Focused and No Pressure: Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball Stays Locked In After Historic SEC Award Sweep
Vanderbilt Women’s Basketball: Focused on What Matters
It is outrage season. The time when fans, media, and even some inside different programs are questioning the outcomes of postseason accolades.
It may be good for debate, and it brings more attention to the sport. That’s great because women’s basketball needs more spotlight, but that stuff shouldn’t take over the minds of players inside the locker room.
As I am sure you have heard, Vanderbilt’s Coach Shea Ralph, along with guards Mikayla Blakes and Aubrey Galvan, swept SEC Coach, Player, and Freshman of the Year honors.
While they are definitely honored and happy with being recognized, there are more games to win. It is postseason time, and the Dores have their sights set on the SEC Tournament in Greenville, S.C., and the NCAA Tournament.
Blakes made that crystal clear when asked if the Dores were approaching this weekend any different.
“Same goal, same preparation, same everything. Now it’s win or go home. But we’re gonna take every game like we’ve taken every game in the regular season.”
There’s no added pressure in the Vanderbilt locker room, just the same standard this group has held all season long. Vanderbilt has had their share of adversity. It may not seem like it with a 27-3 record, but they have.
They have often talked about responding and toughness, and the past 30 games have built them up for this time of the year.
Aubrey Galvan, the unbothered freshman, sounds like she’s been here before, and has strong belief in the capabilities of the team to make a run.
“You can’t doubt that for a second or you’re gonna slip. So we definitely can, but we gotta prove it and really step up every game.”
That’s the mentality of a program that isn’t just happy to be here. They expect to be here, and are steadily putting the SEC and nation on notice. This program is here, and they will be around.
The days are over where people look at the name Vanderbilt and think it’s just a school with smart people and great academics. This school and program has a consistent hunger to show that great things are happening athletically as well, and please don’t misunderstand what I am saying.
Vanderbilt has history, most have just refused to pay attention. Blakes put it best when talking about what this sweep of awards means for the program moving forward.
“I think that people can’t overlook us anymore. To start the season, a lot of people said we wouldn’t be where we are today. And to prove people wrong, you have to come here and you have to wanna prove people wrong and be a competitor.”
The road to proving people wrong continues Friday night, as the Commodores take on Ole Miss in the quarterfinals round of the SEC Tournament.
Regardless of what happens this weekend and beyond, it is time to wake up and realize the Commodores are a serious program. The boxes that Coach Shea Ralph has checked since taking over are proof that something special is brewing just off West End in Nashville, Tenn.
