In the closing minutes of Saturday’s 74-69 upset of No. 9 Kentucky, Vanderbilt athletic director Candice Storey Lee stood in front of the Commodores student section and pleaded with them to not storm the Memorial Gymnasium court.

Vanderbilt never lost sight of its goal en route to its 74-69 upset win over No. 9 Kentucky on Saturday. After the game, Commodores head coach Mark Byington reflected on a pivotal huddle in the final stretch of the heated battle.

Another competitive SEC men’s basketball contest is expected for Saturday afternoon in Nashville, when head coach Mark Pope and No. 9-ranked Kentucky (14-4 overall and 3-2 in SEC play) face Mark Byington’s Vanderbilt Commodores (15-4, 3-3) at Memorial Gym.

Mark Byington says the Commodores' ability to withstand all that the No. 9 Wildcats threw at them enabled them to forge their 74-69 upset in Nashville.

Nine players departed after Stackhouse’s firing. That prompted Byington to bring in 11 transfers, including Michigan State guard AJ Hoggard, North Texas’ leading scorer Jason Edwards, Virginia Tech sharpshooter Tyler Nickel and James Madison sophomore center Jaylen Carey.

Kentucky point guard Lamont Butler dribbled stealthily along the baseline before turning on a dime back toward the basket, attempting to muster a decent look late in the shot clock. With the No. 9 Wildcats nursing a four-point lead at Vanderbilt and under eight minutes remaining,

Vandy will get another opportunity to slow down a high-octane offense against the Wildcats, who are averaging 89.2 points per game, second in the nation behind Alabama. Kentucky ranks first in the SEC in field goals made per game (31.2), three-point baskets per game (10.2) and assists per game (18.7).

Health is one issue beyond Pope’s control. Starting forward Andrew Carr missed Saturday’s contest. Starting point guard Lamont Butler is playing through bumps and bruises. And a foot injury has kept veteran backup point guard Kerr Kriisa sidelined since Dec. 7.

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington and Kentucky coach Mark Pope, who will meet up on Saturday, have defied the perceived challenges of inheriting a college basketball program in year one. Pope's ...

The Vanderbilt Commodores have gotten off to an incredible start in the first season under new head coach Mark Byington.

The latest evidence came Saturday in the form of a second straight home court-storming upset over a top-10 team, as Vanderbilt took down No. 9 Kentucky 74-69 in front of a sold out crowd at Memorial Gymnasium.