INSIDE THE NUMBERS

2000-01 record: 17-15; 6-10 in SEC (Tied 5th/East) Postseason: Lost to Louisiana Tech 83-68 in first round of NIT. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Freije 15.1 Rebs: Freije 5.1 Assists: Howerda 1.4 FG: Howerda 53.3% 3pt: Freije 34.0% FT: Freije 76.8% 01-02 Stats: Vanderbilt | SEC KEY LOSSES Chuck Moore | 12.7 ppp Brendan Plavich | 10.1 ppg Sam oward | 9.7 ppg PROJECTED STARTERS G | Jason Holwerda | Soph G | Russell Lakey | Junior F | Matt Freije | Junior F | Corey Smith| Junior C | Brian Thornton | Soph Player to Watch Matt Freije Junior Forward Proven outside shooter needs to score more down low at 6-9 DATE TO REMEMBER Dec. 9 Going to Indiana offers Vandy a chance for an early upset that might give this team the confidence it will need for conference play.

 

VANDERBILT COMMODORES

The Commodores haven't had a winning record in SEC play or earned an NCAA Tournament berth since 1997. Those trends will be difficult to reverse this season, but that's not a negative reflection on the coaching of Kevin Stallings. It's more the reality of being Vandy in a super-competitive league that makes upward mobility difficult. Look at last year's league stats and you wonder how the Commodores won six out of 16 SEC games. They were 11th in scoring defense, 12th in field-goal percentage defense, 11th in blocks, 11th in steals, 11th in scoring margin and 11th in rebounding margin. Quite simply, there weren't enough athletes and bodies to hang with the big boys. Vandy at least returns its best all-around player in junior Matt Freije and best inside player in sophomore Brian Thornton. The 6-9 Frieje averaged team highs of 15.1 points and 5.1 rebounds, although his shooting percentages were all down from his freshman year. The bulky 6-8 Thornton averaged 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in just 19 minutes per game while making the SEC all-freshman team. This team will need perimeter assistance, since the top two playmakers from last year and three of the top three-point shooters have departed. Junior Russell Lakey, plagued by foot injuries last year, is an ace defender and should inherit the point if his body allows holds up. Freshman PG Mario Moore is a talented offensive player who will find his way onto the floor.

TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
A recruiting class some are calling the best in school history creates instant depth, and should make an immediate impact on the perimeter. Freije is a multidimensional threat who stepped into a leading-man role last year and should be better this time around. Vandy is always dangerous at home, where the Commodores seem to pull at least one major upset a year (Kentucky and Georgia found that out last season).

TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
February has been a season-killer under Stallings. The 'Dores are 6-16 against SEC opponents in that month the past three years. Too often Vandy is beaten down and outmanned by that time of year, and this year's February schedule features four games against 2002 NCAA Tournament teams.

BOTTOM LINE..............................
Another NIT trip seems like a logical outcome, provided the Commodores find enough perimeter shooters to continue their three-point-based offense and shore up the defense as much as possible. The league is too difficult to allow much more success than that.