UNDER-THE-RADAR VANDY WILL HEAD TO LEXINGTON IN 1ST PLACE IN SEC EAST

UNDER-THE-RADAR VANDY WILL HEAD TO LEXINGTON IN 1ST PLACE IN SEC EAST

Thursday, January 28, 2010, 03:44 PM ES

When Vanderbilt travels to Lexington this weekend for a matchup against Kentucky, first-place in the SEC East will be on the line.

Believe it or not, Vandy will enter the game on a 10-game winning streak and also with a 5-0 league mark. Kentucky will be coming off its first setback of the season, a loss at South Carolina that puts the Wildcats at 4-1 in SEC play.

Vanderbilt finally got its “resume” win last night on the road against Tennessee.

Commodores coach Kevin Stallings wasn’t down on his team earlier in the season despite losses to Cincinnati, Illinois and Western Kentucky.

``Not at all,” Stallings said.

Stallings wasn’t pleased with how Vandy rebounded against Cincinnati and how it defended against Illinois and Western Kentucky.

And while the Commodores didn’t beat any Top 25 clubs, Stallings’ team went out to St. Mary’s and won and also beat Missouri and Arizona in Maui.

Stallings said Vandy’s defense has improved and that’s a key component for the current 10-game winning streak that will be on the line Saturday.

They are also taking care of the ball. In fact, starting point guard Jermaine Beal didn’t commit a single turnover last night against Tennessee and scored 25 points in 38 minutes.

``He was incredible,” Stallings said.

Vanderbilt leads the SEC in free throws at more than 17 per contest and got to the line 29 times against the Vols.

Stallings knew what to expect from Beal, skilled big man A.J. Ogilvy and athletic wing Jeffery Taylor. However, Andre Walker, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, has filled a much-needed role at power forward.

``He’s really important for us,” Stallings said. ``He can handle the ball, defend and rebound – and he’s our second-best passer. We knew what we were missing when he tore his ACL last year, but he’s been all that and more.”

RANDOM NOTES: Portland State junior and former Washington forward Phil Nelson will miss the rest of the season with a broken bone is his left foot. Nelson, who was averaging 12.9 points, injured his foot in practice earlier in the week. … Tulane coach Dave Dickerson said that starting point guard Kevin Sims will likely return in another two weeks while fellow starter Aaron Holmes is expected back in about a week. Both have wrist injuries.

http://community.foxsports.com/goodmanonfox/blog/2010/01/28/under-the-radar_vandy_will_head_to_lexington_in_1st_place_in_sec_east

I disagree with the whole "under the radar" premise. I think any team that has to face them is well aware of their ability. So the national networks haven't caught on yet...big deal. I don't consider getting ESPN's approval as a badge of honor.

I'm going to say it again - this is a team with a lot of weapons that the Wildcats will be facing on Saturday and the one in the SEC that scares me most to take the regular-season title in the SEC this year. And of course, half of their games will be played in that ridiculous arena in Nashville where every team is at a major disadvantage. This game Saturday is HUGE!

Vandy no longer in the lead in the East.