Vandy not acting like a doormat

FAYETTEVILLE — Vanderbilt is alone at the bottom of the

SEC standings, but the Commodores haven’t looked like a last-place team in recent games.

The Commodores (9-15, 3-8) come into tonight’s game against the Arkansas Razorbacks in Walton Arena off an 81-66 victory over Georgia on Wednesday night at home.

Vanderbilt shot a seasonhigh 55 percent from the field (27 of 49), including 11 of 24 three-pointers, and hit all 16 of its free throws.

Over the past six games Vanderbilt is 3-3, including home victories over LSU 77-71 and TCU 81-78. The Commodores’ losses in that span have been 67-62 at No. 15 Tennessee, 83-81 in overtime at No. 24 Kentucky and 93-81 at No. 8 Auburn.

“It’s a team that’s coming together, and they’re coming together at the right time of the year,” Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson said. “You can’t look at their record. They’re playing really, really good right now.”

Vanderbilt’s record also is reflective of a tough nonconference schedule that included road losses at Belmont (19-7) and Arizona State (18-6); neutral site losses to Virginia (23-1) and Seton Hall (17-7); and home losses to Southern California (17-8), Kansas State (17-7) and Middle Tennessee State (19-5).

Commodores Coach Bryce Drew praised his team’s attitude after the Georgia game when asked about improvements.

“I think a lot of it is about character,” Drew said. “Just personal character with our individuals. That’s what has allowed them to be resilient, even during the tough stretches we’ve been in.”

Willis’ homecoming

Tonight’s game will be the second time Vanderbilt guard Payton Willis, a sophomore from Fayetteville, has played back home against the Razorbacks.

Willis had a season-high 13 points and five rebounds against Georgia. In 23 games this season, including three starts, he’s averaging 5.0 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 17.3 minutes per game.