Vanderbilt pulled off its second top-10 college basketball upset on back-to-back Saturdays with its win over ninth-ranked Kentucky this weekend. Don’t look now but something special is building on West End!
However, the Commodores depleted a portion of its NIL fund to storm the court for the second time in eight days.
Vanderbilt took a commanding 41-27 lead into the locker room at halftime. The visiting Wildcats tried to mount a comeback during the second half but they were unable to leave Nashville with the win.
As the clock wound down on the eventual upset victory, athletic director Candace Story Lee made a plea to the student section. She asked them not to storm the court. In doing so, she said the (not-so) quiet part out loud. The money to pay the fine for a court storm could be better spent to buy better college basketball players with NIL during the offseason.
Vanderbilt athletic director Candace Lee is in the student section asking students to not rush the court.
— Grace Hall (@Grace_M_Hall) January 25, 2025
“Let us use the money for NIL to make a great team next year” pic.twitter.com/c8PCaFOSCG
Multiple security guards lined up in front of the student section to prevent the students from getting onto the court if the result did indeed go in favor of the home team.
Security has arrived in front of the student section. Fans were also just reminded again over the PA to not go on the court.
— Brandon Bigsby (@BrandonBigsby_) January 25, 2025
Vanderbilt now leads by five with 24 seconds to go. https://t.co/OeGWZscyjT pic.twitter.com/4YHBMtqYkx
Sure enough, Vanderbilt defeated Kentucky by a final score of 74-69.
Vanderbilt stormed the court anyway.
The attempted security measures did not prevent a storm. Fans of all ages immediately ran onto the court, not just the students. One security guard in particular was on skates as he tried to prevent the inevitable.
Mission failed, you’ll get ‘em next time. https://t.co/FoVzHVBClJ pic.twitter.com/Dh9IlxYPLT
— Brandon Bigsby (@BrandonBigsby_) January 25, 2025
It was incredible scenes at Memorial Gym.
First offense: beating Alabama in football ($100k)
— David Cobb (@DavidWCobb) January 25, 2025
Second offense: beating Tennessee in basketball ($250k)
Third offense: beating Kentucky in basketball ($500k)
Might be financially savvy to beef up security on the West End before Auburn comes to town. pic.twitter.com/Bk00ysJxTn
Unfortunately, per SEC rules, the court storm was just as costly as cool.
Vanderbilt was fined $100,000 for storming the field after its football team beat Alabama in October. The university received another fine of $250,000 for storming the court after its basketball team beat Tennessee last weekend. Saturday’s court storm against Kentucky was the third offense of its kind during the academic calendar year so it resulted in a fine of $500,000.
All of the fines are paid to the opposing school. The Wildcats will receive half a million dollars for its loss to the Commodores. Candace Story Lee would have preferred to spend that money on a high-profile point guard in the transfer portal.