Good game, Cats!

[Friedas_Boss]

I felt like this would be a tough one at Rupp and it was. What I didn't realize was how well the Cats would play and that's because Mark Pope is a great coach. The Wildcats had one huge mismatch going into the game and that was Oweh. What Pope did next was exploit the Williams and Carr mismatches, which was brilliant. Williams and Carr both have 3 - 4 inch advantages on our two tallest players, we have ONLY two bigs and zero depth so Pope just pounded those two matches ups in addition to Oweh. We were completely eFF'd at that point.

Our starting center was hurt prior to the beginning of the season and we just continue to get crushed because of it. 2 bigs, both are small and if the refs start calling fouls, we're done (see UTjr) and because of that, they defend trying to avoid fouls, also bad.

I love our team but we ain't beating any good teams on the road for the above reasons.

On a neutral floor, where the crowd isn't as much of a factor, I feel like we can dictate a little more, but the truth is we're a good defensive big away from being a really good team.

Also, we shot like ass... again. We can't win when Edwards, Nickel, and McGlockton are 4 for 17 from 3.... OUCH.

Cats got another good win, no surprise there. You've got a great coach and a lot of gutsy players, I expect that y'all can make a run in March!!

Best of luck, homies.

 

[ala_kat2]

I felt like this would be a tough one at Rupp and it was. What I didn't realize was how well the Cats would play and that's because Mark Pope is a great coach. The Wildcats had one huge mismatch going into the game and that was Oweh. What Pope did next was exploit the Williams and Carr mismatches, which was brilliant. Williams and Carr both have 3 - 4 inch advantages on our two tallest players, we have ONLY two bigs and zero depth so Pope just pounded those two matches ups in addition to Oweh. We were completely eFF'd at that point.

Our starting center was hurt prior to the beginning of the season and we just continue to get crushed because of it. 2 bigs, both are small and if the refs start calling fouls, we're done (see UTjr) and because of that, they defend trying to avoid fouls, also bad.

I love our team but we ain't beating any good teams on the road for the above reasons.

On a neutral floor, where the crowd isn't as much of a factor, I feel like we can dictate a little more, but the truth is we're a good defensive big away from being a really good team.

Also, we shot like ass... again. We can't win when Edwards, Nickel, and McGlockton are 4 for 17 from 3.... OUCH.

Cats got another good win, no surprise there. You've got a great coach and a lot of gutsy players, I expect that y'all can make a run in March!!

Best of luck, homies.

Pretty accurate analysis of the teams. What surprised us Cat fans is the play of little-used sub Chandler who played with energy and good defense while scoring 11 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Visiting teams at Rupp usually shoot lights out, and I was surprised that Vandy shot poorly, especially in 2nd half.

 

[westerncat]

Frideas-Boss have you heard anything on your coach going to Indiana ?

 

[Friedas_Boss]

Pretty accurate analysis of the teams. What surprised us Cat fans is the play of little-used sub Chandler who played with energy and good defense while scoring 11 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Visiting teams at Rupp usually shoot lights out, and I was surprised that Vandy shot poorly, especially in 2nd half.

We aren't a very good shooting team, and we aren't very tall. We play hard and we fight hard, but when your shooting lets you down on the road against a quality opponent, shit like last night happens.

Moving on!

Gotta beat Ole Miss!

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

We aren't a very good shooting team, and we aren't very tall. We play hard and we fight hard, but when your shooting lets you down on the road against a quality opponent, shit like last night happens.

Moving on!

Gotta beat Ole Miss!

Good luck. Cheering for VU to beat everyone not named Kentucky

 

[Friedas_Boss]

-Boss have you heard anything on your coach going to Indiana ?

I've heard they might want him.

I'd be pretty surprised if he wanted to leave Vanderbilt for Indiana though. Things have changed, this isn't 20 years ago. IU used to have a lot of advantages over Vanderbilt but I'm not sure which ones they have now other than being a state school with more fans on day 1. I'll add that our fanbase was eroded by 7 bad years of football and basketball and then VU making politically based Covid decisions that had a lot of fans leave, but if we begin to win again, we'll pack Memorial Gym with VU fans again. Byington makes a lot at VU and I don't think Indiana can pay more than we can. We have NIL and are using it so that's an area we used to would have been at a disadvantage that we aren't now. All of our games are on National TV being in the SEC. We don't deny kids for academics the way we used to.

It's just a whole new world for us, we finally have a level playing field (we never paid players when other big programs we competed against did) so if Byington leaves, it would be a pretty big surprise.

Also, I know we write our contracts where the buyout is the total per year times the remaining years. That would be in the range of $15,000,000 but could be as much as 20 million.

 

[ImTheVillageIdiot]

I've heard they might want him.

I'd be pretty surprised if he wanted to leave Vanderbilt for Indiana though. Things have changed, this isn't 20 years ago. IU used to have a lot of advantages over Vanderbilt but I'm not sure which ones they have now other than being a state school with more fans on day 1. Byington makes a lot at VU and I don't think Indiana can pay more than we can. We have NIL and are using it so that's an area we used to would have been at a disadvantage that we aren't now. All of our games are on National TV being in the SEC. We don't deny kids for academics the way we used to.

It's just a whole new world for us, we finally have a level playing field (we never paid players when other big programs we competed against did) so if Byington leaves, it would be a pretty big surprise.

Also, I know we write our contracts where the buyout is the total per year times the remaining years. That would be in the range of $15,000,000 but could be as much as 20 million.

Dang it! I really wanted to post Bye-ington, but now that will have to wait

 

[LineSkiCat14]

Yeah I'd much rather stay at Vandy than go to Indiana and deal with that pressure. At least so soon for Byington. Other jobs will open up, and Indiana is really in the pits. It's going to take a long time to claw them out.

Hmm Prestigious school in Nashville.. or Indiana's state school in the cultural hotbed that is Indianapolis..???

 

[crawfords corner]

Anything is possible. Indiana is the better job historically. However, what ties does the man have to Indiana that would make him more successful there than Vanderbilt. Byington has been coaching in the South/Southeast I think his entire coaching career. Vanderbilt makes more sense for him imo.

 

[pauled]

I've heard they might want him.

I'd be pretty surprised if he wanted to leave Vanderbilt for Indiana though. Things have changed, this isn't 20 years ago. IU used to have a lot of advantages over Vanderbilt but I'm not sure which ones they have now other than being a state school with more fans on day 1. I'll add that our fanbase was eroded by 7 bad years of football and basketball and then VU making politically based Covid decisions that had a lot of fans leave, but if we begin to win again, we'll pack Memorial Gym with VU fans again. Byington makes a lot at VU and I don't think Indiana can pay more than we can. We have NIL and are using it so that's an area we used to would have been at a disadvantage that we aren't now. All of our games are on National TV being in the SEC. We don't deny kids for academics the way we used to.

It's just a whole new world for us, we finally have a level playing field (we never paid players when other big programs we competed against did) so if Byington leaves, it would be a pretty big surprise.

Also, I know we write our contracts where the buyout is the total per year times the remaining years. That would be in the range of $15,000,000 but could be as much as 20 million.

Indiana is a much bigger and better job than Vanderbilt! A good young coach can build a championship contender at Indiana! And I’m definitely no Indiana fan, but it’s a top job for someone!

 

[Friedas_Boss]

Indiana is a much bigger and better job than Vanderbilt! A good young coach can build a championship contender at Indiana! And I’m definitely no Indiana fan, but it’s a top job for someone!

Explain what advantage(s) IU has over Vanderbilt to build a title contender?

You seem to really know a lot about the modern game.

 

[BBUK]

They call him Fred.....

 

[Digger-Cat]

I felt like this would be a tough one at Rupp and it was. What I didn't realize was how well the Cats would play and that's because Mark Pope is a great coach. The Wildcats had one huge mismatch going into the game and that was Oweh. What Pope did next was exploit the Williams and Carr mismatches, which was brilliant. Williams and Carr both have 3 - 4 inch advantages on our two tallest players, we have ONLY two bigs and zero depth so Pope just pounded those two matches ups in addition to Oweh. We were completely eFF'd at that point.

Our starting center was hurt prior to the beginning of the season and we just continue to get crushed because of it. 2 bigs, both are small and if the refs start calling fouls, we're done (see UTjr) and because of that, they defend trying to avoid fouls, also bad.

I love our team but we ain't beating any good teams on the road for the above reasons.

On a neutral floor, where the crowd isn't as much of a factor, I feel like we can dictate a little more, but the truth is we're a good defensive big away from being a really good team.

Also, we shot like ass... again. We can't win when Edwards, Nickel, and McGlockton are 4 for 17 from 3.... OUCH.

Cats got another good win, no surprise there. You've got a great coach and a lot of gutsy players, I expect that y'all can make a run in March!!

Best of luck, homies.

I really wish Vandy finished off the job last Saturday. That would have been a massive win and would have really done some damage to Tennessee.
Byington is a heck of a coach, hope you guys hang on to him. He's legit.

 

[Friedas_Boss]

I really wish Vandy finished off the job last Saturday. That would have been a massive win and would have really done some damage to Tennessee.
Byington is a heck of a coach, hope you guys hang on to him. He's legit.

The “hope you keep him” stuff is a little weird. I know you’re being sincere but this isn’t 1980’s Vanderbilt vs 1980’s Indiana. We have all the resources, we’re allowed to cheat and pay players now and Byington can win a National Title just as easily in Nashville as he can in Bloomington, Indiana.

 

[ukwazoo]

GGs

 

[Friedas_Boss]

GGs

I am 49 so I had to google “GGs.”

Are you saying, “good games?” If so, thanks. 1-1 vs a great program like UK is an acceptable result.

 

[BlueSince92]

@Friedas_Boss tell you what, for a short team without your starting center, you all rebound well.

 

[Digger-Cat]

The “hope you keep him” stuff is a little weird. I know you’re being sincere but this isn’t 1980’s Vanderbilt vs 1980’s Indiana. We have all the resources, we’re allowed to cheat and pay players now and Byington can win a National Title just as easily in Nashville as he can in Bloomington, Indiana.

Meh, you're still Vanderbilt, it's not any kind of a destination job, I'm not sure why you're trying to sell Vandy as some top notch job that has some NIL advantage. Everyone has NIL.

 

[Friedas_Boss]

Meh, you're still Vanderbilt, it's not any kind of a destination job, I'm not sure why you're trying to sell Vandy as some top notch job that has some NIL advantage. Everyone has NIL.

Did you notice anything different about the football team last year?

Things are a little different now.

 

[Cold Stout Beer]

Explain what advantage(s) IU has over Vanderbilt to build a title contender?

You seem to really know a lot about the modern game.

So the only reason you're back is to smart off to people thinking you might lose your coach and remind us that splitting the season series with KY is a win for you.


🤡

 

[catsfanbgky]

So the only reason you're back is to smart off to people thinking you might lose your coach and remind us that splitting the season series with KY is a win for you.


🤡

No he was very civil in his post, giving us props for the win, the OTHER post is the one who was smarting off. Quit be a douche, he didn't start the BS, he just posted his opinion. Just because he is a Vandy fan on our board, doesn't mean he is not allowed to post it. Especially when he was asked for it.

 

[ukwazoo]

I am 49 so I had to google “GGs.”

Are you saying, “good games?” If so, thanks. 1-1 vs a great program like UK is an acceptable result.

Lol yes

 

[CHAMPCAT11]

So the only reason you're back is to smart off to people thinking you might lose your coach and remind us that splitting the season series with KY is a win for you.


🤡

Totally disagree. The guy’s a good poster. You like to stir the pot. Some rivals come here to be jerks, OP doesn’t do that.

 

[bucsrule8872]

I usually don’t like any rival fans coming over to our board. Usually they just want to talk smack and troll us.

But…

OP is a rare exception to the rule. Him and GermantownDawg are about the only rival fans I can tolerate. They are respectful and don’t usually talk crap (unless provoked).

 

[CastleRubric]

Meh, you're still Vanderbilt, it's not any kind of a destination job, I'm not sure why you're trying to sell Vandy as some top notch job that has some NIL advantage. Everyone has NIL.

It does beg the question of who has unique NIL budget advantages over others though

I remember a lot of ppl talking about Tx A&Ms "oil money" & how they outspent everyone in football - seems like OK / TX and other SW schools may have similar resources though

Notre Dame?
Do they get Vatican flow down funds for NIL?

Service Academy teams?
Do they have federal funding that diverts to NIL?

SMU sure seemed ready to NIL-it-Up ....you could argue they were pioneers there


I guess it comes down to what boosters are willing to compile & spend - I'm just curious about the NIL landscape and where there may be genuine distinctions resource wise

Of course having the $$ and scouting the right talent & best fits are totally different skills

Miami FL is a smaller private university right?
Seems they would have less NIL $ than UF

Really amazing how fast it all changed (and escalated!)

 

[Friedas_Boss]

It does beg the question of who has unique NIL budget advantages over others though

I remember a lot of ppl talking about Tx A&Ms "oil money" & how they outspent everyone in football - seems like OK / TX and other SW schools may have similar resources though

Notre Dame?
Do they get Vatican flow down funds for NIL?

Service Academy teams?
Do they have federal funding that diverts to NIL?

SMU sure seemed ready to NIL-it-Up ....you could argue they were pioneers there


I guess it comes down to what boosters are willing to compile & spend - I'm just curious about the NIL landscape and where there may be genuine distinctions resource wise

Of course having the $$ and scouting the right talent & best fits are totally different skills

Miami FL is a smaller private university right?
Seems they would have less NIL $ than UF

Really amazing how fast it all changed (and escalated!)

Well said.

Our 2023 Vandy football team paid 2 players and the entire team spent a total of $200,000 on NIL. We were 3-9.

Fast forward to 2024 and we spent $8,000,000 on the team and we beat Bama, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, won at Kentucky at night and beat Auburn at Auburn. We also lost by 3 to Texas and were an inside kick away from a win.

What do you think the difference was?

This year, we’ll spend between 12-15,000,000 on the football team.

I don’t know the hoops numbers but I know that all 9 players in our rotation are paid. I’ve been told money won’t be an issue for our sports programs moving forward.

Vanderbilt has a lot of Billionaires that were stiff armed by the University or not allowed to help fund athletics, that has all changed now with the Anchor Impact Collective, the school can’t screw it up the way they always have.

This doesn’t guarantee success in sports though, you have to have good coaches and good talent evaluators so we’ll see how it plays out.

As it pertains to Indiana, I just don’t see how they could pay more for Byington or have more NIL money than he will have at VU. I hope they make a run at him though, means we will have finished strong and it will make VU up the stakes.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Did you notice anything different about the football team last year?

Things are a little different now.

Things are different for everyone. Heck, we had good talent, much better than our record ended up being, but every year is a different year and while Vandy was good last year, doesn’t mean it's sustainable.

 

[runt#69]

Great to see your comments, Friedas ! Yep, the thing that got me was the shots simply did not fall. Vandy is solid, tough, Good collection of guys that Byington has forged into a very competitive team this year, and in the year the SEC is having, definitely deserving an NCAA tournament bid. I think the team will be healthy enough and do enough moving forward to solidify their place in the pecking order.

And I'd like to see Vandy win a game in the tournament, they are capable. Going to be a team that could make noise in the SEC tournament and REALLY improve stock. Stock options are definitely up for the Dores.

Onward and upward. Good luck, it's fun watching all the SEC teams this year!

 

[Digger-Cat]

It does beg the question of who has unique NIL budget advantages over others though

I remember a lot of ppl talking about Tx A&Ms "oil money" & how they outspent everyone in football - seems like OK / TX and other SW schools may have similar resources though

Notre Dame?
Do they get Vatican flow down funds for NIL?

Service Academy teams?
Do they have federal funding that diverts to NIL?

SMU sure seemed ready to NIL-it-Up ....you could argue they were pioneers there


I guess it comes down to what boosters are willing to compile & spend - I'm just curious about the NIL landscape and where there may be genuine distinctions resource wise

Of course having the $$ and scouting the right talent & best fits are totally different skills

Miami FL is a smaller private university right?
Seems they would have less NIL $ than UF

Really amazing how fast it all changed (and escalated!)

Yup, but when it comes down to it, we're still UK and Vandy is still vandy and both are playing in the SEC with a bunch of top tier football goliath's. Sure, we'll have some good years, but it's not sustainable until something drastic happens.

In basketball, it comes down to coaching and player fit. Duke paid more for their roster, but who won the game? Rutgers certainly paid more for their roster, but they suck.

In the grand scheme of things, Vandy, while much improved, is still vandy and as long as they keep Byington, they'll be respectful. But we can't act like Byington is going to stay at Vandy if a bigger name program comes calling and Indiana is still a bigger name than Vandy. They still have 5 titles, Vandy has none and they have a much more passionate fanbase.

Now, if it was me, I would stay in the SEC, I would have no interest in going to Indiana (🤮), but Byington might think differently.