Marshall (4-3, 0-0) has never played Vanderbilt (4-3, 0-0)
in basketball but, they are familiar with the Commodores leading scorer.
Before sitting out last season as a transfer, guard Eric McClellan was a Tulsa
Golden Hurricane. McClellan scored 25 points and pulled down seven rebounds in Tulsa’s
triple-overtime loss against Marshall in the 2012 Conference USA Tournament. Seven
games into his Vanderbilt career, he is averaging 17.6 points per game.
The Commodores rotate five forwards that all stand over
6-foot-7 or taller. Junior James Siakem is the most dangerous of the bunch, he averages
10.1 points and seven rebounds per game.
Even with their size, Vanderbilt does not play a methodical style
of basketball. Through the season’s first seven games they are averaging 74.1
points per outing. They are also a fairly efficient bunch, ranking 77th
in the nation with a .474 field goal percentage.
Vanderbilt’s biggest advantage this evening might be the friendly
confines of Memorial Gymnasium. If you have not seen it before (picture below),
the court sits on a risen stage and the benches are located on opposing
baselines. The unique setup probably explains why the Commodores win almost
80-percent of their home games.
Tonight’s tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
Picture courtesy aviewfrommyseats.com
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