Vanderbilt Basketball History

If I was a Vandy Alum, I would be justly proud of Vanderbilt basketball history.

Vanderbilt University is well-known for being one of the finest academic institutions in the Southeast. However, what is not quite as commonly discussed is the University’s athletic legacy, particularly in the sport of basketball where, in its 107 year history, the Vanderbilt University Commodores have had more than their fair share of high points.

The VU basketball program was founded in 1900, with W.D. Weatherford taking the reigns as the team’s inaugural head coach. After a brief stint in the Southern Conference that began in 1922 (and culminated in a conference championship in 1927), the team began Southeastern Conference play in 1932. The Commodores finally won their first Southeastern Conference (SEC) Championship in 1951 under Head Coach Bob Polk, and also boasts 3 SEC regular season championships (1965, 1974, and 1993).

The team first garnered national attention in 1964, when, under Head Coach Roy Skinner, it advanced to the "Elite Eight" of the NCAA Tournament that season. Since that appearance, Vandy has made a number of deep March Madness runs, including "Sweet 16" appearances in 1974, 1988, 1993, 2004, and 2007.

Vanderbilt University is also known for the unusual facility in which they play, Memorial Gymnasium. Memorial Gymnasium was opened in 1952 and, at the urging of many of the academia-driven university leaders at the time, was meant to serve as a multi-functional facility rather than merely serve as an athletic arena.

The result is a cozy arena that when built, held merely 9,000 people (as a result of recent renovations, however, capacity now stands at 14,316). Its small size also has resulted in an unusual configuration of the basketball playing court, with the benches actually along the baselines of the b-ball court.

Along with Princeton and UNLV, Vandy is one of only 3 schools to have made at least 1 3-pointer in every game since the 3-point line was instituted in 1986.

A number of Vanderbilt basketball players have also gone on to achieve success in the NBA. Among these are players such as Will Perdue, Clyde Lee, Tom Hagan, and Billy Joe Adcock.

Check out these links for your Vanderbilt Commodores Merchandise and Apparel, Tickets, and Baseball Caps.

• 2007-2008 Vanderbilt Basketball


• 2006-2007 Vanderbilt Commodores Basketball


• Vanderbilt University -- Nashville -- Trip

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