Game One Provides Teaching Moment For Stackhouse With Young Commodores

Jerry Stackhouse has some work still left to do this season, and the first game, a home win over Southeast Missouri State provided the first-year head coach a teaching moment, and perhaps showed him something about his team.

The Vanderbilt Commodores jumped out to a double digit advantage in the first half against visiting Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday night at Memorial Gym, only to see their opponents battle back to tie the game at halftime. 

While Commodores fans were likely wringing their hands in nervous energy that SEMO had battled back, it presented a teaching, and learning moment for head coach Jerry Stackhouse.

Granted I was not present in the locker room, but I can guess what the message was that Stackhouse delivered. Something along the lines of keeping your foot on the gas when you get a big lead, or not relaxing and thinking the game is over. 

It also allowed Stackhouse to learn something about his young squad at the same time. 

What did he learn? He got at least a glimpse of how this bunch responded to adversity of losing a big lead and then having to start over in the second half all even.

 There were mistakes, that's prt of the youth and learning process, but there were some positives to take away and build on for these young Commodores. 

Rome wasn't built in a day, as the old saying goes and these Commodores aren't likely to make it to the Final Four this season, but you have to start somewhere and a win, any win is a good one when both players and coaches learn something about each other this easly in their college careers together.