, which bookended a 21-point win over Mississippi State, have been by six points or less.
• Like in January's matchup, the Commodores will be led by standout sophomore guard, Scotty Pippen Jr. Pippen Jr. leads the Commodores and ranks second in the SEC in scoring, averaging 20.5 points. He is fresh off 21- and 24-point performances in contests against Kentucky and Alabama last week. Pippen Jr. also leads Vandy and ranks second in the conference in assists, dishing out an average of 5.2 per game. On the defensive end, the Los Angeles native has recorded an average of 1.7 steals per game, which ranks third in the SEC.
• Under the basket, classmate Dylan Disu has complemented Pippen, ranking second on the team and 10th in the SEC in scoring with 15.0 points per game. On the glass, Disu has been dominant, leading both the Commodores and the SEC with an eye-popping 9.2 rebounds per game. Disu is also averaging 1.2 blocks and 1.1 steals per game on the defensive end.
• Off the bench, VU has gotten consistent production from sophomore Jordan Wright, who is the team's third-leading scorer (8.2 ppg) and second-leading rebounder (4.3 rpg). Wright has also dished out 1.8 assists per game while playing primarily in the frontcourt.
• Vanderbilt is nicknamed the Commodores in honor of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his fortunes in shipping. Commodore was a term used by the U.S. Navy during the mid-to-late 19th century, hence Vandy's use of the phrase, "Anchor Down."
