Commodores Have the Pieces to the Puzzle

For the Vanderbilt Commodores, it has been one and done or two and one in the NCAA basketball tournament.  For the Commodores (26-7), this year presents a new challenge.  Going into the tournament with their highest seed in school history, the Commodores face No. 13 seed Siena in the first round. 

Historically, a strong three-point-shooting team, the Commodores have more offensive weapons this year.  Freshman A.J. Ogilvy is averaging 17 points per game and can stroke jumpers as well as play on the low block. 

Along with having a post presence, All-American Shan Foster, the SEC Player of the Year, is one of the top 3 point shooters in the nation.  Point Guard Jermaine Beal has the best assist to turnover ration in the SEC, and shooting guard Alex Gordon brings high level energy and more three-point shooting. 

Senior forward Ross Neltner is a streaky shooter, but when is hot, can hit any jumper on the floor. 

The Commodores have a decent bench, with Darshawn McClellan gives Vanderbilt an excellent rebounder, and Keegan Bell is a solid point guard who can shoot the three as well. 

Usually, the Commodores have had to rely on hot shooting, but this year they have all the pieces to the puzzle.  The Dores have proved their note as a good team, knocking Tennessee out of their No. 1 seed. 

They also handed Kentucky their worst SEC loss in history, with a 41 point hammering in Nashville. 

They face a decent Siena team that is very athletic, but the Commodores should exploit their lack of size in the game.  After that, the road to the final four gets even tougher.  If the Commodores can win the Siena game, they will face the winner of Villanova and Clemson. Those games will be difficult, and if the Commodores survive these next games, they will likely face Kansas. 

Again, the road is tough, but the Commodores have more pieces to the puzzle than ever, can they put it together and go farther than they have ever gone before?