. . Weltnachrichten – AU – Vandy hopes to win in the opener vs.. . Valpo

After watching most college basketball teams play for the past two days, Vanderbilt and Valparaiso are opening their season in Nashville on Friday night.

The Commodores (11-21 last season) are starting their sophomore year under coach Jerry Stackhouse after losing their top two players, guards Aaron Nesmith (23 points per game) and Saben Lee (18). 6 ppg), both selected in last week’s NBA draft. Nesmith missed Vanderbilt’s last 18 games due to injury and the Commodores only won three of those competitions without him.

Unsurprisingly, Vanderbilt was selected as the last of the 14 teams in the Southeastern Conference in the league’s media poll.

The Commodores are returning a couple of potential standout sophomores, however, Guardian Scotty Pippen Jr. . (12 ppg) and forward Dylan Disu (7. 4 ppg). They’re also bringing back Clevon Brown (nine points, two blocks per game), who started all nine competitions he played in last season before an end-of-season injury.

The bright spot is that Vanderbilt has a depth that he lacked last year when multiple ascents played significant minutes on many evenings. Guard DJ Harvey (Jan.. 7 ppg in 2018-19 at Notre Dame) and striker Quentin Millora-Brown (7. 2 ppg in 2018-19 at Rice), helps too.

« There’s parity, » said Stackhouse. « We just want to try to see how it unfolds. It’s a numbers game. There will be some people who may deserve to play a few minutes longer than they actually get because it’s only a 40 minute game. But I think we would much rather have this scenario than what we had last year when we lacked depth. « 

Valparaiso (19-16 last year), who picked eight out of ten teams in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, is entering a fifth season under coach Matt Lottich.

Guard / striker Donovan Clay (9. 4 ppg), a preseason second-team All-MVP selection, is the Crusaders’ leading returning goalscorer. The Crusaders return three more who have started at least half of the team’s games, striker Mileek McMillan (8). 8 ppg), point guard Daniel Sackey (6. 3 ppg) and further Nick Robinson (6. 2 ppg).

The Friday game was planned as an agreement between the schools when Vanderbilt hired former Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew in 2016. Drew has spent three seasons with the Commodores and is now in charge of the Grand Canyon.

« We had more constraints than ever before (in putting the schedule together), » Lottich said. « Usually we get to that and it’s hard to find games because the teams aren’t really looking to play us. « . That in and of itself is always a challenge. Then you throw in (COVID-19) restrictions by our institution and by other institutions and it was a challenge. « 

After watching most college basketball teams play for the past two days, Vanderbilt and Valparaiso are kicking off their season in Nashville on Friday night.

The Commodores (11-21 last season) are starting their sophomore year under coach Jerry Stackhouse after losing their top two players, guards Aaron Nesmith (23 points per game) and Saben Lee (18). 6 ppg), both selected in last week’s NBA draft. Nesmith missed Vanderbilt’s last 18 games due to injury and the Commodores only won three of those competitions without him.

Unsurprisingly, Vanderbilt was selected as the last of the 14 teams in the Southeastern Conference in the league’s media poll.

The Commodores are returning a couple of potential standout sophomores, however, Guardian Scotty Pippen Jr. . (12 ppg) and forward Dylan Disu (7. 4 ppg). They’re also bringing back Clevon Brown (nine points, two blocks per game), who started all nine competitions he played in last season before an end-of-season injury.

The bright spot is that Vanderbilt has a depth that he lacked last year when multiple ascents played significant minutes on many evenings. Guard DJ Harvey (Jan.. 7 ppg in 2018-19 at Notre Dame) and striker Quentin Millora-Brown (7. 2 ppg in 2018-19 at Rice), helps too.

« There’s parity, » said Stackhouse. « We just want to try to see how it unfolds. It’s a numbers game. There will be some people who may deserve to play a few minutes longer than they actually get because it’s only a 40 minute game. But I think we would much rather have this scenario than what we had last year when we lacked depth. « 

Valparaiso (19-16 last year), who picked eight out of ten teams in the Missouri Valley Conference preseason poll, is entering a fifth season under coach Matt Lottich.

Guard / striker Donovan Clay (9. 4 ppg), a preseason second-team All-MVP selection, is the Crusaders’ leading returning goalscorer. The Crusaders return three more who have started at least half of the team’s games, striker Mileek McMillan (8). 8 ppg), point guard Daniel Sackey (6. 3 ppg) and further Nick Robinson (6. 2 ppg).

The Friday game was planned as an agreement between the schools when Vanderbilt hired former Valparaiso coach Bryce Drew in 2016. Drew has spent three seasons with the Commodores and is now in charge of the Grand Canyon.

« We had more constraints than ever before (in putting the schedule together), » Lottich said. « Usually we get to that and it’s hard to find games because the teams aren’t really looking to play us. « . That in and of itself is always a challenge. Then you throw in (COVID-19) restrictions by our institution and by other institutions and it was a challenge. « 

Vanderbilt Commodores Men’s Basketball, Valparaiso University, College Basketball, Vanderbilt University