Vandy’s biggest challenge? Following up without Freije

“It’s been great after coming back from what happened last year and sticking through the tough times,” senior guard Russell Lakey said.

“Just to get here was a great accomplishment, it was a great season. I have no regrets. Playing for Vanderbilt was the best four years of my life. I hope the rest of the players go on and continue success for the Vanderbilt team.”

The Commodores ended the season with a 73-53 loss to Final Four-bound Connecticut in the Phoenix Regional semifinals. It was the school’s first NCAA berth since 1997 and their first trip to the round of 16 since 1993.

They finished 23-10, which tied for the third-most victories in school history. It was a very nice turnaround for a team that went 11-18 in 2002-03, losing nine of its final 10 games to put Stallings’ job in jeopardy.

“It was a great experience even though we did not do so well,” sophomore guard Mario Moore said.

“This year nobody gave us a chance to go anywhere, but we made it to the Sweet 16 … The leadership of the seniors and being in the tournament were some of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my life that I can look back on at any time and be proud.”

Vanderbilt’s challenge now will be trying to return to the NCAA tournament for a second straight season, something the Commodores couldn’t do after the 1993 season.

It won’t be easy because they lose Matt Freije, a unanimous All-SEC player and the school’s all-time leading scorer. He finished with 1,891 points in his career and led the SEC with 18.4 points as a senior.

“We weren’t going to win a lot of games this year without him having strong performances, without him being on top of his game,” Stallings said. “He has had a great career, he had a great season and he played with a lot of heart.”

Vandy also loses Lakey, who started 13 games, and Scott Hundley, who was the SEC coaches’ pick as the league’s best sixth man for his play off the bench.

But Stallings won’t be without options.

He returns three starters from a team that featured eight Commodores playing at least 15 minutes or more per game. Vandy also was the third-best scoring offense in the Southeastern Conference.

Stallings will have back 7-foot-2 center Dawid Przybyszewski, who blossomed late in his junior season and even averaged 13.7 points per game in seven straight games.

Guard Corey Smith and Jason Holwerda will round out the senior class next season.

Moore will be the leading returning scorer as the only other Commodore who averaged in double figures with 11.2 points. He and forward Julian Terrell both will be juniors along with 6-11 Ted Skuchas.

Stallings also will have 6-7 forward LaBraun Andrews available after sitting out this season as a transfer from Colgate.

The Commodores upset Kentucky and Florida in the regular season, then knocked off SEC regular champ Mississippi State in the SEC tournament to reach the semifinals before falling to Florida.

But their season might be remembered most for a stunning second-round victory over N.C. State in which they rallied from 11 points down with 3:45 left to win 75-73.

The returning Commodores sound eager to face the challenge of earning the school’s first consecutive NCAA berths since 1988 and 1989.

“It has been a fun ride while it lasted,” Smith said. “Hopefully, it won’t be my last time (in the NCAA tournament).”