Vanderbilt basketball is only looking up in year three of the Mark Byington era. Can the Commodores make a run this March?
The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Vanderbilt basketball.
Under Mark Byington, the Commodores and Vanderbilt basketball have enjoyed almost unprecedented success, at least compared to Vanderbilt teams past. They’re 47-22 over the past two years and have made the tournament twice in a row. Just as everybody thought, the beneficiary of the NIL era is…Vanderbilt basketball.
But if this team wins 27 games again, it’ll look quite different other than at point guard. Only two regular contributors, Tyler Tanner and Chandler Bing, return to the squad as Mark Byington reloaded through the transfer portal. Without further ado, and sadly without the sounds of Lionel Richie, here are your Commodores.
At point guard, of course, it’s the star Tyler Tanner, who tested the draft waters but ultimately decided to return to Nashville. He’ll be one of the best players in the Southeastern Conference, if not the favorite for the SEC Player of the Year award. Backing him up will be freshman Ant Brown Jr., who despite being a freshman, is more than capable of stepping into the game when Tanner needs a breather.
The starting shooting guard spot belongs to Washington State transfer Ace Glass, who scores a point for nominal determinism. Glass averaged over 16 PPG for the Cougars last year and the high-quality shooter will immediately see tons of playing time in Nashville. Another freshman, this time Gabe Nesmith, will play the backup guard role at the two. Nesmith might even be more polished than Brown, and without the addition of Glass, certainly would’ve challenged for the starting position.
At wing, Missouri transfer T.O. Barrett and returnee Chandler Bing look to see the most minutes. They’ll be joined by another talented freshman, Ethan Mgbako. Barrett had a stupendous end of last season with the Tigers after gaining a starting position for Dennis Gates’s squad, while Bing returns after a reserve role with the ‘Dores last year. Mgbako will absolutely see minutes as well.
Getting into the big men, the starting power forward position is all Sebastian Williams-Adams. The Auburn transfer had a wonderful freshman season with the Tigers, even though the team didn’t meet expectations. In an NIT win over Seattle, he tied a season-high with 15 points. Look for him to do that often with Vanderbilt. Backing up Williams-Adams will be freshman Jackson Sheffield, though he doesn’t appear likely to challenge Williams-Adams for a starting spot.
And at center, two talented transfers made their way to Nashville in the offseason. Only one can start, and we give the edge to Colorado transfer Bangot Dak. Dak has improved on his rates and per-game numbers all three years he’s been in college, starting in a reserve role as a freshman for the Buffs before blossoming into a starter almost all last season as a junior. He’ll provide much-needed experience and defense for Vanderbilt basketball.
The other center transfer of note is Nebraska transfer Berke Büyüktuncel, who also spent time at UCLA. Like Dak, his stats improved every year in college, and he comes in as a senior. It wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world if he started game one for Vanderbilt basketball. Also in the center room is returnee Jayden Leverett, who saw some time in a reserve role last year.
Overall, Vanderbilt basketball certainly has a good chance to hit the 20-win mark for the third straight season. However, it will depend on the cohesion of the various transfers and handful of freshman. If this team gets humming, watch out. Just a fair warning, however, that it might take a few weeks to reach peak level for the ‘Dores.
Head coach: Mark Byington (15th season overall, 3rd at Vanderbilt)
2025-26 record: 27-9 (11-7)
2026 postseason finish: Lost to Nebraska (74-72) in second round of NCAA Tournament
Notable departures:
- All contributors except for Tyler Tanner and Chandler Bing
Notable non-conference games:
- vs. Wake Forest (Nov. 5)
- vs. Memphis (Nov. 10)
- vs. UCF (Nov. 20)
- at Ohio State (Nov. 24)
- at Notre Dame (Dec. 2)
- at California (Dec. 6)
Projected Rotation
PG: Tyler Tanner (6-0, 181, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 19.5 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.6 RPG, 85.3 FT%, 2.4 SPG
SG: Ace Glass (6-3, 200, So.)
2025-26 stats: 16.4 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.3 APG, 88.2 FT% (Washington State)
SF: T.O. Barrett (6-6, 215, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 8.6 PPG, 3.0 APG, 2.7 RPG, 1.2 SPG (Missouri)
PF: Sebastian Williams-Adams (6-9, 251, So.)
2025-26 stats: 7.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.2 SPG (Auburn)
C: Bangot Dak (6-11, 210, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 11.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 1.4 APG, 1.6 BPG (Colorado)
6: Gabe Nesmith (6-6, 201, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 34 ranked recruit
7: Berke Büyüktuncel (6-10, 260, Sr.)
2025-26 stats: 6.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.0 BPG (Nebraska)
8: Chandler Bing (6-7, 210, Jr.)
2025-26 stats: 3.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG, 0.4 APG, 14.8 MPG
9: Ant Brown Jr. (6-3, 190, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 88 ranked recruit
10: Ethan Mgbako (6-6, 210, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 72 ranked recruit
11: Jayden Leverett (6-11, 266, So.)
2025-26 stats: 1.0 PPG, 1.2 RPG, 0.0 APG, 4.0 MPG
12: Jackson Sheffield (6-10, 241, Fr.)
247Sports Composite No. 136 ranked recruit
Vanderbilt basketball team MVP: Tyler Tanner
If Tyler Tanner was taller, he’d be playing a NBA preseason game right about now. But he’d probably be less fun to watch. That’s the give and take of short guards. Tanner’s listed at an even six feet, but plays like he’s much taller, as seen by his variety of dunks last season.
Speaking of last season, he placed top five amongst qualified players in the SEC in these categories: offensive box plus/minus, points produced, assist percentage, steal percentage, defensive box plus/minus, overall box plus/minus, win shares/40 minutes, offensive win shares, overall win shares, PER, minutes played, free throws made, and points per game. Got all that? Tyler Tanner is arguably the most talented player in the SEC. Another season in Nashville will only prove that more and more.
Vanderbilt basketball make-or-break player: T.O. Barrett
Barrett comes in from Missouri following two seasons with the Tigers. After a deep bench role as a freshman, he saw increased playing time to 22.8 MPG with double digit starts. In those 14 starts, which all came in the final 14 games for Mizzou, Barrett averaged 12.4 PPG.
His average game score increased by almost double, his perimeter shooting efficiency increased, and his assist and rebound totals went up. Some players simply perform their best when they’re in the starting lineup, and Barrett might be one of those players. He should be one of the five on the court when Vandy tips off their opening contest.
Key statistic: Assists per game
Vanderbilt basketball had a great-but-not-elite season last year from the standpoint of assists. The Commodores ranked just inside the top 50 nationally with a rate of 16.3 assists per game. Room to grow, sure, but very good. More good news? Tyler Tanner, obviously, is back. He averaged over five per game last season, and with another offseason in the Byington Scheme under his belt, Vanderbilt basketball should see even more playmaking production from their lead guard.
Elsewhere, Ace Glass’s assist numbers don’t pop off the page, but he can certainly score, while T.O. Barrett and freshman guards Gabe Nesmith and Ant Brown should also be able to spread the ball consistently. Look for the Commodores to average even more assists per game than last season.
Vanderbilt basketball 2026-27 projections
Projected conference finish: 6th in the SEC
Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance