"That wasn’t going to fit with our mission": Vanderbilt's Mark Byington gets real on transfer portal process 

In his first season as coach of the Vanderbilt Commodores, Mark Byington has orchestrated an impressive turnaround, leading the Commodores to their best start in 15 years. With a roster reshaped by 10 transfers and a dozen new players overall, Byington has turned a daunting challenge into a success story this season.

To rebuild the team, Byington said he focused on finding players with a winning mindset. After Vanderbilt's impressive 76-75 victory over No. 6-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 18, Byington recalled how he prioritized character and competitiveness as he sought players who valued team success over personal achievements.

“We try to find character. We try to find competitive guys. They had to make winning number one, alright,” Byington said (via On3). “Now, in the NIL days and things like that where, you know, some guys want stats, feel like stats are more money? That wasn’t going to fit with our mission and our team. So the buy-in on that and us trying to figure out who fits that?”

Vanderbilt’s most notable victory under Byington came in a thrilling one-point win over No. 6-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 18. Reflecting on the journey to build this roster, Byington acknowledged the challenges he faced after the coaching change that led to nine players leaving the program.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s a dizzy couple weeks there. I mean, it’s nonstop. Guys are in the office,” Byington said. “It’s a lot when you – it’s easier. I hope this is my future when you’re trying to replace three guys in the spring. We were in a situation where, whether we wanted to or they wanted to, we just had to replace the entire roster.”

Mark Byington's Vanderbilt has a 15-4 overall record, with an offense averaging an impressive 82.1 points per game. Remarkably, the team’s nine top scorers are all new additions.

Byington’s strong start has reinvigorated hopes for the Commodores, who haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2017. The win over Tennessee highlighted Vanderbilt's potential and the effectiveness of Byington’s approach.

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Mark Byington reflects on galvanizing the Vanderbilt fanbase after Tennessee win

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington said the Commodores’ recent victory over No. 6 Tennessee meant more than just a win on the court and called it a defining moment for the program and its fans. Following the thrilling one-point triumph, Byington expressed his pride for his players and the Vanderbilt community.

“That was my feeling when I walked off the court,” Byington said (via Rocky Top Insider). “I was happy for our players, the fans, the former players, and alumni.”

“When you’re trying to build something, you want people to buy in, you want them to support. Sometimes they’re apprehensive until they see results. But they showed up, created a great environment, and had a great crowd. They helped us win.”

Reflecting on an earlier home loss to Mississippi State on Jan. 7, Byington admitted the defeat weighed heavily on him, particularly because of the strong fan turnout that night.

“I was really upset, distraught,” Byington said. “We had a great crowd against Mississippi State, and I was sitting here thinking, ‘We’ve got to get them to come back and believe in us.’

“Today, seeing this, I know our fans can walk around with pride, wearing the ‘V’ on their shirts. That makes me feel good that they can do that right now.”

Byington’s candid remarks highlighted the relationship between Vanderbilt and its supporters as they hope to build on a strong season.