Vanderbilt Climbs to No. 22 in AP Poll
The Commodores rose from No. 24 after opening the season 2-0 with dominant wins over Bellarmine and Wake Forest.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
Vanderbilt men's basketball moved up from No. 24 to No. 22 in the AP Poll after winning its 2026-27 season opener over Bellarmine and beating Wake Forest to reach a 2-0 start. The Commodores are the sixth-highest ranked team in the SEC.
Why it matters
The early ranking boost gives Vanderbilt a stronger national profile in Nashville and across the SEC as the season begins. Its two dominant wins show a deep roster built to pull away from opponents.
Vanderbilt moved from No. 24 to No. 22 in the AP Poll after holding Bellarmine to 47 points and Wake Forest to 51 points. Freshman guard Ant Brown Jr. made four three-pointers against Wake Forest, but the sample of two games is too small to project a full season.
The players
Vanderbilt Commodores
Vanderbilt's men's basketball program competes in the Southeastern Conference and plays its home games in Nashville.
Memphis Tigers
The Memphis men's basketball program competes in the American Athletic Conference and is set to face Vanderbilt on Tuesday night.
Ant Brown Jr.
Ant Brown Jr. is a freshman guard for Vanderbilt who made four three-pointers in the Commodores' win over Wake Forest.
The details
Vanderbilt used a lot of its depth to pull away in both games. Freshman guard Ant Brown Jr. made four three-pointers against Wake Forest, and Nebraska transfer big Berke Buyuktuncel played in the paint.
Timeline
Last year: Vanderbilt beat Memphis in overtime in Memphis.
This past week: Vanderbilt started 2-0 and rose in the AP Poll.
Tuesday night at 6:15 p.m. CT: Vanderbilt hosts Memphis.
Friday night: Vanderbilt hosts Prairie View A&M in Memorial Gymnasium.
Season Trajectory
Vanderbilt's rise to No. 22 places it as the sixth-highest ranked team in the SEC, behind Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas. Kentucky is the final ranked SEC team at No. 24, so the Commodores enter the early season positioned among the conference's top programs.
Vanderbilt's 2-0 start and AP Poll rise give fans a clear early benchmark for the season. The Tuesday matchup against Memphis and Friday game against Prairie View A&M are the next chances to see whether the depth that powered the first two wins holds up.
The takeaway
Early-season dominance and depth can lift a team's ranking quickly, but two games are only a starting point. Watch how Vanderbilt handles the next home matchups to gauge whether the rise is sustainable.
What happens next
Vanderbilt hosts Memphis on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. CT and Prairie View A&M on Friday night in Memorial Gymnasium.
Further reading
Explore more Nashville Basketball coverage for the latest on the Commodores' season.
