Friday, March 2, 2007

Vanderbilt Hotline


In case you were confused, that is not Bobby interviewing Chancellor Gee, but rather Bob Costas. As mentioned last week, Bob Costas is doing a special on Vanderbilt Sports and the fact that we have 7 teams ranked in the top-25 nationally, despite not having a typical athletic department structure. It appears that DeFAK (department formerly known as athletics) is getting the job done. Also, I know that DeFAK isn't a perfect acronym, but it sounds better...so back off!

The men's basketball team winds up their season tomorrow with a game against Arkansas at Memorial. Seniors Ted Skuchas, Dan Cage, and should-be SEC POY Derrick Byars will be honored in a ceremony before the game tips off at 12:00 CST. Saturday's game will not be televised. Derrick and junior guard Shan Foster recently received honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Derrick was named to the First Team of Division I District 7, while Shan took home Second Team honors. While I've never heard of this particular group, if Vanderbilt Sports is getting run, Bobby's gonna let you know.

Despite Vanderbilt's win on Wednesday, lifting their record to 20-9 (10-5), Joe Lunardi has Vanderbilt dropping-going from a 6 seed to a 7 seed-in his most recent Bracketology updated yesterday. It's worth mentioning that Joe's team details page only credits Vanderbilt with 19 wins, so our "S-Curve" drop might be nothing more than a typographical error. If not Vanderbilt fans can be confident that if we keep winning Lunardi will find a way to put us back on the bubble.

The women's basketball team starts their SEC Tournament drive tonight at 8:30 against Florida after their upset of Mississippi State last night. This game will be televised on FSN. Stanimal will have a preview later in the day, so be sure to check back for that. Like the men, the ladies rely on the 3 and have depended on senior leadership all season long. The Tennessean has a great feature on Vanderbilt senior Caroline Williams...who happens to not only be a pretty damn good basketball player, but also a pretty good looking chick.

Vanderbilt baseball opens up a three-game set against Xavier in Nashville and will try to stay perfect as they chug along towards SEC play. As always, Woody's got the most comprehensive preview out there.

ESPN has a great feature on Vanderbilt's coach Tim Corbin. Can you say dynasty? Baseball America and classmate of Dr. MZ Aaron Fitt also has a great piece of Vanderbilt closer Casey Weathers and his less than traditional ride to national stardom.

The #17 women's tennis team opens up their SEC campaign today against Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The men will be hosting the Tide in Nashville.

Austen has come out of no where to take the lead in SEC Pick'em...I think the kid is ripe for a fall, so be sure to get your picks in for the last weekend of the regular season.

3 comments:

Woody said...

I haven't checked it recently, but Lunardi has two win-loss records. 'Overall' and 'Against D-I' opponents. That may be where you are seeing only 19 wins.

If that's not the case, then sorry for the above waste of time...but not really.

Sol Blake said...

Vanderbilt is back up to a 6-seed in todays bracketology. it's nice that lunardi is doing it daily now.

Seamus O'Toole said...

Why not DeFKA - Department Formerly Known as Athletics? There is a logical alternate interpretation (perhaps useful when expressing anger at said department) that I think warrants official acronym consideration.