Vanderbilt Commodores Lose Star Guard Duke Miles to Knee Surgery

Commodores hope to bounce back without their leading scorer for the time being.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:07pm

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The Vanderbilt Commodores suffered a major blow as senior guard Duke Miles will undergo knee surgery, sidelining the team's leading scorer. Head coach Mark Byington expressed optimism that Miles will return this season to lead Vanderbilt's March Madness push, but his absence will be felt as the Commodores navigate a challenging SEC schedule.

Why it matters

Duke Miles has been a key contributor for the 18-3 Vanderbilt Commodores, averaging 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game. His injury is a significant setback for a Vanderbilt team that has bounced back from a three-game losing streak and is currently 5-3 in SEC play, just a game-and-a-half behind conference leader Texas A&M.

The details

Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington revealed that Miles will undergo knee surgery, but expressed optimism that the senior guard will return this season. The Commodores played without Miles in their 80-55 win over Kentucky on Tuesday night. Byington said Miles "was a great leader today" and has "been playing through some pain." The coach believes Miles "won't be out long" and will "attack rehab" after the surgery scheduled for Wednesday morning.

  • On Tuesday night, Vanderbilt played without Duke Miles in their 80-55 win over Kentucky.
  • Miles is scheduled to undergo knee surgery on Wednesday morning.

The players

Duke Miles

A senior guard for the Vanderbilt Commodores who is the team's leading scorer, averaging 16.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game.

Mark Byington

The head coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“He's got to get cleanup in his knee. And he'll be back. He was a great leader today. He's been playing through some pain, I think everybody knows.”

— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores

“The way he's going to attack things, the way he's going to be, he won't be out long. He's going to get surgery tomorrow morning and then he's going to attack rehab.”

— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt Commodores

What’s next

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The takeaway

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