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Vanderbilt's Late-Game Timeout Decision Questioned
22 Feb
Summary
- Vanderbilt coach bypassed a timeout with 13 seconds left.
- The Commodores missed a potential game-tying three-pointer.
- Missed open shots proved costly in the recent loss.
Vanderbilt's hopes of tying the game against Tennessee with 13.2 seconds left were dashed, leading to a 68-65 loss. Coach Mark Byington's decision not to call a timeout after a made Tennessee free throw has drawn attention.
Byington explained that the team already had a play called and wanted to save their timeouts. The strategy was to drive to the basket for two points, but the play's initial positioning led to a three-point attempt by Tyler Tanner, which missed.
Earlier, Tyler Nickel also missed a wide-open three-pointer with just over two minutes remaining. These missed opportunities, coupled with the final possession, contributed to Vanderbilt's second consecutive loss, dropping them to an 8-6 SEC record.
The defeat raises concerns about Vanderbilt's double-bye prospects in the SEC Tournament. They may now need to win multiple games to secure the championship.
