Vanderbilt Commodores
Overall Rank: #25
Conference Rank: #6 SEC
Vanderbilt Team Page
Vanderbilt comes into the season with three of five starters returning after yet another successful season that saw the 'Dores make the NCAA Tournament. The team has made the last 13 tournaments, including a second round loss last season to Connecticut. Eight letter winners return, but of the six that don't only two truly played a big role on last year's squad.
2012-13 Record: 21-12, 9-7
2012-13 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Melanie Balcomb
Coach Record: 259-106 at Vanderbilt, 422-210 overall
Strengths:
Vanderbilt welcomes back experience at the top, as two of its top three scorers from last season, Christina Foggie and Jasmine Lister, return. Foggie was second on the team with 13.4 ppg and led the squad with 42 steals. Lister, who was third on the squad by averaging just over 12 ppg, is the team's leader and point guard. The senior averaged more than five assists per game and racked up 168 helpers on the year. The team relied on her to play heavy minutes and that was seen by her average of nearly 37 mpg. Lister came alive in conference play, leading the team with a.415 three-point shooting average. Vanderbilt also brings back reserves who saw a lot of time, including two who started double digit games, Kady Schrann and Heather Bowe, each averaged more than six points per game. The team might look to Kendall Shaw more, as she may look to use her 6'4 frame in the paint. The team also brings in an impressive recruiting class that will try to help spell the veterans.
Weaknesses:
While the Commodores return Foggie and Lister, they will have to replace Tiffany Clarke, who with an average of 16.6 ppg, was the top scorer on the team. With her performance last season, Clarke earned Honorable All-America honors by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Replacing her 8.4 rebounds per game will be hard as well. If losing Clarke wasn't enough, last season's second best rebounder, Elan Brown, is also gone. Brown started every game and averaged over six points a game and 5.5 rebounds a contest. The team will need to have the aforementioned players step up to replace these players, especially on the glass. Luckily the squad has five players who are 6'0 or taller, including the 6'4 Shaw.
Final Projection:
Vanderbilt brings back a talented squad which will fight to be in the top five in the SEC. They will be tested with games against Duke, Dayton and potentially Wisconsin before starting SEC play. The Commodores welcome a very impressive group of freshmen. Rebekah Dahlman comes in from Minnesota after being named a McDonald's All-American, Miss Minnesota Player of the Year and two-time Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year. Dahlman is the first player in Minnesota prep history to score over 5,000 points. She was the No.16 player overall and a five star according to ESPN. Marqu'es Webb is a 6'1 forward who was also named her state's player of the year, as she was named Miss Basketball and the Gatorade Player of the Year in Alabama. She was ranked as No. 21 overall and a four star. The third recruit, Kylee Smith, finished 10th all-time in Georgia scoring and was the 62nd overall player and a four star.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Jasmine Lister, Senior, Guard, 12.2 ppg, 5.1 apg
Christina Foggie, Senior, Guard, 13.4 points per game
Kady Schrann, Junior, Guard, 6.4 points per game
Heather Bowe, Sophomore, Forward, 6.2 points per game
Kendall Shaw, Sophomore, Center, 3.5 points per game
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 65.7 (94th in nation, 9th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 58.6 (95, 6)
Field-Goal Percentage: 42.6 (41, 5)
Field-Goal Defense: 38.4 (155, 9)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 4.9 (174, 8)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 34.2 (40, 2)
Free-Throw Percentage: 71.7 (90, 2)
Rebound Margin: 5.3 (44, 3)
Assists Per Game: 14.9 (55, 5)
Turnovers Per Game: 17.4 (199, 13)
Madness 2014 WNBA Draft Rankings:
#27 Christina Foggie
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