Vanderbilt faces McNeese in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament Oklahoma City; Thursday, 3:15 p.m. EDT BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Commodores -11.5; over/under is 149.5 No. 16 Vanderbilt will take on McNeese in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking a matchup between two teams with contrasting conference records. The Commodores, ranked 16th in the nation, enter the game with a 26-8 overall record and a 13-8 mark against SEC opponents. They have dominated non-conference play, going 13-0, and rank sixth in the SEC with an average of 86.4 points per game. Their shooting efficiency from the field stands at 47.5%, a key strength in their offensive approach. McNeese, meanwhile, brings a 28-5 record into the tournament, with a strong 21-3 showing in Southland Conference play. The Cowboys rank seventh in their conference with an average of 21.2 defensive rebounds per game, led by Larry Johnson, who averages 3.7 rebounds per contest. The team’s offensive output includes 6.7 made three-pointers per game, slightly below the 8.2 per game that Vanderbilt allows. However, McNeese’s ability to score from beyond the arc remains a notable factor, as they average 6.7 made threes per game, which is 0.4 fewer than the 8.2 per game Vanderbilt allows. Vanderbilt’s offensive firepower is highlighted by Tyler Nickel, who averages 3.0 made three-pointers per game while contributing 13.5 points per contest. His shooting accuracy from beyond the arc sits at 40.0%, and over the past 10 games, he has averaged 19.6 points while shooting 51.2% from three-point range. The Commodores’ overall performance in their last 10 games shows a balanced attack, with a 6-4 record. They score an average of 80.8 points per game, grab 30.6 rebounds, and distribute 14.5 assists while recording 6.8 steals and 3.4 blocks per contest.#vanderbilt #tyler_nickel #mcneese #larry_johnson #tyshawn_archie
