The biggest factor in Vanderbilt’s return to national prominence – the guy who gives the Commodores a legitimate chance of winning the SEC East title – never played a game of high school basketball.
Instead, Festus Ezeli arrived in Nashville four years ago having only seen limited action in an AAU league. He was 6-foot-
Commodores coach Kevin Stallings obliged.
Four years later, things couldn’t be working out any better for Ezeli – and his team.
Wednesday’s 74-66 victory over No. 24 Georgia improved Vanderbilt’s record to 12-3 overall and 1-
John Jenkins may average more points (18.4), and Lance Goulbourne is snaring more rebounds (7.4). But no Vanderbilt player has been as steady and consistent as the redshirt junior from Nigeria. Ezeli has reached double figures in 11 of his team’s 15 games, including 10 of the last 12.
Not bad for a guy who averaged just 3.8 points as a freshman and sophomore.
In the past Ezeli was a liability on offense. He routinely missed free throws and was often whistled for three-second violations. Now, instead of just forcing hook shots, he’s developed a handful of nice post moves in the paint to complement his size and power.
Even more important is that the guy who used to find himself out of place and out of position on the court now understands the game and all – or at least some – of its intricacies.
The result has been the resurgence of a Vanderbilt team that had appeared soft at times during the past few seasons. Two of Vanderbilt’s three losses were in overtime, and the third came in the final seconds against West Virginia.
With winnable games on the horizon at Tennessee (Saturday) and at home against Ole Miss (Wednesday) the Commodores – and Ezeli – have a chance to enhance their reputation on a national stage.
They’re definitely off to a good start.