Vanderbilt University has hired former James Madison head coach Mark Byington as its new men’s head basketball coach. I like this hire a lot.

I’ve read where some are disappointed about this, but I’m elated.

Byington just went 32-4 at JMU this season and defeated Michigan State on the road the first game of the season and also defeated Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament last Friday. His team got hammered by Duke yesterday in the second round, but they looked a little nervous having not been on this stage before. Duke played out of their minds as well and they’re a terrific team already.

Byington is a 47 year old native of Salem, Virginia near Roanoke in southwestern Virginia. He coached Georgia Southern from 2014-2020 and his last 3 teams won 20 or more games. He didn’t take those teams to the NCAA Tournament, but Georgia Southern wasn’t exactly a basketball powerhouse to begin with. He took over at James Madison for the 2020-21 season and in four seasons compiled an 82-36 record, 70%. His team went 13-7 in a shortened 2020-21 season, 15-14 in ‘21-22, 22-11 and 12-6 in the Sun Belt which they transitioned to in ‘22-23, and this year achieved massive success.

This is a very positive hire by Candice. I appreciate her getting the right person for the program. That’s well done by our Athletics Director.

 Bucky McMillan would have been a good hire, but he is only 40 and has only four years of experience as a college head coach. He would have been worth a shot, but I like Byington just as well, if not more. 

Coach Byington will have to assemble a team after some defections from the program. Vandy Sports was reporting that he might be able to keep Tyrin Lawrence. Ezra Manjon is unfortunately out of eligibility. Colin Smith, Lee Dort and Paul Lewis are transferring. Smith is the biggest loss as Dort has legal issues and Lewis struggled this season as Ezra Manjon was tremendous and hard to get off the court.

He’ll have to prove he can recruit in the SEC, so that’ll be a challenge. But I believe in Coach Byington. He does well with the portal, and hoping he can bring in some stellar freshmen also. You still have to recruit talented young players who are solid people for the foundation of your program.He’ll need to hit the ground running to assemble a 2024-25 team. I’m looking forward to seeing his product next season. Like what he’s accomplished and what he can do in Memorial. The Collective is much better for recruiting and retaining players, and the new facilities are exceptional.

Byingron likes the athletic, uptempo style that gets after it on defense, which is what you want in this day and age of college basketball. I’m excited about Coach Byington and I like what we’re getting.

Vandy Boys

Baseball needs to regroup for Valparaiso tomorrow, Tuesday, at 6 PM @ the Hawk and Thursday through Saturday at the Hawk vs Missouri. Game time Thursday is 6 PM on SEC Network+. Friday’s game is also at 6 PM and will be broadcast by SECN+. And Saturday’s game will commence at 1 PM on the SEC Network. Will try to get something out later this week. Took some major body blows at South Carolina, as we got swept, so we just need  to put that behind us, as painful as it was, and improve this week and go undefeated starting tomorrow versus Valpo.