The new era of Vanderbilt Men’s Basketball is off to a promising start in 2024, with the Commodores picking up two convincing wins vs. Maryland Eastern Shore and Southeast Missouri. Head coach Mark Byington and a strong transfer class headlined by Jason Edwards, AJ Hoggard and Devin McGlockton will look to build on their strong start as they host the California Golden Bears at 7 p.m. CST on Nov. 13.
Cal is similarly facing a crucial turning point in its program. After the departure of their top eight scorers from last season, the Golden Bears boast an equally impressive transfer class headlined by Andrej Stojakovich (son of NBA legend Peja Stojakovich) and Jovan Blacksher Jr. Entering its second season with head coach Mark Madsen and its first year in the ACC, Cal will look to improve on its 2-0 start — its first in the past five years — against Vanderbilt.
After leading James Madison to a 32-4 record and an NCAA tournament berth last year, Byington has high hopes to transform a Vanderbilt program that went 70-92 the past five seasons under former head coach Jerry Stackhouse. The Bears present Byington and his Commodores with their first big test in this new age for the Black and Gold.
Offensive weapons
Transfers Jason Edwards and Devin McGlockton have emerged as offensive leaders through two games for Vanderbilt, combining for 37 points per game.
McGlockton has impressed with his efficiency from the field and presence on the glass. He is currently shooting 14-of-19, and 17 of his 32 total rebounds have come on the offensive end. The junior forward has been a breath of fresh air following a season in 2023-24 that saw Vanderbilt struggle on the boards, accumulating a mere 34.4 rebounds per game. McGlockton’s 16 rebounds per game have led the team to an excellent total of 50.5 RPG to start the season.
Jason Edwards looks like Vanderbilt’s most effective and explosive backcourt scorer. He leads the team in minutes (27.5 minutes per game) and has found success getting to the rim. Despite inconsistent shooting (38.5% from the field and 28.6% from deep), Edwards has slashed through the lane for 18 points per game and projects to be an offensive leader all season.
Big-name transfer AJ Hoggard put up 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting in 23 minutes off the bench against Southeast Missouri after serving a one-game suspension for participating in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He will likely serve a bigger role and look to bounce back against Cal on Wednesday night.
Cal’s backcourt of Blacksher Jr. and Stojakovich has emerged as the heart of its offense. Blacksher Jr. is entering his sixth year of college basketball after spending five seasons playing for GCU. He has contributed 17.5 PPG at 44.4% from the field and a notable 50% from beyond the arc through two games in 2024. However, Stojakovic hasn’t quite found his groove, with preseason expectations projecting he’d be a top shooter on the team. His 15.5 points per game are projected to increase once his shot starts to connect (just 25% from 3-point range).
Trouble beyond the arc
Vanderbilt’s new fast-paced offense is designed to lead to a higher percentage of catch-and-shoot looks in rhythm after its poor 28.3% team conversion rate last season. So far, the new offense hasn’t worked: The Commodores’ shots have simply not been falling, shooting just 11-of-59 (18.6%) from downtown in their first two games.
Conversely, the Golden Bears have been efficient from deep, shooting 18-for-49 (36.7%) to start the season. If they can continue to connect efficiently on 3-pointers — and Stojakovic hits his stride — their explosive shooting could pose problems for a Vanderbilt team that has allowed opposing teams to shoot 41% from beyond the arc this season.
Cal has also struggled to defend the perimeter this season, allowing opponents to shoot 45% on deep balls. This defensive weakness could allow the Commodores to find their footing and knock down shots.
A familiar face
Lee Dort — after an up-and-down career with Vanderbilt that included 17 games in 2022-23 and ended with a 2023-24 suspension — will return to Memorial Gymnasium on Wednesday night. This time, he’ll be wearing blue and gold.
Dort appears to have found a home on the West Coast, emerging as a strong bench contributor for Cal. He posted four points and six rebounds in his first action since November 2023 in the Bears’ season-opener against Cal State Bakersfield. He took another step forward against Cal Poly, going four-of-five from the field with 8 points and 11 rebounds, both career-highs.
The Commodores will host the California Golden Bears at 7 p.m. CDT on Nov. 13 at Memorial Gym.
