Vanderbilt Basketball Returns to NCAA Tournament

0:00On March 15, Vanderbilt Basketball earned a number 5 seed in the South region for the 2026 NCAA tournament, though kick things off against McNeese and Oklahoma City on March 19. Florida grabbed the top seed in the region, with Nebraska sitting at number 4. The Commodores wrapped up the season at 26 wins and 8 losses, time for fourth place in the SEC with an 11 and 7 conference mark. Big victories over Alabama at home, Tennessee on the road, and Florida in the SEC tournament fueled their run. They reached the SEC final for the first time since 2012, falling to Arkansas in that one. Now in their second year under Coach Mark Binton, Vanderbilt is back in the dance for the second straight season after missing out since 2017. Last year they bowed out early as a 10 seed, but sophomore Tyler Tanner stepped up big as a first team. All SEC and all defensive team pick. With momentum building and Tanner leading the charge, the Commodores looked primed to make some noise as March madness heats up.