Beginning Monday, June 21st, 2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the opening day of the 2004-05 Season.

Bookmark the 144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back each day to see which team is previewed next.

#40 Vanderbilt Commodores

SEC

2003-04: 23-10, 8-8, 4^th

 2003-04 postseason: NCAA Sweet Sixteen

By Joel Welser

It won’t be easy for the Commodores to return to the NCAA Tournament without all-time leading scorer Matt Freije.  There is plenty of returning talent on Kevin Stalling’s squad but a few of them need to carry the scoring load.  Vanderbilt needs to continue their momentum of a surprising sweet sixteen run or they could be in danger of returning back to their losing ways. 

Who’s Out: Matt Freije led the team in points and rebounds averaging 18.4 and 5.4, respectively.  Returning players Dawid Przybyszewski, Julian Terrell, Jason Holwerda and Corey Smith will have to step up their scoring in the absence of Freije.  Guard Scott Hundley has also run of eligibility.  The 6-5 guard averaged 6.6 points and 4.2 boards per contest.  Point guard Russell Lakey never put up big numbers in the scoring column, but his 3.9 assists and floor leadership will be greatly missed.  Little used Adam Payton and Martin Schnedlitz will also not be returning to Nashville.  Payton played in 29 games last year and would have seen a bigger role if he had not decided to transfer.

Who’s In: Shan Foster should have the biggest impact of any player in Vanderbilt’s large group of newcomers.  The 6-6 forward averaged 23.4 points and 10 rebounds last year and should see significant minutes off the bench.  DeMarre Carroll is an athletic small forward who will help with the Commodores depth.  Point guard Alex Gordon is a tough and spirited player.  He’s only 5-10 but can find a way to score and should find a way to see some playing time at Vanderbilt.  LaBraun Andrews, a 6-7 forward, is eligible this year after transferring from Colgate.  A couple big recruits in Davis Nwankwo and Alan Metcalfe will help deepen the frontcourt.  Nwankwo averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks his senior year in high school.  Nwankwo still has room to improve, but his shot blocking and defense could help out from day one.  Metcalfe at 6-9 and 230 pounds provides Coach Stallings another big body off the bench.

Who to Watch: Mario Moore has to take over for multiple departing players.  His scoring has to replace Freije and his point guard skills need to take over for Lakey.  As a sophomore last year, Moore averaged 11.2 points and 2.9 assists.  The Nashville product should be the leading scorer next year.  He has the ability to drive the lane and create his own shots.  Moore is a solid outside shooter, making 66 of 182 attempts from behind the arc.  Moore will have to keep the turnovers down and adjust to being the starting point guard, but he has the tools to be the team leader.  With Moore on the floor, nothing is lost on the defensive end.  Moore averaged 1.4 steals last year and averaged 2.7 steals during the NCAA Tournament.

Projected Conference Rank: Vanderbilt will have a lot of trouble competing with the likes of Kentucky, Mississippi State and Alabama.  If some players can prove that they can carry the scoring load, then a 5^th place finish for the Commodores is possible.  Even with what appears to be a weaker SEC then last year, 5^th place in the conference should be enough to send Vandy back to the big dance.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NCAA

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Email Joel Welser: jwelser_chn@ameritech.net

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