Vanderbilt Locks in NCAA Tournament Bid with SEC Semifinal Win

Commodores expected to receive No. 4 seed, await opponent on Selection Sunday

Mar. 15, 2026 at 4:42am

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Vanderbilt has safely moved itself into a four-seed with its two big wins in the SEC Tournament, including a victory over the SEC No. 1 seed and No. 4 nationally ranked Florida Gators. The Commodores are expected to receive a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but their seeding could drop to a No. 5 if they lose to Arkansas in the SEC Title game.

Why it matters

Vanderbilt's strong performance in the SEC Tournament has boosted its NCAA Tournament resume, putting the team in a strong position to earn a favorable seed and matchup. As the Commodores aim for their first SEC Tournament title since 2012, this game represents a chance to further solidify their standing and potentially improve their tournament positioning.

The details

Vanderbilt star guard Duke Miles said the team felt they needed to get a big win against Florida to influence their seeding. The Commodores beat the Gators, the SEC's No. 1 seed and a top-5 nationally ranked team, which is the biggest resume booster heading into Selection Sunday. If Vanderbilt were to lose to Arkansas in the SEC Title game, the feeling is that it still will receive a No. 4 seed, but a big loss could drop them back to a No. 5 seed.

  • Vanderbilt takes on Arkansas tomorrow at 12 CT in the SEC Championship Game.
  • The NCAA Selection Show will reveal the bracket live on CBS starting at 5 p.m CT on Sunday.

The players

Duke Miles

Vanderbilt star guard.

Mark Byington

Vanderbilt head coach.

Tyler Tanner

Vanderbilt guard.

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What they’re saying

“Coach [Mark Byington] came into the game saying, 'We needed to win this game.' Obviously, for bracket play, just to help us with our seedings. We look at each and every day and each and every game as an important game. So we don't look that far ahead, but we're trying to get that higher seed for sure.”

— Duke Miles, Vanderbilt star guard (VandyOnSI)

“Whoever we play, we're going to be ready for it.”

— Tyler Tanner, Vanderbilt guard (VandyOnSI)

What’s next

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