NCAA MEN'S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: FIRST ROUND - MCNEESE VS VANDERBILT

March 18, 2026

Tyler Tanner

Tyler Nickel

Devin McGlockton

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Vanderbilt Commodores

Media Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have our Vanderbilt student-athletes with us. We have sophomore guard Tyler Tanner, senior forward Tyler Nickel, and senior forward Devin McGlockton. We'll get started talking about the experience here in Oklahoma City, first round, and what that's been like thus far.

TYLER TANNER: Yeah, we're excited about it. Obviously on Sunday we got to figure out where we were coming, and we were ready for whatever match-up it was, whatever seeding we had, and wherever we had to be, so...

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Now that you kind of know more about McNeese, people are calling them a sleeper team. What makes them so dangerous?

TYLER NICKEL: Yeah, we knew they were a good team as soon as we started watching film, breaking down what they do. They got talented guys. They got a good coach. It's just like any other game. They got their play style. We got ours. We just ready to get after it.

I mean, they're a good team. You know, we can't overlook anything. Seeds don't really matter at this point of the year. Everybody that gets here is good. We knew that coming in that it was going to be a quality team no matter what seed we were, no matter the seed who we were playing was, and we're just ready to go.

Q. You have a mix of experience in the tournament and non experience in the tournament. What's kind of the message to the guys who it's their first time here and how to keep them level-headed and emotions in check?

DEVIN McGLOCKTON: We just let the guys know that it's their first time being here that it's a very good experience. There's nothing like this in the world. We've been here before. We know how it is. Coach B makes the emphasis that it's really hard to get here, and we're not going to take anything for granted. We're going to play our hardest.

Q. Tyler Tanner, you guys obviously have done a great job of handling the ball, not committing turnovers this season. McNeese does a tremendous job of forcing teams into turnovers. How will that affect the way you prepare for this game tomorrow?

TYLER TANNER: Yeah, definitely a part of our preparation. No. 1 in the NCAA in steals and forced turnovers, so I mean, we have to change a little bit, but not too much. Just be smart with what we do when we're out there and be cautious with some of the schemes they have on defense, jumping passing lanes and stuff like that.

Mostly we're keeping it the same. We want to continue to be aggressive and play like ourselves, and it will all work out.