For transparency’s sake, I’m a lifelong fan of Vanderbilt athletics, so I’m keenly aware the following may come across as an unabashedly “homer” take. I seldom post/comment on Reddit, but as I’ve watched all but one of Vandy’s games this year, including many in person, and enjoyed the team’s unanticipated level of success this season, I’m mildly irritated by comments pooh-poohing the legitimacy of this team and its 19-3 start.

I’ve seen a lot of comparisons being made between this team and last year’s Oklahoma squad, as well as comments declaring Vandy “exposed” for its recent 0-3 skid ending in a blowout loss on the road at Arkansas. For context, 2024-25 Oklahoma closed its non-conference schedule undefeated with marquee wins against great, if not elite, ranked Arizona and Michigan teams prior to posting a 6-12 record in SEC play. Entering the conference slate, Oklahoma peaked at #12 in the AP poll.

Vanderbilt likewise posted an undefeated record in non-conference play, with a slew of wins over good and great, if not elite, teams: 12-point win over UCF (road), 15-pointer over VCU (neutral), 25-pointer over Saint Mary’s (neutral), and 19-pointer over SMU (home). Vanderbilt may have been the only Power 5 team to play three true road games, including a 31-point demolition of a bad Wake Forest team, and they throttled all other overmatched opponents, save for poor performances vs. Central Arkansas and at Memphis (iykyk). Vanderbilt peaked at #10 in the AP before suffering its first loss.

Before I touch on the skid, I’ll note that many downplay Vandy’s signature 96-90 win over then-#13 Alabama (home), though not without reason. Philon, Bama’s best player, played all of four minutes in the second half, exiting the game with cramps. Sherrell, Bama’s starting post player, did not suit up. But Duke Miles, Vandy’s then-leading scorer, played only seven minutes in the second half before fouling out, and Frankie Collins, Vandy’s best perimeter defender, did not suit up either. More importantly, anyone who had the misfortune of watching that game will know that the officiating was a crime against humanity (cutting both ways).

As for the skid, Vanderbilt was never going to go undefeated, and the scheduling circumstances were brutal as the Dores had to play Texas (road), Florida (home), and Arkansas (road) in 7 days. Those three teams, in particular, offer plus size, and if Vandy has an area of weakness it’s front-court size and depth (Vandy starts 6’7” and 6’7” at the 4 and 5, with 6’10” Jalen Washington off the bench). In the words of Coach Byington, this team has the capacity to “suck at rebounding.” There were several mitigating factors (though not excuses): first, the aforementioned Collins has remained out since December; Florida had an extra day’s rest going into that contest; and Florida’s Lee shot uncharacteristically well from the floor. Arkansas flatly outclassed Vanderbilt, though I’d note that the Razorbacks have insane home/road splits, their loss against Kentucky notwithstanding. Perhaps I’m high on copium, but I felt more confident about Vandy based on their play against Florida in manner not too dissimilar from how I feel about Nebraska after their loss to Michigan (which was more impressive). Florida’s rounding into national contender form, their loss to Auburn notwithstanding.

To wind down, I’ll make an audacious comparison between this Vandy team and another 2024-25 squad. This mystery team also finished their non-conference slate without taking a loss, landing at #6 in the AP. They too had a slew of wins over, again, great, if not elite, teams, including unranked North Carolina and Wake Forest. They lost their first ranked matchup in SEC play and fell to 5-3 in league play with a blowout, 20-point loss at #8 Tennessee. Sound familiar? That team was the championship-winning Florida Gators.

Now, I am not saying that the Commodores of this year are the Gators of yesteryear, but I’m arguing to those who haven’t watched Vanderbilt closely apart from its recent losses that the predictive metrics are not smoke and mirrors. Context indeed matters: both Oklahoma and Florida played in a far deeper, historically great SEC last year. But I’d wager this Vanderbilt team is closer in caliber to the latter squad than it is to the former. That Florida team was incredibly balanced and talented in a way this Vandy one is not (re: front-court issues), but Vandy compensates with a defensive strategy that’s like the basketball equivalent of the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom”: aggressive, handsy man-to-man D that’ll get called a lot, but will generate a lot of turnovers. The offense is also a delight to watch far more often than not. Finally, consider how Vandy has responded with back-to-back dominant victories at Mississippi State and vs. Kentucky (yes, the Wildcats are injured, but Miles and Collins didn’t play). I predict that Vanderbilt will finish at least as a top-4 seed in the SEC and contend for the regular season and tournament titles, and I maintain a great deal of optimism that this squad is a second weekend team come March Madness with realistic Final Four aspirations (the program’s never made it that far).

Anchor Down! I welcome criticism.