Just under 20 minutes before the game begins at American Airlines Arena in Miami, the Vanderbilt team sits calmly in their locker room, waiting for Coach Bryce Drew to arrive. Junior forward Matt Ryan uses a muscle stimulator on his legs while getting advice from assistant coach Casey Shaw on the NC State players he will be up against.
Shaw, a former NBA center and Drew’s brother-in-law, tells Ryan about Wolfpack forward Torin Dorn, emphasizing his shooting abilities. Meanwhile, highly regarded recruit Simi Shittu casually sips on a Gatorade.
One key player missing from the lineup is point guard Darius Garland. Garland, who is Drew’s best recruit and highest-ranked player in school history, injured his meniscus a week prior and is expected to sit out for the rest of the season.
While Garland remains in Nashville, the team is in Miami for the game. Despite Garland’s absence being a significant setback for the team’s season aspirations, Drew focuses on moving forward and making progress without him for the upcoming match.
With many people depending on Drew to lead the team successfully, the 44-year-old coach enters the locker room filled with young players. He emphasizes the importance of their game plan and how they need to execute it effectively throughout the game.
In his third season at Vanderbilt, expectations are high for Drew and his team. In his first season, Vandy made it to the NCAA tournament, showing promise with a team led by Luke Kornet, who now plays for the New York Knicks.
