Vanderbilt put on a clinic against Florida. The No. 22 Commodores beat No. 1 seed Florida 91-74 in the SEC tournament semifinals, delivering one of the tournament's biggest shocks and proving they belong in March's biggest games. This wasn't close — Vanderbilt controlled the entire game from start to finish, and the defending national champions had no answer.
Tyler Tanner and Duke Miles combined for 35 points and 15 assists, with Jalen Washington adding 17 points in a balanced offensive attack. What made this win even more impressive was the depth: four other Vanderbilt players scored in double figures, with six different Commodores making at least one 3-pointer, and everyone who played scored at least a bucket. When a team plays like that, nobody can defend it.
Vanderbilt shot 54.5% from the field and 91.3% from the line, while committing just eight turnovers to Florida's 14. The Commodores' bench also dominated, outscoring Florida's reserves significantly. Vanderbilt led by as many as 25 points and Florida led for just 70 seconds, which tells you everything about who controlled this game.
Vanderbilt is rolling into the NCAA Tournament on a high note in one of its best seasons in program's history. The big win over Florida improved their resume significantly heading into Selection Sunday. On March 15, the Commodores advanced to play Arkansas in the SEC championship game. With a tournament title, Vanderbilt could have jumped seeding — but even if they fall short, Vanderbilt is a No. 5 seed in the South Region for March Madness.
For Florida, the loss was tough. On a 13-game winning streak with a loaded lineup and appearing poised for a No. 1 seed, the Gators' freewheeling dash and attempt to repeat as SEC tournament champions hit a speed bump in the tournament. The defending national champs will have to see how the selection committee views their championship credentials when Selection Sunday comes on March 15.