High-octane Vanderbilt opens vs. Lipscomb in Nashville clash

Two schools separated by 3 miles will meet for the first time since 2014 when Lipscomb travels to Vanderbilt on Monday night in Nashville.

The Commodores, entering their second season under coach Mark Byington, are coming off a 20-13 campaign and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017.

Vanderbilt frequently got fastbreak buckets last season thanks to their average of 8.9 steals per game, which ranked 25th in the nation. Tyler Tanner (5.7 ppg), who came off the bench to post 63 assists, 55 steals and 15 turnovers, was a big part of that.

However, TCU transfer Frankie Collins could be the primary point guard. Collins averaged 13.8 points, 2.6 steals and 3.2 assists in his last fully healthy season two years ago at Arizona State.

Those two will be joined by a pair of 6-foot-7 wings, Tyler Nickel (10.4 ppg) and transfer Tyler Harris (11.8 ppg at Washington) as well as combo guard Duke Miles (9.4 ppg at Oklahoma).

Byington's priority was to get undersized, 6-foot-7 post Devin McGlockton (10.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg) some help, so he recruited 6-foot-9 Jacksonville State transfer Mason Nicholson (7.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg) and 6-foot-10 North Carolina transfer Jalen Washington (5.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg).

"Jalen and Mason are amazing," McGlockton said, per 247Sports. "They protect the rim. They help rebound. I love that it takes some of the load off of me, but I'm still going to do my thing rebounding and protecting the rim like I did last year."

Vanderbilt, picked 11th in the 16-team Southeastern Conference by the media, beat Virginia and UAB in October exhibition games but did struggle with the Cavaliers' size in an Oct. 16 matchup.

Monday marks the Division I coaching debut for Lipscomb's Kevin Carroll, a Bisons assistant from 2019-23. Carroll went 35-23 at nearby Division II Trevecca the last two seasons. He takes over for now-Samford coach Lennie Acuff, who went 25-10 and led the Bisons to the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Lipscomb athletic director Philip Hutcheson said of Carroll, "He sees where the game is and where it's going, and his ability to navigate change and elevate programs is exactly what we need at this exciting time for Lipscomb basketball."

Six-foot-10 Charlie Williams (5.5 ppg, 1.9 rpg) is Lipscomb's only returning starter, though 6-foot-11 Grant Asman (3.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg) is also back.

Returning guards Miles White (3.0 ppg) and Kellan Boylan (2.3 ppg) figure to step into bigger roles, while Trevecca transfer Mateo Esmeraldo (10.4 ppg) should run the point.

Lipscomb is picked to finish seventh in the 12-team Atlantic Sun Conference.

--Field Level Media