Vanderbilt women’s basketball off to blistering start. SEC play is next
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Vanderbilt women’s basketball has been a positive surprise in its nonconference slate, riding a 13-1 record to receiving votes in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll and the AP Poll.
In Shea Ralph’s third season, she’s finally built a team that looks like it can compete for a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Though the Commodores’ only nonconference win over a power-conference team was against Iowa State, they stayed within single digits of a top-five NC State team.
Next comes the gauntlet that is SEC play, beginning on Thursday at Mississippi State (6:30 p.m. CT, SEC Network+).
In her first two seasons, Ralph has not won an SEC road game. That will need to change if Vanderbilt has any hopes of reaching March Madness.
Here’s what to know about the Commodores entering conference play:
The Jordyn-to-Sacha connection
After missing last season with injury, Jordyn Cambridge has returned better than ever. In her final year of college basketball, the sixth-year senior is averaging 14.8 points with 7.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.6 steals. After a triple-double in the 2022 SEC Tournament, Cambridge has flirted with another a few times. After shooting below 30% from three earlier in her career, she is up to 35.8% this season.
Cambridge has the perfect post partner in Sacha Washington, averaging 14.6 points and 8.6 rebounds, and has four double-doubles.
Vanderbilt has chance at March Madness
Shea Ralph has been steadfast in her belief that this team can make the NCAA Tournament. That’s now a distinct possibility thanks to the 13-1 start.
ESPN bracketologist Charlie Creme had the Commodores as a No. 11 seed and part of the “last four in” in his most recent update. Vanderbilt, which played a relatively light nonconference schedule, could raise its profile by winning games in SEC play.
The Commodores are seventh in the NET among their conference-mates. Ten of Vanderbilt’s 16 SEC games are against teams ranked lower in the NET as of Jan. 3.
Health situation holding
Vanderbilt basketball played most of 2022-23 with just eight players due to injuries and a dismissal. The Commodores started the season with 13 players on the roster, though not all 13 have been available in any game.
Freshman guard Madison Greene is out for the season with a torn ACL, and Jordyn Oliver missed the win over Radford with an undisclosed injury. She was seen on the sideline in a walking boot. Freshman Bailey Gilmore has not played this season and is out indefinitely for undisclosed reasons. She was on the bench in the Radford game but was not in uniform.
Newcomers give a boost
While Cambridge and Washington are veterans, Ralph proved successful at retooling her roster through both her freshmen class and the transfer portal. Two transfers, Oliver from Duke and Justine Pissott from Tennessee, have combined to start 24 games. When Pissott doesn’t start, it’s usually freshman Aga Makurat in her place.
Pissott and Makurat both add vital floor spacing. Pissott is shooting 37.3% from three and Makurat is…
Read More: Vanderbilt women’s basketball off to blistering start. SEC play is next 2024-01-03 18:38:40