Vanderbilt Upsets No. 1 Seed Florida in SEC Tournament Semifinal

Commodores dominate from start to finish in 91-74 victory

Mar. 14, 2026 at 8:06pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Vanderbilt's men's basketball team pulled off a convincing 91-74 upset over No. 1 seed Florida in the SEC Tournament semifinal. The Commodores used their physicality and defensive intensity to build a strong lead in the first half and never looked back, getting contributions from multiple players on offense. Head coach Mark Byington praised his team's focus, toughness and team-first mentality in the win, which puts Vanderbilt one game away from their first SEC Tournament championship since 2012.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt's victory over the defending national champion Gators is a major statement win that solidifies their status as a force to be reckoned with in the SEC. The Commodores have now proven they can compete with and beat the conference's elite teams, boosting their NCAA Tournament resume and giving them momentum heading into the championship game.

The details

Vanderbilt used a balanced scoring attack and stifling defense to overwhelm Florida from the opening tip. The Commodores built a double-digit lead in the first half by capitalizing on the Gators' foul trouble, and they maintained that advantage throughout the second half. Vanderbilt's guards, led by Duke Miles and Tyler Tanner, did an excellent job controlling the tempo and finding open teammates, with five players scoring in double figures. The Commodores also held their own on the glass against Florida's size advantage.

  • Vanderbilt and Florida met in the SEC Tournament semifinal on March 14, 2026.

The players

Mark Byington

The head coach of the Vanderbilt men's basketball team, who led the Commodores to this upset victory over the top-seeded Gators.

Duke Miles

Vanderbilt's starting point guard, who had 8 assists in the win over Florida.

Tyler Tanner

Vanderbilt's starting shooting guard, who had 7 assists in the victory over the Gators.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“You could tell how much we wanted the game and how focused we were. From start to finish, we came out with just an incredible intensity. We knew we had to play well.”

— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt (si.com)

“These guys are tough. We have versatility. We can go to a bigger lineup, AK Okereke at the small forward and play two bigs together. The two teams we just played, there might be more, but I doubt there's any more physical size on the inside than these two teams.”

— Mark Byington, Head Coach, Vanderbilt (si.com)

What’s next

Vanderbilt will play in the SEC Tournament championship game on Sunday, March 16, 2026, with a chance to win their first conference tournament title since 2012.

The takeaway

Vanderbilt's decisive victory over the top-seeded and defending national champion Florida Gators demonstrates the Commodores' ability to compete with and defeat the elite teams in the SEC. This win boosts Vanderbilt's NCAA Tournament resume and gives them momentum heading into the conference championship game, where they'll look to capture their first SEC Tournament title in over a decade.