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Surprising Vanderbilt takes aim at George Washington

Mar 15, 2007 - 1:59 PM Geo Washington (23-8) at Vanderbilt (20-11) 6:10 pm EDT

SACRAMENTO, California (Ticker) -- Vanderbilt has already surprised most of its critics this season and is looking to continue that trend in the NCAA Tournament.

The sixth-seeded Commodores, who got an at-large bid, make their first appearance in the tournament since 2004 when they face off against 11th seed George Washington on Thursday in an East Region first-round game.

Picked to finished near the basement of the Southeastern Conference by many, Vanderbilt posted a 10-6 record in league play - its first double-figure SEC win total in 13 years.

"It is an exciting time of the year," coach Kevin Stallings said. "This is one of the most exciting days of the college basketball season, when you know your name is going to be called and the anticipation of it and seeing what happens and where you end up and who you play and that sort of thing."

Stallings hopes the No. 6 seed will be a good omen for the Commodores, who won two games as the sixth seed in 2004 to advance to a regional semifinal for the first time since 1993.

SEC Player of the Year Derrick Byars averages 16.8 points and 4.9 rebounds and teammate Shan Foster is just under 16 points for Vanderbilt, which rebounded from a 1-3 start to the season.

The Commodores were among the league leaders in 3-point shooting (37 percent), free-throw shooting (72.7 percent) and scoring (76.6 points).

Atlantic 10 tourney champion George Washington won its last eight games to earn its third straight trip and second in a row to the NCAAs under coach Karl Hobbs. The Colonials lost to Duke in the second round last season.

George Washington's success hinges on the backcourt duo of junior guard Maureece Rice and senior Carl Elliott, who led the conference in assists (4.9) and steals (2.6).

The winner faces off against either Oral Roberts (23-10) or Washington State (25-7) in Saturday's second round.