Rumor Vanderbilt Takes it to North Carolina in "Secret Scrimmage"

[Will Lavender]

Word today is that Vanderbilt absolutely flattened North Carolina in a closed scrimmage on Sunday.

Obviously that's just rumor, but I've noticed that Carolina fans are getting concerned on the message boards. I heard that it was a double digit "win" for Vandy, and they were playing without AJ Ogilvy, who sustained a concussion a week and a half ago in practice.

Interesting...

[Dwight Schrute]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

Word today is that Vanderbilt absolutely flattened North Carolina in a closed scrimmage on Sunday.

Obviously that's just rumor, but I've noticed that Carolina fans are getting concerned on the message boards. I heard that it was a double digit "win" for Vandy, and they were playing without AJ Ogilvy, who sustained a concussion a week and a half ago in practice.

Interesting...

People make a big deal over Mississippi State being our biggest challenge in the SEC, but I feel like Vandy is going to be pretty darn good also. Having said that, this doesn't surprise me all that much. UNC has a lot of new parts playing new roles, and this early on it's easy to lose to a veteran squad like Vanderbilt.

Still, that's shocking, and you've got to think the SEC East is going to be very very god.

[Catligula]

I still say South Carolina tops Vanderbilt in the East this year, but I expect Vandy to be good and make it into the tourney.

[The Black Watch]

Vanderbilt has the potential to be as good as any team in the country, IMHO. It wouldn't shock me one bit to hear they beat UNC.

[Will Lavender]

Vandy is going to be very, very good. Wouldn't surprise me to see them ahead of USC. Actually it wouldn't surprise me to see them 2nd in the east when the dust settles.

Watch out for Jeffery Taylor. He's sort of unsung behind guys like Ogilvy, McClellan and Beal, but I think he might be their best player. They also add a guy named John Jenkins, who has a chance to be the SEC's next Chris Lofton. The guy was a scoring freak in high school.

[CatFaninChattanooga]

Originally Posted by The Black Watch

Vanderbilt has the potential to be as good as any team in the country, IMHO. It wouldn't shock me one bit to hear they beat UNC.

Vandy is a tough place to shoot (unless you are Vandy)....

[Dwight Schrute]

Originally Posted by Catligula

I still say South Carolina tops Vanderbilt in the East this year, but I expect Vandy to be good and make it into the tourney.

I honestly believe that Kentucky, Tennessee, Vandy, and South Carolina from the east will all make the tournament, and they could all be in the top 25 by the end.

Tennessee has a lot of talent, but I'm just not enamored with Bruce Pearl's coaching (the fact that he sports a 1-3 record against Billy Gillispie proves my point) and I don't see how they're going to be world's better than they were last year. I think it's a three way race for second in the East with UT/Vandy/USC.

Vandy is just always solid. They aren't going to blow you away (unless you're Billy Gillispie), they're just a solid team. South Carolina faded down the stretch (except against teams coached by Billy Gillispie), and I'm just not quite convinced that Darrin Horn is as good as last year showed. I think Vandy finishes second in the east.

[The Black Watch]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

Vandy is going to be very, very good. Wouldn't surprise me to see them ahead of USC. Actually it wouldn't surprise me to see them 2nd in the east when the dust settles.

Watch out for Jeffery Taylor. He's sort of unsung behind guys like Ogilvy, McClellan and Beal, but I think he might be their best player. They also add a guy named John Jenkins, who has a chance to be the SEC's next Chris Lofton. The guy was a scoring freak in high school.

I totally agree. Sleep on Vandy at your own peril. They returned a solid cast and added some very good players, most notably Jenkins, who was probably the best shooter in the '09 class. I think it will prove out that they are much better than USC and will be our greatest contest in the conference.

[Paradox]

I think Vandy is like a better Georgia. They may not have the athletes that you do, but they are extremely hard to beat.

[IAM4UK88]

Hard to imagine such a scrimmage, but it seems like a fine idea. I hope we learn this rumor was accurate.

[mrkdooley]

Vandy's colliseum gives them one of the best home court advantages out there. I wish the NCAA would fix the bench situation!!

[Dwight Schrute]

Originally Posted by Paradox

I think Vandy is like a better Georgia. They may not have the athletes that you do, but they are extremely hard to beat.

Not the comparison I would use, but I think you're right none the less.

[Will Lavender]

Originally Posted by Paradox

I think Vandy is like a better Georgia. They may not have the athletes that you do, but they are extremely hard to beat.

One thing about Vandy--other than the Hell known as the place they play--is that they've always had a load of good shooters. Last year, though, they didn't...and that was one of the reasons they were down.

This year they will be a much better shooting team with the addition of Jenkins. And they return the athletic/big guys they had. (I saw Jeffery Taylor dunk a ball in warm-ups at Rupp last year in a way that would've made John Wall impressed. Guy put his entire arm down in the rim.)

It's not going to be easy to beat them, especially at their place.

[SLegend]

I agree, Vandy is always dangerous and just sit back and wait for you to underestimate them.

[crazzedcats22]

I just spoke to a buddy near Chapel Hill after hearing about this. He said, from what he's been told, that Vandy put a beatdown on UNC.

HOWEVER, and a big however, he said he was told that Roy continuously changed lineups, ran different offenses, and tinkered throughout the whole game just to see what did and didn't work.

This guy is a UNC fan but speaks it how it is. He said he doesn't think it is anything to be concerned with as Roy just wanted to get a feel for a bunch of different things.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Originally Posted by Will Lavender

Word today is that Vanderbilt absolutely flattened North Carolina in a closed scrimmage on Sunday.

Obviously that's just rumor, but I've noticed that Carolina fans are getting concerned on the message boards. I heard that it was a double digit "win" for Vandy, and they were playing without AJ Ogilvy, who sustained a concussion a week and a half ago in practice.

Interesting...

AJ Ogilvy..hasn't he been there for like 10 years now

[Rockober]

Vandy winning big in a scrimmage does not suprise me very much. North Carolina usually plays pretty loose "D" at the beginning of the year and they have a very young an unimpressive back court.

UNC has way more upside than Vandy but Vandy for sure is no cupcake.

[Craig the Blueheart]

I'll add to the rumor mill after I just received word from a good friend within the compliance with Vanderbilt. This loss definitely happened as we have all described. My friend did freely admit that Roy tinkered with quite a few lineups, but it still a "spicy meatball".

[Will Lavender]

Originally Posted by TrueblueCATfan

AJ Ogilvy..hasn't he been there for like 10 years now

Vandy players typically seem like they're there for eons. One reason is very few go pro early; another is that nobody ever flunks out, and they don't have many transfers. Mario Moore was there for 17 years and nobody noticed; Shan Foster played against both Kyle Macy and Chuck Hayes; here's a team picture from a few years ago. Look closely and you'll see Ted Skuchas two from the left. He graduated in 2006.

http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/...013008aac.html

[SLegend]

Originally Posted by will lavender

vandy players typically seem like they're there for eons. One reason is very few go pro early; another is that nobody ever flunks out, and they don't have many transfers. Mario moore was there for 17 years and nobody noticed; shan foster played against both kyle macy and chuck hayes; here's a team picture from a few years ago. Look closely and you'll see ted skuchas two from the left. He graduated in 2006.

http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/...013008aac.html

haha