NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For the second straight year, we spent a game day with the Vanderbilt women’s team as they prepared to host a top shelf non-conference opponent. Last year, the day was capped with a win over Dayton. This year, the Commodores got an overtime win inside Memorial Gymnasium over Green Bay. Here are five takeaways from our day with coach Melanie Balcomb and the powerhouse SEC program:
By: @BrandonClayPSB
You can read our in-game thoughts from Vanderbilt vs Green Bay here: Vanderbilt Game Blog – Nov. 17, 2014
1) The 2014-15 Vanderbilt roster is deep.
On this night, the Commodores played ten players at least six minutes with Jr. Forward Heather Bowe and Fr. Forward Khaleann Caron-Goudreau in warmups for this one. Balcomb will have the luxury of playing a multitude of varying lineups based on matchups, availability and the hot hand approach as well.
custom essay writing company 2) Marqu’es Webb is living up to the hype.
Webb was ranked No. 21 nationally per ProspectsNation.com coming out of high school in 2013. The 6-foot-1 sophomore post has been just as good as advertised so far. In the Green Bay win, Webb posted 13 points and 11 rebounds in 33 minutes of action. Her presence on the interior made it hard for Green Bay to get anything going in the lane. Webb also secured a couple of key rebounds during the overtime period to secure the victory.
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3) Paris Kea and Audrey Ann Caron-Goudreau aren’t regular freshman.
Like Webb, Kea was a ProspectsNation.com ELITE 25 caliber prospect as a high schooler. She has stepped right in as Vanderbilt’s point guard of the future and a potential four-year game finisher. Caron-Goudreau wasn’t far behind coming in as the No. 52 ranked prep. At 6-3, she has the size to play either inside position alongside Webb. Both Kea essay on how to help the environment and Caron-Goudreau played like seasoned veterans down the stretch on Monday night. Kea, who played for the USA Basketball 18-and-under team this past summer, ended up with 10 points and six assists while playing 40 plus minutes. Caron-Goudreau finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds including two free throws that helped ice the game.
4) Melanie Balcomb’s got Vandy in great shape.
With a top notch coaching staff in place and more depth on the roster than any Vanderbilt team in recent memory, the Commodores are ready to rock and roll. Matched up with a Green Bay team that beat Marquette on Saturday and Purdue earlier this evening, they couldn’t match Vanderbilt’s talent player for player. On a night where So. Guard Rebekah Dahlman struggled to get rolling, Fr. Wing Christa Reed and Jr. Forward Morgan Batey both stepped up big. Knowing exactly when to press buttons and make key substitutions are an important piece of what has made Balcomb essay on my dream holiday one of the league’s signature coaches.
5) The Commodores aren’t trending anywhere but up.
As if back-to-back ProspectsNation.com ELITE 25 ranked recruiting classes in 2013 and 2014 weren’t enough, Balcomb has already secured a commitment from the No. 6 prospect nationally in 2016, Chassity Carter of Dickson, Tenn. Vandy beat out some of the nation’s premier programs including longtime in-state conference foe Tennessee for Carter, a five-star prospect. Also, the Commodores are slated to return everyone off of this year’s roster for the 2015-16 season. Don’t expect the ‘Dores to go anywhere but up the SEC ladder in the near future.
Brandon Clay is the owner of the JumpOffPlus.com International Report, Peach State Basketball, Inc., and ProspectsNation.com. The JumpOffPlus.com is picked up by more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. He serves as the Executive Camp Director for the Elite Basketball Academy Camps. Clay has been involved in the community since 2001. You can reach him at [email protected]