NASHVILLE – There are often teams that simply have your number.

They are the teams that look forward to playing you all season long and

simply refuse to lose. Especially when the two teams are from the same

state.

This year, Vanderbilt has Tennessee’s number.

Saturday night, the Vanderbilt Commodores upset the Tennessee Volunteers

for the second time this season, 85-72 before a sellout crowd of 14,168 at

Memorial Gym.

It was the first time that the Commodores swept the Vols in the regular

season since 1994 and the first time Vandy has beaten a top-five team since

1995.

“It’s certainly a disappointment,” Tennessee head coach Jerry Green said.

“Vanderbilt was a better basketball team than the University of Tennessee

tonight.”

On Jan. 12, the Commodores waltzed into Knoxville and came back from a

14-point deficit to steal the game, 76-73. Vanderbilt was carried by their

star player, Dan Langhi. He poured in 31 points in the upset while the

Tennessee offense was rattled throughout the second half.

Saturday night was little different.

The Vols took their No. 5 ranking and SEC East lead into Nashville with

their heads high. The Vols went into the game having had a week off to

prepare for the in-state rival.

On the other side of the ball, Vanderbilt went into the contest having

dropped two consecutive games and finding itself with a mediocre 6-5

conference record.

One thing that both teams forgot was that the game wasn’t played on

paper.

“It seems like each team that we’ve lost to this year have had the same

characteristics and criteria – a very well-disciplined basketball team that

will pass it ten times and still wait for the good shot,” Green said. “You

look at Tulsa, Vanderbilt and Kentucky and that’s what you’re talking

about.”

The Commodores stayed with their game plan and slowed the Tennessee horses

down. The speedy Volunteers scored a mere two fast-break points compared to

the Vandy’s 10. They beat Tennessee at their own game.

“(Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings) told me that was about as good as

they’ve played all year,” Green said, “and I agree with him.”

Vandy kept with their substitution rotation which saw four Commodores with

over 30 minutes. However, the Black and Gold were not faded by Tennessee’s

depth which gave 11 Vols action, all but one playing more than 10

minutes.

“I thought we played our best game of the season. I thought we had to in

order to win the game,” Stallings said. “I think Tennessee has the best

team in the league and they’ve proven that.”

Anthony Williams dominated in the paint for a career high of 22 points

while grabbing 12 boards.

“Coach had been telling me in order to be successful, I had to go down into

the paint and start scoring and rebounding,” Williams said. “He showed how

much confidence he had in me so I had to come out and respond.”

Tennessee shot a dismal 39 percent from the floor, going 7-for-29 from long

range. They dropped to 21-4, 9-3 SEC on the season.