Vanderbilt Commodores
SEC (22-9, 9-7)
In ten years as Vanderbilt’s head coach, Melanie Balcomb has led the Commodores to ten NCAA Tournaments. That is an impressive track record. However, in the previous nine tournament appearances, Vanderbilt has never reached the Elite Eight. Four times they have been stopped at the Sweet Sixteen. Is this the year they can break that tradition and make a deeper run in March?
Big Wins: 11/26 Oklahoma (78-66), 1/26 Georgia (68-48), 2/9 Tennessee (93-79)
Bad Losses: 12/18 at North Carolina State (59-66), 1/22 South Carolina (60-65), 2/23 at LSU (66-69)
Coach: Melanie Balcomb (10 seasons at Vanderbilt)
Why They Can Surprise:
If they are to win more than two games, it will be on the shoulders of the team’s great overall shooting numbers. On the perimeter Christina Foggie and Jasmine Lister both shoot over 34 percent from beyond the arc, although Lister ended the season on a slight shooting slump. Those two are also aggressive and effective getting to the basket. Foggie, a 5-9 sophomore, has developed into the go-to-scorer for the Commodores and she will take the big shots and she usually makes her shots. Lister, another sophomore, is a superb point guard and has emerged as a quality secondary scorer who is dangerous from long range and does a great job getting into the paint and making things happen. Forward Tiffany Clarke and center Stephanie Holzer boost the team’s shooting percentage under the basket. Both are very good interior scorers and quality rebounders. Holzer, at 6-4, is an intimidating presence on the other end of the floor as well. When all four of those players are hitting their shots, Vanderbilt will score in bunches.
Why They Can Disappoint:
But for a young backcourt led by Lister and Foggie, that also includes freshman Kady Schrann, the pressures of March are an entire different story. Getting shots to fall can be a challenge. The sophomores have played in one NCAA Tournament game where they got beat pretty bad by Louisville last season. Turnovers are another issue that the backcourt has to keep under control. This is a group that can be a little sloppy with the ball at times and missing out on a possession here or there in March could be the difference between a win and a loss. This may not be the year the Commodores go beyond the Sweet Sixteen, or even get to the Sweet Sixteen, but this is a young team and they will be back.
Probable Starters:
Jasmine Lister, Sophomore, Guard, 12.2 ppg, 5.3 apg
Christina Foggie, Sophomore, Guard, 17.8 ppg, 2.1 apg
Kady Schrann, Freshman, Guard, 7.0 ppg, 1.7 apg
Elan Brown, Junior, Guard, 5.6 ppg, 1.5 apg, 5.0 rpg
Stephanie Holzer, Sophomore, Center, 11.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.4 bpg
Key Roleplayers:
Tiffany Clarke, Junior, Forward, 11.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg
Jordan Coleman, Senior, Forward, 1.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg
Clair Watkins, Freshman, Forward, 3.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 72.4 (24th in nation, 3rd in conference)
Scoring Defense: 60.6 (146, 10)
Field-Goal Percentage: 47.0 (5, 1)
Field-Goal Defense: 36.8 (72, 3)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.4 (112, 2)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 38.1 (4, 1)
Free-Throw Percentage: 72.8 (56, 1)
Rebound Margin: 4.2 (62, 5)
Assists Per Game: 15.7 (23, 1)
Turnovers Per Game: 17.5 (181, 8)
Recent Postseason Appearances:
Vanderbilt 2011 NCAA Round of 64 loss to Louisville
Vanderbilt 2010 NCAA Round of 64 win over DePaul
Vanderbilt 2010 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Xavier
Vanderbilt 2009 NCAA Round of 64 win over Western Carolina
Vanderbilt 2009 NCAA Round of 32 win over Kansas State
Vanderbilt 2009 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Maryland
Vanderbilt 2008 NCAA Round of 64 win over Montana
Vanderbilt 2008 NCAA Round of 32 win over West Virginia
Vanderbilt 2008 NCAA Regional Semifinal loss to Maryland
Vanderbilt 2007 NCAA Round of 64 win over Delaware State
Vanderbilt 2007 NCAA Round of 32 loss to Bowling Green
*all team stats through 3/1
See All Women’s Basketball Postseason Capsules
