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SEC Basketball: Way-too-early power rankings for 2021-22 season

By Matt Melton

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Juwan Gary #4 and Jahvon Quinerly #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate connecting on a alley oop dunk as head coach Ben Howland of the Mississippi State Bulldogs calls a timeout during the first half of their quarterfinal game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 12: Juwan Gary #4 and Jahvon Quinerly #13 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrate connecting on a alley oop dunk as head coach Ben Howland of the Mississippi State Bulldogs calls a timeout during the first half of their quarterfinal game in the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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SEC Basketball Scotty Pippen Jr Vanderbilt Commodores (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SEC Basketball Scotty Pippen Jr Vanderbilt Commodores (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

No. 14 – Vanderbilt Commodores

If there is one SEC Basketball team that must have a good offseason to improve recent trends, it’s Vanderbilt. The Commodores haven’t had a winning season since the 2016-2017 season, even despite having quality talent on the roster in recent years. If that talent will return however might just be the biggest question of the offseason facing head coach Jerry Stackhouse and Co.

The Commodores finished the 2020-2021 season at 9-16 overall, and last in the SEC at 3-13. While Vanderbilt did improve in some areas slightly in year two of the Stackhouse era, one could argue that they remained the same for the most part.

Vanderbilt averaged 71.8 PPG last season which ranked 178th in college basketball, as well as a slightly improved defense from a year ago that allowed 72.4 PPG. As mentioned previously, however, Vanderbilt has had talent in recent years, but a potential upcoming decision could play a massive role on the Commodores roster outlook for next season.

The Commodores will return notable players including rising juniors in forward Dylan Disu and guard Jordan Wright, as well as the sophomore season’s of guards Trey Thomas and Isaac McBride and forward Myles Stute. Vanderbilt also brings in the 12th ranked recruiting class in the SEC which includes two 3-star’s in guard Peyton Daniels and forward Gabe Dorsey.

The success or lack-there-of next season for Vanderbilt however will 100% come down to the impending decision of star guard Scotty Pippen Jr. Pippen led the Commodores in scoring averaging 20.8 PPG, and fully cemented himself as one of the best guards and pure scorers in the SEC this season.

If Pippen decides to go to the NBA, Vanderbilt may have trouble offensively at times. If Pippen returns however for his junior season, the Commodores may be a sneaky good team next season with one of the SEC’s best pure scorers leading the way.

While Vanderbilt hasn’t had a winning season in four years, next season could be the turnaround in year three under Stackhouse. If Pippen returns with the Commodores potentially adding a few quality transfers to the roster, this could be a sneaky good team next season.

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