Vanderbilt basketball is playing with a chip on its shoulder going into March Madness. The Commodores will play Saint Mary's in the NCAA tournament.

Vanderbilt was picked to finish last in the SEC in the preseason but finished tied for ninth with an 8-10 conference record. The Commodores beat Tennessee and Kentucky at home, and Texas A&M on the road.

The West Coast Conference regular season champions bring one of the nation's best defenses into Friday's first-round NCAA Tournament game.