At 9 a.m. CDT on Oct. 8, Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball released a media advisory indicating that USC transfer Kijani Wright was ruled out indefinitely with a non-basketball health issue. The 6’9” big man was slated to be a centerpiece of new head coach Mark Byington’s rotation, which is notably lacking in size. Byington held a press conference to address Wright’s situation and more ahead of Vanderbilt’s open practice in the afternoon.
Byington acknowledged the hole that Wright’s absence will leave in the lineup, especially on the defensive side, and detailed his plans to adjust.
“Without Kijani [Wright], we’re going to have to really adjust some things, more so on defense,” Byington said. “On offense, I think we’ll be similar. There will be some guys who will move over a position and some guys [who will] have to play multiple positions.”
As for who would step into those roles, Byington had some ideas.
“I think you’ll see Devin McGlockton move all around [through our entire rotation],” Byington said. “JQ Roberts is going to play. Jaylen Carey’s already been really good at the position, so we’ll figure it out.”
While he did not provide a specific timeline, Byington gave an idea of the severity of Wright’s situation.
“I think that we’ll get him back at some point,” Byington said. “If we have to wait [until] the next year, [we’ll] wait [until] the next year, but he will be back with us.”
Likewise, Byington was mum on the specifics of Wright’s condition, but he did disclose that Wright is doing well.
“We’re at the point now where he’s healthy, but there’s second opinions, third opinions and there’ll be more follow up and then they’ll get the issue resolved,” Byington said. “It’s going to be a while [before Wright returns.] It’s going to be a couple of months at least.”
Last season, Vanderbilt lacked imposing size at the center position. Ven-Allen Lubin and Carter Lang shouldered most of the responsibility, but neither eclipsed 7 feet — a commonality in the SEC.
Both Lubin and Carter transferred in the offseason, leaving Byington without an option at center. When Wright announced his commitment, the expectation was that he’d take over the mantle of a traditional five. but Byington, now without a true center, will have to adjust.
“[We’re] a little undersized at that position, but we’re not an undersized team,” Byington said. “We’re going to have size at different positions, but at the center position, we’re a little undersized.”
Byington plans to account for this lack of size with offensive variety. Carey — who Byington believes fits the bill of a stretch five — is key to that vision.
“You’ll see our so-called centers shooting threes and doing things that stretch the court,” Byington said. “Jaylen [Carey] was a great top-of-the-key three-point shooter last year,” Byington said. “I have confidence in him shooting. My goal is for him to make at least one a game.”
Continuing on the theme of versatility, Byington described his vision for a team with multiple ball handlers populating the court simultaneously to keep Vanderbilt’s pace-of-play high.
“Sometimes you might look and say, ‘Wow, they have three or four point guards on the roster,’” Byington said. “That’s going to help us on offense. We’re going to play with pace, we’re going to play fast … I don’t like to have just one point guard on the court, I like to have multiple guys who are capable of playing it.”
The Commodores only returned one player who saw playing time last season (Roberts) after the majority of last year’s squad transferred or graduated. As a result, this season’s roster consists of almost entirely new faces — a tough obstacle for Byington.
“When players are coming in for one year or don’t know each other, as a coach, sometimes you’re kind of forcing the chemistry,” Byington said. “What I like now since we’ve come back to school after a summer session is that it’s way more natural now.”
Beyond building chemistry and utilizing a high-motor offense, Byington has put a large emphasis on the Commodores’ need to develop a strong defense.
“Sometimes our defense segment’s so long, we don’t get to offense,” Byington said. “We understand that defense is going to be something that’s going to give us a chance to win every game, home or road.”
Byington’s theories will be put into practice in less than a month on Nov. 4, when the Black and Gold host Maryland Eastern Shore at Memorial Gymnasium for their first game of the season.
