Live Blog: No. 24 Vanderbilt Basketball at No. 23 Tennessee

Vanderbilt looks to get back on track in what could be a must-win game.

Feb 21, 2026; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores forward Devin McGlockton (99) reacts after a made three point basket made by forward Tyler Nickel (5) against the Tennessee Volunteers during the second half at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Can Vanderbilt return to form in the final game of the regular season?

That is the question every Vanderbilt fan has been asking for the past two or three weeks as the Commodores have limped their way to the finish line of the regular season. Vanderbilt is coming off a 89-86 overtime win over Ole Miss Tuesday night in which Tyler Tanner played the role of Superman and willed Vanderbilt to a victory in a game it had to have.

Vanderbilt has lost three of its last five games heading into today and one of those losses came against the opponent it is playing against this afternoon, No. 23 Tennessee.

The last time these two teams met, Tennessee beat Vanderbilt in Nashville 69-65 in a game where Vanderbilt missed key open shots down the stretch that would have made a huge swing toward the Commodores. But it was Tennessee’s Nate Ament that made a couple big time shots that led the Volunteers to victory.

Now, Vanderbilt gets a chance at redemption against its rivals to close the regular season.

For Vanderbilt, it is hoping that forward Tyler Nickel and guard Duke Miles bring their A-game to Knoxville. Nickel has been in a bit of a shooting slump over the last couple of weeks while Miles is still working his way back into a rhythm after returning from a six-game absence on Feb. 21 when Tennessee visited Memorial Gymnasium. 

If Vanderbilt wants to win, those two guys will need to play a huge role in the game today.

Tipoff between Vanderbilt and Tennessee is set for 2 p.m. CT on ESPN

Follow the live blog here for live updates from today’s Vanderbilt-Tennessee game.

Live Blog

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Pregame

• Score update: Missouri leads Arkansas 45-44 with 16 minutes to go.

• Today is a huge game for the SEC standings because the conference tournament bracket will be finalized tonight. If Missouri loses to Arkansas, Kentucky loses to Florida and Vanderbilt wins today then Vanderbilt will get a double-bye for the SEC Tournament. If the Commodores lose, they can be seeded anywhere from sixth to 10th.

• Players from both teams have made their way to the court to start stretching and warming up. 

• I expect a great crowd here in Knoxville. This stadium is easily one of the toughest environments in the SEC, if not, the country. It will be a new-look Tennessee team that Vanderbilt sees today as Nate Ament will not be here, but the Volunteers will have JP Estrella, who did not play in the first matchup between these two teams.

• Vanderbilt Commodores On SI is in-house today for the final game of the season as Vanderbilt plays on Thompson Boling Arena. It will be Joey Dwyer, Tyler Jorden and I today bringing the coverage to you guys as the Commodores play one final time before the SEC Tournament, which we also plan on being at.