Tonight’s NCAA first round matchup between the #4 seed Vanderbilt Commodores and the #13 seed Western Carolina Catamounts marks the first time these two teams have ever played against one another, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t familiar with each other’s programs. Vanderbilt is a top tier team with a long-standing winning tradition. The Commodores have been at or very near the top of the SEC for a number of years, winning six SEC Tournament titles -- second only to UT’s 13 -- and four of the last eight.  In addition, Vanderbilt is making their tenth consecutive trip to the NCAAs, and 22nd appearance overall.  Vanderbilt’s NCAA history began under the tutelage of Phil Lee back in 1986, continued during Jim Foster’s tenure, and coach Melanie Balcomb has extended the Commodores’ invitations to the Big Dance, garnering an NCAA bid in each of her seven seasons at the Commodore helm. Catamounts head coach Kellie Jolly Harper calls Vanderbilt “one of my favorite teams to watch.”

Western Carolina, on the other hand, is a team on the rise. In her five seasons as head coach of the Catamounts, Harper has led her team to the NCAAs twice, by virtue of winning the SoCon tournament’s automatic bid. Harper is garnering a reputation throughout the nation for being as tough-nosed and talented as a coach as she was as a player at Tennessee, where she won three National Championships. Vanderbilt players say there are a lot of similarities between the two teams, and Coach Harper agrees: “I feel we have to outwork our opponents to get a win, and I think they feel the same way.”

With the injury of starting center Hannah Tuomi, Vanderbilt has been running a one in/four out offense, with quite a bit of success.  Despite losing the last two games of the regular season, Vanderbilt got their gameplan clicking on all cylinders during the SEC tourney. Having four guards on the floor at all times played havoc with each of the teams Vanderbilt faced in Little Rock. Against Georgia, the Commodores held floor general Ashley Houts to a season-low 3 points, well below her average of 12.2 ppg. In their semifinal game against LSU, Vanderbilt held Alison Hightower to 6 points, breaking her 15 game streak of double-digit scoring. In the championship game, Vandy held SEC Player of the Year Dewanna Bonner to a season-low 9 points, a full 12 points below her 21 ppg average.

Look for Vanderbilt to continue with the one post/four guard lineup. After all, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Probable starters for Vanderbilt:
G Jennifer Risper (5’9” SR)   SEC play: 10.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg  (SEC Defensive Player of the Year)
G Jessica Mooney (5’8” JR)  SEC play:  6.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.8 apg
G Jence Rhoads (5’11” SO)  SEC play:  7.5 ppg, 4.0 apg  (3rd in nation in assist to turnover ratio)
G Meredith Marsh (5’6” JR) SEC play:13.9 ppg, 96.7% ft, 48.8% three point shooting (1st in SEC)
F Christina Wirth (6’1” SR)  SEC play: 16 ppg, 5.8 rpg (SEC Tournament MVP, 1st team all-SEC)

Probable starters for Western Carolina:
G Lauren Powell (6’ SR)
G Emily Clarke (5’10” SO)
G Jessica Jackson (5’6” JR)
F Kristen Feemster (6’ JR)
C Brooke Johnson (6’4” SR)

Prediction: The Catamounts are an extremely well-coached team who have adopted their coach’s winning attitude. Look for Western Carolina to hang tough early, but Vanderbilt’s superior athleticism will take them out of their game.

Remember… There’s always an SEC connection: In addition to WCU head coach Kellie Jolly Harper having played point guard on 3 NCAA Championship teams at UT, her assistant coach (and husband) Jon Harper attended Auburn (where Jolly Harper began her coaching career as an assistant).  Additionally, Vanderbilt assistant coach Kim Rosamond played at Ole Miss from 1994 to 1998, and she played against Jolly Harper.