Rick Barnes has dominated his in-state SEC rival as Tennessee's coach. He's now 0-1 against Mark Byington at Vanderbilt.

The Vanderbilt Commodores have gotten off to an incredible start in the first season under new head coach Mark Byington.

In the closing minutes of Saturday’s 74-69 upset of No. 9 Kentucky, Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee stood in front of the Commodores student section and pleaded with them to not storm the Memorial Gymnasium court.

Vanderbilt is off to their best start since ’09-’10 with back-to-back weekends with Top-10 upsets inside Memorial Gymnasium. That doesn’t surprise Mark Byington, though, with what he thinks of the Commodores.

Vandy will get another opportunity to slow down a high-octane offense against the Wildcats, who are averaging 89.2 points per game, second in the nation behind Alabama. Kentucky ranks first in the SEC in field goals made per game (31.2), three-point baskets per game (10.2) and assists per game (18.7).

A packed Memorial Gymnasium going bonkers ... get that first — and only — victory against Rick Barnes’ Vols. Mark Byington did it in his first try. And while Lawrence’s shot was the ...

Here's where Vanderbilt basketball's March Madness resume stacks up halfway through SEC play and how the Commodores can improve it.

The Vanderbilt Commodores knew that they had a lot to prove despite the scorching hot start they got off to during the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

Edwards, a junior, helped Vandy get off to a great start in the win over the Wildcats, scoring 10 of his team’s first 12 points and propelling the ‘Dores to a 41-27 halftime lead. He finished with a game-high 18 points, adding four assists in the court-storming triumph.

In the span of just over a week, the Commodores have edged No. 6 Tennessee and pulled an upset of ninth-ranked Kentucky.

Vanderbilt men's and women's basketball were both ranked in the AP top 25 poll after wins over multiple ranked teams.

Here's an updated look at where SEC men's basketball teams sit in the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches poll and AP Top 25 rankings.