Good stuff LC, really appreciated this thread last season and looking forward to reports this year. Thanks.

ditto billo.

Although sometimes during the year, they'd be tough to find,
Isaac - any chance of making these threads sticky or even chucking a link to them under the categories on the left hand side bar?

Good idea - will try to think of a way to incorporate them. Maybe not "stickies" - what about "Tracking Threads"? Can be a few of them for things like this, Newley, Barlow, school topics, etc.

Nice idea Peter Maravich...

I will be posting a few more player/team based college threads involving Aussie players over the next few days as I find the time.

For those that may be interested and able, the Commodores are offering a free webcast of their opening game against Lipscomb on vucommodores.com

Vanderbilt won their game against Lipscomb today, 95-73.

AJ Ogilvy came off the bench to score 13 points on 5/8 shooting. He also had 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 3 blocks and 4 turnovers.

Vanderbilt next play Saint Mary's and the Aussie contingent!

Here is the link to today's highlights: http://linky.com.au/ltzqq

AJ Ogilvy and his Vanderbilt team today accounted for an impressive Saint Mary's team, 72-70. The Gael's had a chance to steal the win, but Australian Clint Steindl's buzzer-beating three-point attempt didn't find the bottom of the net. The Commodores have now opened the season with 2 straight wins, whilst Saint Mary's lost their first game. Subsequently, Vandy may a chance to crack the top 25 teams in the poll's next week as they just missed out this past week.

AJ Ogilvy started for the first time this season after recovering from concussion sustained in the pre-season. He scored just 2 points on 1/6 shooting, but had 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers in just 22min. He was clearly outplayed by Omar Samham who had a massive 25 point and 19 rebound double-double for the Gaels.

Vanderbilt next faces Cincinatti who are also unbeaten to this point.

Following thier unbveaten start top then season and win over SMC, Vanderbilt has entered the ESPN/USA Today Top 25 teams and is currently ranked #24 in the nation.

Vanderbilt with a 2-0 record today play the undefeated Cincinatti (2-0) in the opening game of the Maui Invitational - their 2nd game as part of a 4 game road trip. The winner will play No. 21 Maryland or host school Chaminade in Tuesday's semifinals, with the other side of the bracket featuring Gonzaga, Arizona, Wisconsin and Colorado (featuring Aussies Nate Tomlinson & Shane Harris-Tunks).

Winning the Maui Invitation is sure to send the Commodore's stocks soaring that is likely to see them edge further up the polls and well inside the top 20 this time next week.

Well I got ahead of myself earlier...Vandy dropped their game today to Cincinatti in what was an upset. The Commodores shot poorly on their way to a 58-67 loss, and registered their first loss of the season.

AJ Ogilvy shot 3/8 from the field for 13 points, including 7/9 on free thows. He also had 5 rebounds, 1 block, 1 assist and 1 turnover.

An early observation is that the Commodores appear to be relying more on their guards andf do not appear to be going to Ogilvy much in comparison to the past 2 years. Early days yet...

Thanks LC, do you know if there is any chance Vandy's game today can be watched online anywhere?

Scratch that, just saw your update!

No worries...:)

Vanderbilt thrashed Chaminade (D2) this morning 68-41, with everyone on the roster seeing court time.

AJ Ogilvy started and scored 6 points on 3/6 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 blocks with no turnovers.

Vandy next faces Missouri.

Vanderbilt (4-1) played Arizona today in a consolation final at the Maui Invitational, and won 84-72.

AJ Ogilvy finally saw more of the ball and took more than 10 shots in a game for the first time this season. He rewarded his team with 20 points on 9/15 shooting, but shot a dismal 2/8 on free throws. He also had 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks and just 2 turnovers in the good win.

The only team that Vandy has lost to (Cincinatti) also accounted for #22 ranked Maryland at the same tourney, so the loss may not have been as big an upset as previously thought.

The Commodores look more dangerous when they go inside to AJ as it create better looks for their guards on the perimeter. Hopefully Vandy will continue to go to AJ more over the next few games.

Next up they face a tough assignment in the currently undefeated Missouri.

Vanderbilt road the back of it's star Aussie centre today as they accounted for Missouri at home, 89-83.

AJ scored both a season and game-high 25 points on 7/10 shooting and a much improved 11/12 on free throws. He also racked up 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 3 turnovers in 30 minutes.

Vandy inflicted Missouri's 2nd loss of the season and the Commodores now move to a 5-1 overall record, with their only loss coming at the hands of current #22 Cincinnati.

Vanderbilt next plays DePaul on Sunday (Australian time) who also have a 5-1 record.

AJ Ogilvy provided the impetus for Vanderbilt to overcome a stubborn DePaul down the stretch to win 67-54 and take their record to 6-1 on the season. It was just the 2nd loss for DePaul this season.

The Aussie centre scored 16 points in the second half, and went 13-for-15 from the free throw line, to carry his teammates who shot just 7-for-15 from the line for a 66.7 team percentage.

Ogilvy scored a game-high 19 points on 3/7 shooting, including 13/5 on free throws. He also recorded 6 rebounds, 1 block and 1 turnover in just 24 minutes of action.

Vanderbilt next face Illinois on the road on 9 December Australian time.

AJ Ogilvy's recent good form after a slow start to the season has been noticed, with the SEC announcing the Australian big man as their player of the week!

Vanderbilt Link:

AJ averaged 22 points and 6 rebounds a game in wins over Missouri and DePaul. It is the first time he has won a POTW award this season.

In addition, AJ's great play has helped his team back into the top 25 teams in the nation according to the ESPN/USA Today poll. The Commodores have been ranked equal 24th.

Vanderbilt play Illinois tomorrow. Illinois is a tough team and will provide a stern test.

Vanerbilt is in action against Illinois right now.

You can watch live through this link for free: http://linky.com.au/vcthe

The Commodores are relying too much on their guards and have barely looked to AJ at all so far and thus they trail by 10 half-way through the first.

The #24 ranked Vanderbilt today lost to Illinois, 68-79. It seems Vandy drop a game as soon as they get ranked, doing so for the second time this season.

AJ Ogilvy scored 8 points on 4/6 shooting but really didn't see enough of the ball in a loss to another team who is seeking to enter the top 25 rankings. He also had 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 3 turnovers in playing 26 minutes. It seems that whent hey rely on scoring from their guards, the Commodores always seem to struggle.

The now 6-2 Vanderbilt next play against Western Kentucky on 12 December Australian time.

NBAdraft.net has this to say on AJ Ogilvy so far this season, and it is far from glowing...

AJ Ogilvy 6-10 250 C Vanderbilt Jr.

Ogilvy's stock has been on a steady decline. One NBA scout recently joked, "After his freshman year he was a late first rounder, after his sophomore year he was a mid second rounder, at the rate he's going he won't even get an invite to Portsmouth (predraft camp) by his senior year".

He's averaging just 13.3 ppg on 52 fg% and 6 boards so far through 8 games. His sophomore year he averaged 15.4 on 54 fg%, and as a freshman he averaged 17 ppg on 59 fg%.

Ogilvy is a skilled 6-10 guy with offensive skills, and despite lacking great run/jump athleticism, he understands the game and plays an unselfish brand of basketball. But there is no denying the fact that his stock has taken a hit.

The junior bigman is now considered a likely mid-to-late second rounder whenever he enters the draft, and going undrafted no longer appears out of the question as some believe he's better suited for European ball.

Vandy are in action against Western Kentucky today folks...

I dont think Ogilvy has the athleticism or toughness to play NBA. He would need a skill set like Norwitzki, but he is more a post guy.

But as the wrap says, he is very smart with good fundamentals that make him better suited to FIBA ball. If he doesnt have a Euro passport, he will need to really improve his defence to be an import in any decent Euro comp.

The #24 ranked Vanderbilt dropped their second straight game as a ranked team, going down to Western Kentucky 69-76.

In a poor game by his own lofty standards, AJ Ogilvy scored 8 points on a paltry 3/6 shooting with just 1 rebound, 1 block and 1 turnover in a minimal 15 minutes off the bench.

Something must surely be wrong with AJ, whether it be an injury or personal issue perhaps? He has been up and down all season long so far after battling a concussion during the pre-season.

Vanderbilt next face Tennessee State on 20 December Australian time.

Vanderbilt this morning defeated Tennessee State 84-71.

AJ Ogilvy scored 11 points on 5/7 shooting to go with 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 3 turnovers in just 15 minutes off the bench plagued by foul trouble.

The Commodores next play against Mercer on 22 December Australian time.

Vanderbilt today thrashed Mercer 99-59 and AJ Ogilvy returned to the starting lineup.

Ogilvy scored 11 points on 5/7 shooting (1/1 FT) in just 15 minutes of actioon as he was limited due to foul trouble. He pulled down 6 rebounds, had 2 assists, 1 steal and just 1 turnover in that time.

The Commodores now have an 8-3 overall record and next face Manhattan on 31 December Australian time.

Vanderbilt and AJ Ogilvy are in action against Manhattan today.

Vanderbilt thrashed Manhattan today, 86-48 and played most of the bench for good portions of te game.

AJ Ogilvy played 16 minutes and scored 12 points on 5/10 shooing, including 2/3 from the line. He also had 8 rebounds, 3 steals, 3 blocks and 1 turnover.

The Commodores are now 9-3 overall and next play against Southern Mississippi on 3 January Aussie time.

Vanderbilt thrashed a reasonably good Southern Mississippi 82-46 a few days ago, moving to a 10-3 overall record.

AJ Ogilvy was back in the starting lineup and scored 17 points on 4/8 shooting that included 9/10 from the line. He also had 5 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 blocks and no turnovers in a well-rounded performance in just 23 minutes of action.

The Commodores backed up with another good win over Mid Tennessee, 73-53. In this game AJ was plagued by early foul trouble, however he still managed 10 points on 4/7 shooting, including 2/2 on free throw's as a starter. He also had 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks with no turnovers before fouling out in a miniscule 14 minutes of court time.

The Commodores who are now 11-3 on the season next face the Florida (11-3) as they open South Eastern Conference play on Sunday Australian time in what should prove to be a very tough matchup.

Vanderbilt secured a gilt-edged win over Florida this morning, winning 95-87 in what was their SEC opening game and 6th straight win.

AJ Ogilvy starred, leading his team in scoring with 24 points on 7/13 shooting, including an impressive 10/12 from the line. He also had 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers in 27 minutes of action.

The Commodore's (12-3) win over the Gators (now 11-4) was even more impressive as Florida hadn't lost an SEC opener since 2001, and that streak included four wins on the road to open league play. Florida also came into this game having won three straight this season and having dominated their series as winners of 15 of the past 18 with Vanderbilt.

Vandy next play against Alabama on 14 January Australian time.

Vanderbilt recap and highlights video including soem nice dunks by AJ can be accessed here: http://linky.com.au/ojmqr

Vanderbilt today came from behind to topple Alabama 65-64 in a thrilling finish.

AJ Ogilvy started yet again and this time shot a poor 3/11 from the field but still racked up 13 points that included 7/10 on free theow's. He narrowly missed a double-double, recording 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block and 1 turnover in 26 minutes of action.

The Commodores are now 2-0 to open Southeastern Confeference play and an increasingly impressive 13-3 record overall. The win has even more value as Alabama had won their past 4 games straight and the game was played on the road.

Vandy next play against South Carolina (11-5 overall) on the road who also boast an unblemished 2-0 record to start SEC play ahead of a home game against Auburn. The game is being played on the 17th January Australian time.

Vanderbilt continued their good form by today in winning their 8th straight game against the previously undefeated in conference play team South Carolina, 89-79.

AJ Ogilvy put up another starring performance. After leading by 6 at the half, Ogilvy closed out the game for the Commodores in scoring 18 of his 22 points in the second half. He ended with a team-high 22 points on a near perfect 7/8 from the field that also included 8/13 from the line. He also had 9 rebounds and 2 turnovers in playing just 26 minutes as he did finish the game with 4 fouls.

Vanderbilt now 14-3 on the season and 3-0 in conference play need another good result when they next face Auburn on 24th January ahead of their game against the #10 ranked Tennessee.

Vanderbilt this morning continued on their winning ways, accounting for Auburn at home 82-74.

AJ Ogilvy started and hit 6/12 from the field on his way to 17 points, including hitting 5/8 from the line. He also had 8 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, a massive 5 blocks and no turnovers in playing 31 minutes.

The Commodores are now 15-3 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in Southereastern Conference play ahead of their next game against #8 ranked Tennessee which should be a great game.

After finally re-entering the national top 25 ranking this week at #23, Vanderbilt today scored a huge scalp to reinforce their standing in accounting for the #14 ranked Tennessee, 85-76. It was the Commodore's 10th straight victory and their first over a top 25 ranked team this season.

AJ had a very quiet first half, scoring just 2 points on 1/2 shooting. However the Commodores rode their Aussie centre home in conjunction with guard Jermaine Beal in the second half, with Vandy barnstorming their way to a 54 point final stanza to record their best win of the season to date.

AJ Ogilvy scored a total of 12 points on 4/10 shooting, including hitting 4/6 from the free throw line. He also had 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 1 block and 3 turnovers in playing 21 minutes. He continued a worrying trend for most of the season where he is quiet early in the game only to come home stroing in the 2nd half.

Vandy are now an impressive 16-3 overall on the season and a perfect 5-0 in SEC action. With the #1 ranked Kentucky dropping their first game of the season to South Carolina, remain the only undefeated team in the SEC sitting alone in first place.

It will be a tough position to defend however, with the Commodores next taking on the current #1 ranked team Kentucky on 31 January Australian time. This promises to be a fantastic matchup and one not to miss!

The #23 ranked Vanderbilt today lost to the #1 ranked Kentucky, 72-85. Kentucky got away to an early lead and held on throughout the game to win comfirtably int he end.

AJ Ogilvy scored 12 points on 2/4 shooting and hit 8/12 from the line, although he was well held. He also had 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 turnovers in 21 minutes.

It seems to me that AJ is being nursed through with an injury, is out of favour, or is just not playing well as his minutes played are well down on last season.

Vandy still have an imposing 16-4 record overall and are 5-1 in SEC play, sharing first place with Kentucky. They next play against Mississippi State on 4 February Australian time.

The number #20 ranked Vanderbilt today fought off a late challenge from Mississippi State to hold on and win 75-72.

As a starter, AJ Ogilvy scored 16 points on 6/13 shooting that included 4/5 from the line. He also had 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 3 turnovers in playing 21 minutes.

Vanderbilt improved to 17-4 on the season and an even more impressive 6-1 in Southeastern Conference play. They next take on Georgia on 7 February Australian time, ahead of their rematch against the #14 ranked Tennessee at home.

The #20 ranked Vanderbilt were yestrerday upset by conference rivals Georgia, eventually going down 58-72.

AJ Ogilvy scored just 6 points on 2/8 shooting that included 2/4 from the line. He also had 9 rebounds, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 1 turnover in playing out 30 minutes.

The Commodores shot really poorly in this game, with their guards shooting the majority of the shots. they fall to 17-5 on the season and 6-2 in SEC play. It is a bad loss for the Commodores and they will have to back it up with a game against the #14 ranked Tennessee on 10 February Australian time.

The number 24 ranked Vanderbilt are now currently in actiona agisnt the number 12 ranked Tennessee.

You can follow the game through ESPN Gamecast here: http://linky.com.au/pyf2o

In a massive game for #24 ranked Vanderbilt, they jumped #12 ranked Tennessee right from the start and never trailed in today's game, winning, 90-71. At one stage Vandy had a 29 point lead in the second half and with their victory have recorded a clean home and away sweep over their big SEC rivals.

AJ Ogilvy played a solid role, scoring 11 points on 3/8 shooting and hit 5/7 from the line. He also had 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 block and 3 turnovers in playing out just 22 minutes. He did get into foul trouble early in the 2nd half, and also had a technical assessed to him earlier in the game.

Vanderbilt now move back into outright 2nd place in the SEC standing behind Kentucky with 7-2 conference record and 18-5 overall. they next face a very poor Louisiana State on 14 January Australian time to reaffirm their standing and miove up the national rankings.

#24 Vanderbilt today fought off a late challenge to account for Louisiana State, 77-69.

AJ Ogilvy was solid yet unspectacular, scoring 12 points on 2/5 shooting that included a big 8/11 from the line. He also had 2 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 turnovers in just 26 minutes as a starter.

Vanderbilt can expect to rise in the rankings when they are released early in the week due to their wins over Tennessee and LSU, now boasting a 19-5 overall record and an impressive 8-2 in SEC play. They next take on Mississippi on 18 February Australian time.

The number 19 ranked Vanderbilt today overcame a dogged Mississippi who would just not go away, eventually prevailing 82-78.

AJ Ogilvy was the big star in the Commodore's win. Ogilvy scored a game-high 27 points on a very efficient 8/10 shooting from the field and a huge 11/13 from the line - hitting a good manoity of them down the stretch to ensure the win. He also had 8 rebounds, 1 steal and 3 turnovers in 33 minutes in which he also finished with 4 fouls.

Vanderbilt notched up their 20th win of the season and are now 20-5 overall and a very impressive 9-2 in SEC play. They next takle on Southeastern Conference leaders and nationally ranked number 2 Kentucky at home on 21 February Australian time. A win for Vanderbilt is sure to see a rankings boost next week, however John Wall has been in very good form recently so it is sure to be a tough game.

With the SEC title on the line, #19 Vanderbilt went punch for punch with #2 Kentucky all game. And whilst Vandy shot poorly at 31% for the game and just 2/20 from downtown, they turned the game into as defensive grind. A poor decision down the stretch by Vandy probably cost them the win, but AJ also had a shot at tying the game as time expired but it rimmed out. The Commodores fell 56-58.

AJ Ogilvy scored 9 points on 3/8 shooting including 3/5 from the line. He battled his way through most of the game in foul trouble but also still managed 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block and 2 turnovers in playing 27 minutes.

Vanderbilt now slip to 20-6 on the season and 9-3 in conference play. They next tackle Georgia on the 26 February and will be looking to atone for their poor performance last time they met.

Surely Ogilvy's NBA chances are gone now? He is down on his frshmand and sophomore numbers and he hasn't reached double figures for rebounds all season!

Might see him back in the NBL though which would be awesome.

#20 Vanderbilt bounced back from their loss to #2 Kentucky with a win over Georgia, but first they had to escape gaol through a late game comeback to force overtime, venetually fighting it out for a 96-94 win.

AJ Ogilvy had a very quiet first half and had just 2 points. However on the back of a big second half, Ogilvy helped the Commodores get back into the game and force OT and in the process racking up a double-double. He finished with 17 points on 3/10 shooting but also nailed 10/13 from the line, including some clutch free throws late in regulation. He also had 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, 1 block and 2 turnovers in 30 minutes.

Now with a 21-6 overall record and 10-3 in conference play, Vandy next faces Arkansas on 28 February Australian time.

Juror, Ogilvy's NBA chances haven't gone. Obviously, it would have been better if he had upped his numbers again, but the guy has size, is reasonably mobile and has good skills.

Without having seen the games, it looks like he is on a pretty talented team, so I'm guessing he doesn't get as many touches as he once did?

The upside to that is that this team has a chance to get some wins in the NCAA tournament. If AJ can have a couple of good performances in the national spotlight then all of a sudden he will be fashionable again.

I still think he would be an excellent 2nd round pickup and could still sneak back into the first round with a strong finish to the season. Pretty sure he still has another year of college eligibility next year too, if he thinks he won't get drafted this year.

Spot on Beantown. AJ is expected to play out his senior year at Vsndy next season before nominating for the draft.

#20 Vanderbilt today easily accounted for Arkansas, 89-72.

AJ Ogilvy got into early foul trouble and therefore his opportunities were limted. However he still recorded 14 points on 5/7 shooting alongside 4/5 from the line. He also had 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 blocks and 3 turnovers in only 14 minutes of action.

The Commodores improve to 22-6 on the season and 10-3 in SEC play. They next take on red-hot Florida on 3 March Australian time.

AJ Ogilvy is in action against Florida today.

You can follow live stats through ESPN via this link: http://linky.com.au/8pb81

The #20 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores recorded a very good win over Florida today and were superbly led by AJ Ogilvy in the 64-60 victory.

After a 10 points first half, Ogilvy finished with 16 points on 7/12 shooting, making 2/3 from the line. He also had 8 rebounds, 1 assist, a huge 4 steals, 1 block and 2 turnovers in playing 30 minutes of action.

It was the first time the Commodores had swept Florida in a season since 1997 and improved their overall season record to 23-6 and an impressive 12-3 in conference player. They round out their SEC regular season with a game against South Carolina on 7 March Australian time and the Commodores will be seeking for yet another win.

#19 Vanderbilt were today upset by South Carolina, 73-77 to round out their SEC regular season.

AJ Ogilvy was plagued by foul trouble, however he still managed to score 15 points on 5/8 shooting that included 5/6 from the line. He also had 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and no turnovers in playing just 21 minutes.

The Commodores who are now 23-7 on the season and 12-4 in conference play had already tied up the #2 seed in the SEC heading into the SEC tournament.

Australian junior centre AJ Ogilvy has been named to the All-SEC Second team by the SEC coaches.

Ogilvy grabs his third career All-SEC Second team honor in as many years after averaging 13.9 points per game and leading the team in rebounding with 6.2 rebounds per contest.

Vandy had four Commodore players, Jermaine Beal, Jeffery Taylor, John Jenkins & Ogilvy, receiving honors, with Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings being named the league's Coach of the Year.

Kentucky's John Wall took out SEC player of the year as expected.

Link: http://linky.com.au/hlsh1

The Commodores commence their SEC tournament on Saturday Australian time against a yet to be determined team.

Draftexpress.com has upated AJ Ogilvy's scouting report as part of their weekly perfomers series.

Link: http://linky.com.au/s6w5j

"Ogilvy could still help himself considerably by putting in some work with an athletic trainer to develop his lower body strength and explosiveness in general, while also developing a bit more of a power game in the post, and he could likewise help himself by adjusting the issues with his spot-up jumper. That said, due to his defensive issues, underwhelming rebounding, lack of toughness and overall stagnant development in his three seasons in college, he's probably looking at being drafted in the second round should he declare, unless he really puts in some strong work in the pre-draft process and surprises teams with something in workouts."

Yeah, saw that too LC. Kind of bears out what we were saying earlier about him being a 2nd round pick at this stage.

I am a little surprised that AJ hasn't come on a bit stronger this season, after a generally successful stint with the Boomers last year. But from what I saw of him in Boomers games, the criticisms of him being a bit soft and an average rebounder in this article are probably fair (eg the NZ game).

I hope he does put the effort in to improving his strength, rebounding and shooting mechanics as the scout has said. Physically and skill wise, he looks like he could develop into a Kaman type, but at the moment he's falling far short of that sort of potential.

Still a lot to be positive about though. All SEC Second Team three straight years is still a laudable achievement, and he still has decent numbers on a loaded team that could make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.

#23 Vanderbilt today defeated Georgia in the Quarter Finals of the Southeastern Conference finals today, winnng 78-66.

AJ Ogilvy battled foul trouble, yet still managed to score 10 points on 4/8 shootin, nailing both free throw attempts. He also had 7 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block and 3 turnovers before he fouled out in 25 minutes on court.

Vandy faces Mississippi State tomorrow (Sunday) Australian time in the Semi Final.

#23 Vanderbilt this morning lost to Mississippi State 52-62 in the SEC semi final. Vandy shot poorly fom the free throw line and struggled to score inside against State in the 2nd half, costing them dearly.

AJ Ogilvy had a rare bad game, only scoring 2 points on a poor 0/4 shooting whilst hitting 2/4 from the line. He also only managed 4 rebounds, 3 assists and had 3 turnovers in playing only 21 minutes.

Vandy is now waiting on the draw for the NCAA tournament and are expected to have an at-large invitation based on their record during the regular season.

Vanderbilt has been drawn to play in the West bracket of the NCAA Tournament and will be playing their first game in San Jose.

As the #4 seed in this bracket, they have been drawn to play against #13 seed Murray State on 19 March Australian time. A potential 2nd round game against #5 seed Butler lies ahead should they progress.

ESPN's John Hollinger has applied the PER rating used in the NBA to college basketball, and AJ Ogilvy ranks 34th with a PER of 27.39. That's pretty good!

Link: http://linky.com.au/6r8b5

Here are the details for Vandy's 1st round NCAA tournament game this week:

#4 Vanderbilt vs #13 Murray State
Friday, 19 March
5:30am AEDST

TV: Word is that it is likely that a short tape delay broadcast will be aired on ESPN Australia immediately following the Saint Mary's vs Richmond game

Online: http://linky.com.au/oe74q

Go Commodores! Let's hope AJ can lift his game and put in a big one...but he can only do that if his team mates give him the ball!

Vanderbilt today were upset by Murray State in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tourney, going down 65-66. Vandy was done in by a 15-footer as the buzzer sounded to steal the game away and in turn get bundled out.

The far taller Commodores were out-rebounded by the smaller Murray State and out-shot from behind the 3 point arc.

AJ Ogilvy scored 12 points on 4/7 shooting, making 4/6 from the line. He also had 6 rebounds, 1 block and 2 turnovers in the loss.

Wow, thats very disappointing. Vandy should have at least one its first round game. Glad I didn't get up early for that!

Seems starving AJ of the ball finally bit them in the arse. Ogilvy was much bigger than his opposition and would have scored more quite easily if given the chance. By contrast, St. Mary's guards regularly fed their big, Omar Samhan, who was also much bigger than his opposition. He consequently had a big game and the Gaels ran out the easy victory in the end. I'm no D1 coach, but it doesn't seem like rocket science.

aussieboomer4eva has hit the nail right on the head for mine. After watching half a dozen games throughout the year, Vandy totally under utilise the big Aussie. He has had quiet periods in games, but this is because nobody feeds him the ball. His minutes are now inexplicably down as well. Yet when he gets the ball in the post, high or low, he often gets a good shot or ends up at the free throw line as he is very good at drawing fouls. Look at the games Vandy has struggled, and AJ has either had few points and/or a low amount of free throw attempts.

My only criticism of AJ is that he is a soft rebounder for a big guy. He does not seem to like to "bang" on the boards and this is one area of his game he needs to improve on to get a shot at the NBA or a big gig in Europe.

AJ Ogilvy has nominated for this year's NBA draft...

Link: http://linky.com.au/f770d

And this is what I think as posted in another thread:

After following AJ's progress throughout the past 3 years, I think there may be a few factors coming into play that have contributed to AJ making this decision.

After an amazing freshman season playing alongside SEC player of the year Shan Foster, his production has dropped off each year. Firstly, last season he battled injuries nearly all season long, and this season got off to a bad start as he battled to overcome a concussion to commence the season. He was alwaysplaying catchup from that point on. Also, the emergence of both Beal and Taylor took some of the focus off his game, thus he started to receive fewer touches. But I also think that the coaching of Stallings had something to do with this as well. In games where Vandy lost in close one's, Vandy rarely looked to the big fella. However in the close wins, they went inside to AJ and he delivered 9 times out of 10. He had some standout games scoring wise, but also some lower points, but for me this is because he was not getting the touches. AJ was therefore starting to be branded inconsistent, IMO in most cases this was unfair.

His minutes per game were well down on the past 2 seasons as well, and I think that everything combined together in not getting touches, his minutes being reduced, and some potential frustration with his coach may have played a part. Also, if AJ were to have another 'inconsistent' season as a senior, his stocks could be damaged even further.

So is nominating for the NBA draft the best thing for AJ? I really can't say. However he must have heard some positive things to nominate so early, and coupled with the fact there are not too many standout centre's that are likely to nominate for this year's draft increase his chances of geting drafted. His agent thinks he will go late first round, however I doubt he will unless he really impresses in team workouts. I can definitely see him getting picked mid-second round.