In the closing minutes of Saturday’s 74-69 upset of No. 9 Kentucky, Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee stood in front of the Commodores student section and pleaded with them to not storm the Memorial Gymnasium court.

Vanderbilt never lost sight of its goal en route to its 74-69 upset win over No. 9 Kentucky on Saturday. After the game, Commodores head coach Mark Byington reflected on a pivotal huddle in the final stretch of the heated battle.

Nine players departed after Stackhouse’s firing. That prompted Byington to bring in 11 transfers, including Michigan State guard AJ Hoggard, North Texas’ leading scorer Jason Edwards, Virginia Tech sharpshooter Tyler Nickel and James Madison sophomore center Jaylen Carey.

Kentucky fifth-year forward Andrew Carr was ruled out for the Wildcats in the game on the SEC injury report injury report Saturday afternoon. This was the first game that Carr missed for UK this season. On Friday night’s injury report, Carr was listed as questionable, and Kerr Kriisa as out, for the Vanderbilt game.

Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler dribbled stealthily along the baseline before turning on a dime back toward the basket, attempting to muster a decent look late in the shot clock. With the No. 9 Wildcats nursing a four-point lead at Vanderbilt and under eight minutes remaining,

Coming off their upset win over Tennessee, it seemed like everything was starting to move in the right direction for Vanderbilt. After they dominated their nonc

Vandy will get another opportunity to slow down a high-octane offense against the Wildcats, who are averaging 89.2 points per game, second in the nation behind Alabama. Kentucky ranks first in the SEC in field goals made per game (31.2), three-point baskets per game (10.2) and assists per game (18.7).

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington and Kentucky coach Mark Pope, who will meet up on Saturday, have defied the perceived challenges of inheriting a college basketball program in year one. Pope's ...

Health is one issue beyond Pope’s control. Starting forward Andrew Carr missed Saturday’s contest. Starting point guard Lamont Butler is playing through bumps and bruises. And a foot injury has kept veteran backup point guard Kerr Kriisa sidelined since Dec. 7.

The first offense carried a $100,000 fine and the second offense was $250,000. The third (and all subsequent incidents) carry a maximum $500,000 fine. Because it is a conference game, Vanderbilt will pay the money directly to the University of Kentucky,

After the John Calipari era, Kentucky fans are well-accustomed to the concept of positionless basketball; tomorrow at Vanderbilt, the Cats will face a team that takes it to another level. Mark Byington replaced Jerry Stackhouse as Vanderbilt’s head coach this past offseason.