When Mark Byington was named head coach at Vanderbilt he was inheriting a program that had not made the NCAA Tournament in seven years. Buried in a suddenly deep SEC, the Commodores had been struggling in recent seasons, especially most recently under Jerry Stackhouse. However, Byington has come to Nashville and turned into something of a savior for this program.
After breaking that Tourney drought in his first season, Byington led Vanderbilt to an even better result last season. His Commodores won 27 games, tied for 4th in a competitive SEC race, and won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 2012. It’s been a fantastic effort out of this program in these last two years and the trajectory certainly remains upwards.
Big season last year
We won’t ignore the fact that a lot of the talent from that 27-win team isn’t back this season. Tyler Nickel was drafted while fellow seniors like Devin McGlockton, Duke Miles, and AK Okereke are also gone after solid careers. However, the cupboard is far from bare and a true star is returning for his junior season, while this coaching staff might have also hit some home runs in the transfer portal this offseason.
As last season began, many didn’t know quite what to expect from the Commodores and it’s very fair to feel that way again. The expectations are certainly raised, though with all of this change in the lineup things will look plenty different in Nashville. Without wasting any more time, we’re going to detail the important pieces in the lineup and quickly get to that star and what he’ll mean for this team.
Projected Starters
Guard – Tyler Tanner (Junior)
Everything went right as Tanner exploded onto the scene as a sophomore last season. He played a starring role in Vanderbilt’s backcourt, putting up 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.4 steals, earning a boatload of honors including First Team All-SEC and All-Defense. Few expected that type of rise, and Tanner surprised some by returning for year three. He was one of the nation’s top scorers and should be just as productive with these new pieces around him.
Guard – Ace Glass III (Sophomore)
It’s a new setting and a new start for Glass, who showed promise as a true freshman with Washington State last year. The California native averaged 16.4 points and 2.3 assists for the Cougars and now becomes a massive part of Vanderbilt’s backcourt. He made 36% of his 3-pointers but does a bit of everything and should be even better heading into year two.
Forward – Sebastian Williams-Adams (Sophomore)
A 6-8 forward from Houston, Williams-Adams was a Top 50 prospect from last year’s class who spent the season doing decent work over at Auburn. He’s clearly familiar with the Auburn and started more than half of the Tigers’ games, putting up 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds a game. Expect even more from him as a sophomore, especially in this new offense with increased opportunities.
Forward – Berke Buyuktuncel (Senior)
The last two seasons really showed what Buyuktuncel what he could do, but now he’s hoping he’s saved his best for his time with the Commodores. A 6-9 forward from Turkey, Buyuktuncel spent a year with UCLA before two more productive seasons in Nebraska’s frontcourt. His numbers don’t scream star at just 6.5 points and 5.6 rebounds per game but he’s an effective interior weapon who can also hit outside shots.
Forward – Bangot Dak (Senior)
The fourth and final transfer addition to this new starting lineup, Dak comes from Colorado after spending three seasons with the Buffaloes. He’s blossomed as a player as the years progressed, culminating in 11.5 points and 6.5 rebounds as a full-time starter in the Big 12 this past season. Vanderbilt will enjoy what they get in his size and playmaking ability in the paint.
Key Reserves
Guard – Anthony Brown Jr. (Freshman)
A 4-star point guard from Washington DC, Brown looks like exactly the type of player that Byington and this program could love very soon. He’s a strong-willed playmaker who can lead an offense and score a ton. Whether or not he’s getting a ton of run this season, his career might be a mirror image to Tanner’s with a big breakthrough coming soon.
Forward – Gabe Nesmith (Freshman)
The very best piece of an impressive freshman class, Nesmith is a 4-star wing who recently reclassified into the class of 2026. The cousin of recent Vanderbilt starter Aaron Nesmith, he’s more than capable of marking his own path to stardom with his athleticism and explosiveness all over the court. We’ll see what kind of role he’ll settle into early though he has future star written all over him as well.
Forward – Ethan Mgbako (Freshman)
Yet another highly regarded freshman addition, Mgbako is another Top 100 prospect who can also impact the game from the wing. Well-regarded for his size and athleticism, Mgbako has the ability to create on offense and the tools to be an avoid-average defender in time. His attacking and long-range potential will get him a role right away.
Guard – T. O. Barrett (Junior)
Another SEC transfer joins the fold as Barrett seeks a significant role in Vanderbilt’s backcourt. A 6-4 guard out of Oklahoma City, he comes to town after a pair of seasons with Missouri, earning some starts while averaging 8.6 points and 3.0 assists for the Tigers as a sophomore. He’s known more for his physical play than his shooting ability though we’ll see how his game continues to develop with the Commodores.
Guard – Chandler Bing (Sophomore)
On a veteran lineup, Bing didn’t have a ton of chances as a true freshman but still showed enough potential to have this staff excited for his future. A guard from Atlanta, he averaged 3.6 points and 1.6 rebounds off the bench last year but should get even more minutes. Bing could take a significant step up as a sophomore and has great potential as a scorer and rebounder all over the court.
Forward – Jackson Sheffield (Freshman)
Sheffield is a 4-star center from Alabama who figures to find a role in the Commodores’ frontcourt early in his career. His game matches that of your typical interior big man, and he’ll certain be a viable backup at the 5 with his paint presence and rebounding ability. Sheffield has more to this game than just post play, though we’ll see how he adjusts to the college game.
Schedule Outlook
You won’t see the Commodores leaving their home arena for the first six games of the season but it’s far from an uneventful start to the year. That homestand includes notable matchups against Wake Forest on November 5th, Memphis on the 10th and UCF on the 20th. Their first road test comes at Ohio State a few days later and certainly makes up for a lack of a holiday tournament around Thanksgiving.
They hit the road a few more times early in December, beginning with a trip to Notre Dame as part of the SEC/ACC Challenge on December 2nd. Four days later, Vanderbilt heads west to take on another ACC team in California. That’s the final real test before a few more home games and the beginning of SEC play on January 2nd.
In the unbalanced SEC schedule, the Commodores get two looks at Kentucky, Tennessee, and Texas A&M while having to play Alabama and Florida only on the road. This talented league has exciting games on a weekly basis and after a tough start there’s a fertile stretch in late January for the Commodores. Their regular season ends with Senior Night against rival Tennessee on March 6th.
Season Outlook
Tanner’s decision to return for his junior season has clearly changed the complexion of Vanderbilt’s season. A veteran team competed at a high level last season with that 4th place finish in the SEC and this starting rotation is dripping with new talent from the transfer portal. However, getting a bona fide star back on the court for 30+ games is an undeniable victory in Nashville.
Many eyes nationwide will be on Tanner, who’ll likely begin the season on plenty of national watchlists for major awards. We can’t ignore the addition of Glass and what he could mean after the brilliance he showed in his freshman year at Washington State. Don’t dismiss what an addition like Barrett could mean as well; he’s played important minutes in this SEC race too.
Those three transfer additions in the frontcourt should fit together nicely. Williams-Adams showed great potential and should be the best of the bunch. Buyuktuncel has great experience while Vanderbilt hopes Dak can be that security blanket around the basket. We also can’t ignore the important pieces in this transfer class, both at forward and the guard positions.
There’s a lot of optimism for Vanderbilt heading into next season coming off their recent success. Tanner obviously plays a major role in that attention but this is far from a one-man show. The Commodores can be successful if the new pieces in this lineup pull their weight, as Tanner alone is not going to get Vanderbilt to that deep postseason run. Either way, a lot of people will be excited to see just what he can produce in year three of college ball.
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