Game 1: Bellarmine Knights at Vanderbilt Commodores

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - OCTOBER 19: Tyler Tanner #3 of the Vanderbilt Commodores shoots the ball prior to the game against the UAB Blazers at Vanderbilt University Memorial Gymnasium on October 19, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images) | Getty Images Basketball’s back, a

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What is the story about?

Basketball’s back, and Vanderbilt opens the season against the Bellarmine Knights, who come down from Louisville for tonight’s game which tips off at 6:00 PM CT and can be watched on the SEC Network+.

Bellarmine is coming off a 13-19 season in their first season under Doug Davenport, the son of longtime coach and Division II national champion Scott Davenport, and KenPom doesn’t project them to be much better this season. On the Vanderbilt end, the Commodores return just three players from last year’s

27-9 team, but one of them is Tyler Tanner who I’ve heard some basketball people talk about as a potential National Player of the Year. Let’s have fun.