1900-01 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1900–01 Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team was the first officially sanctioned basketball
team at Vanderbilt University
. The Commodores played 4 games against the local Nashville
Y.M.C.A. team and the Nashville Athletic Club
. Despite the older and more experienced competition, Vanderbilt finished 2–2.
Walter Simmons, Earnest Reese, Tom Motlow, Herbert Gannaway and E.L. Woolf were the starters in the first game on December 15, 1900. After trailing 16–4 at halftime, the Commodores outscored the Y 15–4 in the second half to pull within 20–19, before losing 22–19. Vanderbilt routed the Y in the second game in February, 1901 by a score of 24–9. They secured a win in the deciding game in March, 1901 on a late goal 14–12.
The Commodores played the final game of their inaugural season against the Nashville Athletic Club
, whose players were older and bigger. After trailing 10–5 at halftime, Walter Simmons, a four-year starter on the football team, led the Commodores back, but NAC won 13–11.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team at Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
. The Commodores played 4 games against the local Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
Y.M.C.A. team and the Nashville Athletic Club
Nashville Athletic Club
The Nashville Athletic Club was a sports club for young men founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1884. The NAC was responsible for helping popularize the sports of baseball, football, basketball, athletics, gymnastics and swimming in the Nashville area. The NAC also featured a swimming pool, a...
. Despite the older and more experienced competition, Vanderbilt finished 2–2.
Season summary
Since 1893, unofficial games had been played by Vanderbilt teams and intramural basketball games were popular on campus during winter. Finally, in Autumn 1900, a team was formed to accept a challenge from the Nashville Y.M.C.A. to play a 3-game series. As the Old Gym on Vanderbilt's campus was too small to host the spectacle, all three games were played at the Y.M.C.A.'s gym.Walter Simmons, Earnest Reese, Tom Motlow, Herbert Gannaway and E.L. Woolf were the starters in the first game on December 15, 1900. After trailing 16–4 at halftime, the Commodores outscored the Y 15–4 in the second half to pull within 20–19, before losing 22–19. Vanderbilt routed the Y in the second game in February, 1901 by a score of 24–9. They secured a win in the deciding game in March, 1901 on a late goal 14–12.
The Commodores played the final game of their inaugural season against the Nashville Athletic Club
Nashville Athletic Club
The Nashville Athletic Club was a sports club for young men founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1884. The NAC was responsible for helping popularize the sports of baseball, football, basketball, athletics, gymnastics and swimming in the Nashville area. The NAC also featured a swimming pool, a...
, whose players were older and bigger. After trailing 10–5 at halftime, Walter Simmons, a four-year starter on the football team, led the Commodores back, but NAC won 13–11.
1900–01 Schedule and Results
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Overall | Conf. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
||||||
| December 15, 1900 | at Nashville Y.M.C.A. | Nashville, TN | L 19–22 | 0–1 | – | |
| February, 1901 | at Nashville Y.M.C.A. | Nashville, TN | W 24–9 | 1–1 | – | |
| March, 1901 | at Nashville Y.M.C.A. | Nashville, TN | W 14–12 | 2–1 | – | |
| March, 1901 | at Nashville Athletic Club Nashville Athletic Club The Nashville Athletic Club was a sports club for young men founded in Nashville, Tennessee in 1884. The NAC was responsible for helping popularize the sports of baseball, football, basketball, athletics, gymnastics and swimming in the Nashville area. The NAC also featured a swimming pool, a... |
Nashville, TN | L 11–13 | 2–2 | – | |