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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Vandy’s sold on Byars


Ivory Clark, left, autographs a ball held by Washington State University team manager Mitch Reaves before leaving the team hotel for practice Friday. 
 (Christopher Anderson / The Spokesman-Review)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The only one who has had much success stopping Vanderbilt’s Derrick Byars this season is a gentleman named Byars.

Byars went from not making the 17-member All-SEC preseason teams to being named the conference’s most valuable player last week. The 6-foot-7, 230-pound senior did it by ranking among the top 20 in the powerful SEC in eight statistical categories.

“As long as we can keep Derrick from being too critical of himself, we’re in good shape,” said Commodores coach Kevin Stallings, whose team faces Washington State in a second-round NCAA tournament showdown today at Arco Arena. “He’s his own worst critic. That’s been the key to some of his success this year. He’s kind of got out of the way of himself.”

Teammates rave about Byars’ versatility, which will surely test WSU’s stingy defense. Byars averaged 19.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals in SEC games.

“Half the things he does don’t show up in the stat sheet,” Vandy guard Dan Cage said. “He’s one of the best teammates I’ve ever had. I’ve said it before: There’s not a selfish bone in his body. There’s been repeated times throughout the year where the coaches and players have had to try to encourage him to be more aggressive, to score more and shoot more. We feel like he’s one of the best players in the country.”

WSU shut down Oral Roberts’ forward Caleb Green in Thursday’s win, but Byars presents a more complex challenge. Green’s game was based on post moves, generally from 10 feet and in. Byars can shoot from the outside – he averages 2.5 3-pointers per game – and create scoring opportunities off the dribble for himself and teammates. He averages more than three assists per game.

The Cougars likely will rotate defenders on Byars with 6-6 Kyle Weaver and 6-6 Ivory Clark likely to see the most time.

“I’ll probably be stuck with him,” Weaver said, laughing. “I’ll be chasing him around, fighting through screens and trying to slow him down. If I do start out on him, he’s a bigger guy and I’ll have to be ready for that. He’s a complete player.”

Whereas Oral Roberts relied heavily on Green and guard Ken Tutt, Vanderbilt’s five starters all average at least 7.8 points and the Commodores buried 10 first-half 3-pointers in an opening-round win over George Washington. Vanderbilt had 15 assists on 15 first-half baskets. Byars contributed 12 points, seven boards and five assists.

“I grew up playing point guard – that may come as a surprise to some people,” Byars said. “I just have an unselfish tendency out there on the court. I was always kind of a pass-first, shoot-second type of player.”

Not this summer, however. Byars locked himself in the gym in Nashville and shot an estimated 20,000 jumpers in an effort to improve his range. The extra work paid off as he’s made 71 3-pointers this season, connecting on 36.2 percent.

“We try not to use it too much and live and die by it,” Byars said 3-pointers, “but it is a weapon for us.”

Friends in tournament places

In a cramped locker room at Arco Arena, Washington State forward Daven Harmeling chose his seat strategically. He had perhaps the best view of the television as the Nevada-Creighton game was winding down. Harmeling was an interested spectator because he played with Creighton’s Anthony Tolliver and Dane Watts on an Athletes in Action team that toured France last summer.

“I’m kind of pulling for Creighton,” Harmeling said during the closing minutes of regulation. “We’ve been texting each other. If we’re both fortunate enough to advance I’m sure we’ll be calling each other.”

Creighton eventually lost to Nevada in overtime. Albany’s Jamar Wilson, another of Harmeling’s summer teammates, saw his season end at the hands of Virginia. Illinois’ Trent Meacham also played on the AIA team that went 5-1 on their tour.

Wilson scored 25 points against Virginia. Tolliver had 15 points and Watts grabbed 10 rebounds against the Wolf Pack. Meacham scored four points in the Illini’s loss to Virginia Tech.

“It was a lot of fun playing with them,” Harmeling said. “It was unique to play with guys from all over. I was the only guy from the West Coast.”

Memory lane

WSU’s Ivory Clark and Vanderbilt’s Shan Foster played against each other in high school in New Orleans. Foster’s squad edged Clark’s team, but Clark got the better of it statistically.

“It was a great game,” Foster recalled. “We won, but it was a great game. He actually gave me 33 points – he scored every last one of them on me – but I fought through. I had 27.”

The two see each other on occasion when they’re home in Louisiana.

“He’s a good friend,” Foster said. “We just crack jokes now and then, nothing too serious.”

Tales from the road

Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings has long been an admirer of Dick Bennett’s coaching techniques and he once visited Bennett’s staff in Wisconsin to pick their brains. Stallings said some of Vandy’s defensive strategies are borrowed from Bennett.

Bennett coached at WSU the last three years before turning the reins over to son, Tony, this season.

“Last summer one of the more pleasant days I had on the road recruiting was when Tony and I spent time together at the Nike Camp and he started telling stories about when he played for his dad,” Stallings said. “I think I missed an entire game laughing from listening to him.”