Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball

The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Southeastern Conference (SEC)

Memorial Gymnasium

The Commodores play their home games in Memorial Gymnasium. Memorial Gymnasium was built in the early 1950s. It was dedicated as the campus memorial to students and alumni killed in World War II; a plaque commemorating those who died is displayed in the gym's north lobby.

At the time of the gym's construction, there was a serious discussion within the Vanderbilt community about whether the school should de-emphasize intercollegiate athletics and refocus on its academic program. As a compromise between those who advocated increased athletics competition and those who argued in favor of de-emphasis, the gymnasium was built to hold only about 9,000 seats, and it would be readily adaptable to other uses—significantly, as a possible concert hall.

Consequently, the gymnasium floor was built up above its surroundings, more in the nature of a stage. The areas out of bounds along the sidelines were very wide, in contrast with the small facility which it replaced, where the walls were right along the sidelines and players could scrape their shoulders bringing the ball up the court. This necessitated the placement of the benches at the end of the court, which was not highly unusual at the time.

In addition, each goal was anchored by two far-reaching beams attached to support columns, with extra support coming from cables stretching all the way to the gym's ceiling. In the case of a backboard shatter or beam fracture, replacing these goals would be highly difficult, compared to the usual goal setup at most venues.

Memorial Gym is well known for its unusual design. The end-of-the-floor bench location is now unique in major college basketball, and SEC coaches who travel to Memorial, along with coaches from other schools who have played at Vanderbilt as a post-season venue, have said that the unusual setup gives Vanderbilt a tremendous home court advantage, since no other facility in which opponents play is arranged in such a way.

Year-by-year season records Season Head coach Overall win Overall loss Overall pct. Conf. win Conf. loss Conf. pct. Conf. pos. Postseason Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association1900–01W. D. Weatherford22 1901–02W. D. Weatherford52 1902–03Grinnell Jones60 1903–04J. Hamilton61 1904–05No team 0 0.000 1905–06No scores recorded 00.000 1906–07Stein Stone61 1907–08W. L. Throop610 1908–09Ed Hamilton114 SIAA Champions1909–10R. B McGehee103 1910–11Zeke Martin82 1911–12Carl (Zeke) Martin99 1912–13Oscar G. Nelson34 1913–14G. T. Denton63 1914–15G. T. Denton66 1915–16G. T. Denton113 1916–17G. T. Denton38 1917–18Ralph Palmer63 1918–19Ralph Palmer82 1919–20G. T. Denton144 SIAA Champions1920–21G. T. Denton813 1921–22Wallace Wade88 Southern Conference1922–23Wallace Wade16820 1923–24Josh Cody71513 1924–25Josh Cody121343 1925–26Josh Cody81827 1926–27Josh Cody20471 Southern Conference Tournament Champions1927–28Johnny (Red) Floyd5725 1928–29Johnny (Red) Floyd41225 1929–30Garland Morrow61619 1930–31Garland Morrow16877 1931–32Josh Cody81157 Southeastern Conference1932–33Josh Cody148115 (3rd) 1933–34Josh Cody11685 (5th) 1934–35Josh Cody91196 (4th) 1935–36Josh Cody91494 (2nd) 1936–37Jim Buford61037 (11th) 1937–38Jim Buford91248 (10th) 1938–39Jim Buford14775 (6th) 1939–40Jim Buford101257 (10th) 1940–41Jim Buford8939 (11th) 1941–42Norm Cooper7938 (t-9th) 1942–43Norm Cooper10897 (6th) 1943–44Smokey Harper12300 .000 No formal SEC schedule1944–45Garland Morrow66 00 .000 No formal SEC schedule1945–46Garland Morrow31025 (9th) 1946–47Norm Cooper7847 (8th) 1947–48Bob Polk814411 (12th) 1948–49Bob Polk14895 (4th) 1949–50Bob Polk178113 (2nd) 1950–51Bob Polk198104 (t-2nd) 1951–52Bob Polk18995 (t-2nd) SEC Tournament Champions1952–53Bob Polk10958 (t-7th) 1953–54Bob Polk121059 (t-8th) 1954–55Bob Polk16695 (t-3rd) 1955–56Bob Polk194113 (3rd) 1956–57Bob Polk175104 (2nd) 1957–58Bob Polk141177 (7th) 1958–59Roy Skinner (acting)141086 (t-5th) 1959–60Bob Polk14977 (t-6th) 1960–61Bob Polk195104 (t-2nd) 1961–62Roy Skinner121268 (t-6th) 1962–63Roy Skinner16795 (4th) 1963–64Roy Skinner19686 (t-4th) 1964–65Roy Skinner244151 (1st) NCAA Elite Eight, SEC Champions1965–66Roy Skinner224133 (2nd) 1966–67Roy Skinner215144 (t-2nd) 1967–68Roy Skinner206126 (3rd) 1968–69Roy Skinner151199 (t-5th) 1969–70Roy Skinner1214810 (6th) 1970–71Roy Skinner131399 (t-4th) 1971–72Roy Skinner1610108 (4th) 1972–73Roy Skinner206135 (t-2nd) 1973–74Roy Skinner235153 (t-1st) NCAA Sweet 16, SEC Champions1974–75Roy Skinner1511108 (5th) 1975–76Roy Skinner1611126 (3rd) 1976–77Wayne Dobbs1016612 (t-6th) 1977–78Wayne Dobbs1017612(8th) 1978–79Wayne Dobbs189117 (t-3rd) 1979–80Richard Schmidt1313711 (t-6th) 1980–81Richard Schmidt1514711 (7th) 1981–82C. M. Newton1513711 (t-7th) 1982–83C. M. Newton191499 (t-4th) NIT Second Round1983–84C. M. Newton1415810 (t-7th) 1984–85C. M. Newton1117414 (10th) 1985–86C. M. Newton1315711 (7th) 1986–87C. M. Newton1816711 (t-8th) NIT Quarterfinals1987–88C. M. Newton2011108 (t-4th) NCAA Sweet 16 1988–89C. M. Newton1914126(t-2nd) NCAA First Round1989–90Eddie Fogler2114711 (t-7th) NIT Champions1990–91Eddie Fogler1713117 (4th) NCAA First Round Southeastern Conference (Eastern Division)1991–92Eddie Fogler1515610 (5th) NIT First Round1992–93Eddie Fogler286142 (1st) NCAA Sweet 16, SEC Champions1993–94Jan van Breda Kolff201297 (3rd) NIT Runners-up1994–95Jan van Breda Kolff1315610 (4th) 1995–96Jan van Breda Kolff181479 (4th) NIT Second Round1996–97Jan van Breda Kolff191297 (4th) NCAA First Round1997–98Jan van Breda Kolff201379 (t-4th) NIT Quarterfinals1998–99Jan van Breda Kolff1415511 (5th) 1999–2000Kevin Stallings191188 (4th) NIT First Round2000–01Kevin Stallings1515412 (6th) 2001–02Kevin Stallings1715610 (t-5th) NIT Second Round2002–03Kevin Stallings1118313 (6th) 2003–04Kevin Stallings231088 (t-3rd) NCAA Sweet 162004–05Kevin Stallings201488 (3rd) NIT Quarterfinals2005–06Kevin Stallings171379 (4th) NIT First Round2006–07Kevin Stallings2212106 (2nd) NCAA Sweet 162007–08Kevin Stallings268106 (3rd) NCAA First Round2008–09Kevin Stallings191288 (t-4th) 2009–10Kevin Stallings249124 (2nd) NCAA First Round2010–11Kevin Stallings231197 (3rd) NCAA Second Round Southeastern Conference2011–12 Kevin Stallings 25 11 10 6 (t-2nd)SEC Tournament Champions, NCAA Third Round2012–13 Kevin Stallings 16 17 8 10 (10th)2013–14 Kevin Stallings 15 15 7 11 (t-10th)2014–15 Kevin Stallings 21 14 9 9 (7th) NIT Quarterfinals2015–16 Kevin Stallings 19 14 11 7 (7th) NCAA First Four2016–17 Bryce Drew 19 16 10 8 (t-5th) NCAA Second Round2017–18 Bryce Drew 12 20 6 12 (13th) 2018–19 Bryce Drew 9 23 0 18 (14th) 2019–20 Jerry Stackhouse 11 20 3 15 (14th) 2020–21 Jerry Stackhouse 9 16 3 13 (14th) 2021–22 Jerry Stackhouse 19 17 7 11 (11th) NIT Quarterfinals2022–23 Jerry Stackhouse 22 15 11 7 (T-4th) NIT Quarterfinals2023–24 Jerry Stackhouse 9 23 4 14 (13th) 2024–25Mark Byington2013.606810.444(T-8th)NCAA Second Round Total overall record 1,696 1,269 760 768 16 NCAA Appearances, 14 NIT Appearances, 8 Conference Championships SEC record 1,452 1,069 727 721 16 NCAA Appearances, 14 NIT Appearances, 2 SEC Tournament Championships, 3 SEC Regular Season Championships SoCon record 102 112 33 47 1 SoCon Tournament Champions SIAA record 142 88 0 0 .000 2 SIAA Championships

Note: Fansonly.com reports Vanderbilt's overall record in 1937–38 as 9–12, while SECSports.com reports it as 10–11.

Source: Soconsports.com

Source: SECSports.com

Source: Fansonly.com

Vanderbilt coaching record Season Head coach Overall win Overall loss Overall pct. Conf. win Conf. loss Conf. pct. Postseason NIT/NCAA1Mark Byington2013.606810.4441 NCAA4Jerry Stackhouse 61 69 2446 2 NIT3Bryce Drew4059.4041638.2961 NCAA 17Kevin Stallings332 219 138142 5 NIT, 7 NCAA, 1 SEC Tournament Championship6 Jan van Breda Kolff 104 81 43 53 3 NIT, 1 NCAA 4Eddie Fogler 81 48 3830 2 NIT (1 NIT Championship), 2 NCAA, 1 SEC Championship 8C. M. Newton 129 115 64 80 2 NIT, 2 NCAA2 Richard Schmidt 28 27 14 22 3Wayne Dobbs 38 42 23 31 16Roy Skinner 278 135 171 972 NCAA, 2 SEC Championships 13 Bob Polk 197 106 10775 1 SEC Tournament Championship1 Smokey Harper 12 3 00 .000 3 Norm Cooper 24 25 1622 5 Jim Buford 47 50 22 36 4Garland "Gus" Morrow 31 40 1021 2 Johnny (Red) Floyd 9 19 410 9 Josh Cody 98 100 5641 1 Southern Conference Tournament Championship2Wallace Wade 2416.6002 01Ray Morrison82.80000.0002Ralph Palmer 145 00 .000 6G. T. Denton 26200 0.0001 SIAA Championship1Oscar G. Nelson 34 00 .000 2Carl (Zeke) Martin17 11 00.0001R. B McGehee 10 3 0 0 .000 1W. L. Throop 6 100 0 .000 1J. N. (Stein) Stone6 10 0 .0002 E. J. Hamilton 175 00 .000 1 SIAA Championship 1Grinnell Jones6 0 0 0 .000 2W. D. Weatherford 7 4 00 .000

Conference affiliations Vanderbilt has been affiliated with the following conferences.

Independent (1890–1891) SIAA (1892–1921) Southern Conference (1922–1932) Southeastern Conference (1933–present)

Conference championships Vanderbilt has won five conference season championships, three conference tournament championships, and one division season championship. The Commodores have won eight conference championships in total.

1909SIAA Season ChampionshipE. J. Hamilton11-45-01920 SIAA Season ChampionshipG. T. Denton14-46-01927Southern Tournament ChampionshipJosh Cody20-47-11951SEC Tournament ChampionshipBob Polk18-99-51965SEC Season ChampionshipRoy Skinner24-415-11974SEC Season Championship23-515-31993SEC Season ChampionshipSEC East Division ChampionshipEddie Fogler28-614-22012SEC Tournament ChampionshipKevin Stallings25-1110-6

First college basketball game played Vanderbilt defeated Nashville YMCA in a score of 9-6, on 7 February 1893, in the first college basketball game played in history. Vanderbilt's start to college basketball occurred just two years after Dr. James Naismith originated the game of basketball at Springfield (Mass.) College.

Retired numbers

Only three male Commodores have had their jerseys retired by the university:

No. Player Pos. Career Ref. Perry Wallace SF 1967–70 Vanderbilt to Retire Foster's No. 32, Vucommodores.com, 16 December 2021 Shan Foster SG, SF 2004–08 Clyde Lee PF, C 1964–66

Clyde Lee was perhaps the greatest player in Commodore history. He averaged the most points per game in school history and the balconies on the south end of Memorial Gymnasium are commonly referred to as the "balconies that Clyde built". Perry Wallace was the first African-American basketball player in the Southeastern Conference, and the first African American to compete in the SEC for his entire period of athletic eligibility.

Postseason

NCAA tournament results The Commodores have appeared in the NCAA tournament 17 times. Their combined record is 11–18.

1965 Sweet SixteenElite Eight DePaulMichigan W 83–78 OTL 85–87 1974 Sweet SixteenRegional 3rd Place Game MarquetteNotre Dame L 61–69L 88–118 1988 #7 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #10 Utah State#2 Pittsburgh#6 Kansas W 80–77W 80–74 OTL 64–77 1989 #8 Round of 64 #9 Notre Dame L 65–81 1991 #9 Round of 64 #8 Georgetown L 60–70 1993 #3 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #14 Boise State#6 Illinois#7 Temple W 92–72W 85–68L 59–67 1997 #7 Round of 64 #10 Xavier L 68–80 2004 #6 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #11 Western Michigan#3 NC State#2 Connecticut W 71–58W 75–73L 53–73 2007 #6 Round of 64Round of 32Sweet Sixteen #11 George Washington#3 Washington State#2 Georgetown W 77–44W 78–74 2OTL 65–66 2008 #4 Round of 64 #13 Siena L 62–83 2010 #4 Round of 64 #13 Murray State L 65–66 2011 #5 Round of 64 #12 Richmond L 66–69 2012 #5 Round of 64Round of 32 #12 Harvard#4 Wisconsin W 79–70L 57–60 2016 #11 First Four #11 Wichita State L 50–70 2017 #9 Round of 64 #8 Northwestern L 66–68 2025 #10 Round of 64 #7 Saint Mary's L 56–59 2026 #5 Round of 64Round of 32 #12 McNeese#4 Nebraska W 78–68L 72–74

NIT results