Vanderbilt it will honor its three historic SEC Regular Season Championship men’s basketball teams during halftime presentations this January and February, the school announced last week. The three teams, from 1965, 1974 and 1993 represent the aspirations of new head coach Jerry Stackhouse and the pinnacle of Vanderbilt basketball.
“It’s important to us as an athletic department to celebrate the achievements of our student-athletes and to come together as a Vanderbilt family to honor our traditions and great moments,” Athletic Director Malcom Turner said. “Memorial Gym and the longtime success of our men’s basketball program are central to our identity.”
These three teams have paved the way for the future success of this program, and while has been more than two decades since the last regular season title, Commodore basketball is something that has been long beloved by alumni and Nashvillians alike.
“By celebrating our SEC men’s basketball champions this year, including the beloved F-Troop and SEC Player of the Year Jan van Breda Kolff, we have a unique opportunity to connect our greatest teams from the past with head coach Jerry Stackhouse and a new era of Vanderbilt basketball,” Turner said.
1965 Regular Season Championship
The 1965 team will be honored on February 11th in the midst of the Commodores clash with Kentucky.
In what was the first of legendary Vanderbilt Head Coach Roy Skinner’s two SEC regular season titles, this team won 24 total games and boasted a 15-1 SEC campaign en route to a near Final Four appearance. But for a slight two point loss to Michigan in the then Mideast regional final, this team could have become Vanderbilt’s one and only Final Four team.
The group was lead by eventual third overall pick and NBA All-Star Clyde Lee. He was a two time SEC Player of the Year and a two time All-American, one of four players in program history to earn All-American status.
1974 Regular Season Championship
In the first installment of the halftime celebrations, the 1974 team was honored during the Commodores loss to Texas A&M on Saturday January 11th.
This team featured one of the most iconic rosters in Vanderbilt sports history. The fan favorite, “F-Troop”, a trio of All-American Jeff Fosnes, Joe Ford, and Butch Feher, combined with SEC Player of the Year Jan Van Breda Kolff, to create one of the most dominant teams in the country.
In addition to the F-troop trio, forward Terry Compton made four 1,000 point career scorers and the team went 15-3 in the SEC en route to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
1993 Regular Season Championship
The 1993 team will be honored on February 1st when the Commodores take on Florida at Memorial Gymnasium.
1993 featured the high point of “Memorial Magic” as former Duke Blue Devil Bill McCaffrey had one of the greatest single seasons by a Commodore ever. In a season in which he averaged nearly 21 points per game, he shot over 55% from the field and 51% from three point range on five attempts per game.
The team won 28 total games and was ranked as high as fifth in the AP Poll before losing to Temple in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet Sixteen.
Attendees for the remaining two ceremonies will be announced at a later date by the Vanderbilt Athletic Office.
