Field Level Media Top 25: No. 25 Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) brings the ball up the court during the first half of the SEC tournament championship game against Arkansas at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, March 15, 2026. Field Level Media college basketball writers submitted ballots for their Top 25 men's basketball teams entering the 2026-27 season. The poll results are in: Here's a closer look at No. 25 Vanderbilt. 25. VANDERBILT 2025-26 record: 27-9 Outlook for 2026-27: The SEC is daunting, and there are bigger-name programs with bigger budgets, but Tyler Tanner alone makes the Commodores worthy of a spot in the preseason Top 25 as Vandy aims to reach its third straight NCAA Tournament to start the Mark Byington era. What we like: Tanner is a preseason first-team All-American and a dark horse for SEC Player of the Year. He's a five-tool point guard who averaged 19.5 points and 5.1 assists last season and could easily surpass those numbers with the help of a stellar incoming transfer class. Trouble ahead: Last year, Vandy had a veteran roster, and its second- through eighth-leading scorers have graduated or transferred. Eleven players on this year's squad are freshmen or sophomores who will need to learn and jell on the fly. Top newcomer: Berke Buyuktuncel, a two-year starting forward at Nebraska, scored 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting for the Huskers in their Round of 32 win over Vanderbilt. At 6-foot-10 and 260 pounds, the Turkey native has the frame to hold his own against SEC big men. --Field Level Media