Led by one of the top returning scorers in the Southeastern Conference, Vanderbilt looks to become a Final Four contender as it opens the 2026-27 season against Bellarmine on Monday night in Nashville, Tenn.

The No. 24 Commodores will be led once again by Tyler Tanner, who decided to forgo the NBA Draft and return for his junior season.

Tanner, a preseason All-SEC first team selection, ranked fourth in the SEC last season with 19.5 points per game. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals.

His efforts helped Vanderbilt finish 27-9 and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. His return has fueled optimism for the Commodores, who were picked to finish sixth in the SEC's preseason media poll.

But Vanderbilt got a taste of the kind of opposition it will need to overcome if it's to take the next step under third-year coach Mark Byington when it lost 109-96 last Friday in an exhibition game at No. 14 Miami.

Tanner didn't have his best game, shooting 3 of 10 and finishing with 10 points. Vanderbilt also allowed Miami to shoot 58% overall.

But the Commodores got a look at Tanner working with newcomer Ace Glass, who finished with 19 points, as Byington is continuing work on lineups as the start of the season looms.

"We're not close to (deciding the rotations)," Byington said. "But this gives me hope."

Glass averaged 16.4 points as a freshman at Washington State. Returning sophomore Chandler Bing also had 18 points against Miami and appears primed for a breakout season.

Forwards T.O. Barrett, a Missouri transfer, and Gabe Nesmith, a freshman and younger brother of Indiana Pacers guard/forward Aaron Nesmith, did not play against Miami, but warmed up as if they were each closer to returning from injuries and should be available against Bellarmine.

Bellarmine is coming off a 13-19 season, including 7-11 in the Atlantic Sun Conference.

Doug Davenport enters his second season at the helm of the Knights after taking over for his father, Scott, who led the program to a national championship in 2011 and four Final Four appearances overall at the Division II level.

Bellarmine is vying for its first winning season since 2022 and first postseason appearance since the 2020-21 campaign, when it played in the College Basketball Invitational in its first season at the Division I level.

The Knights open the season with three consecutive road games, continuing with trips to Indiana and Miami (Ohio).

Bellarmine led the nation in field goal percentage (52.1%) last season but lost its top two scorers and rebounders in Jack Karasinski and Brian Waddell. Karasinski averaged 21.7 points and shot 41.5% from 3-point range. Waddell averaged 15.0 points with 4.3 rebounds.

Kenyon Goodin (11.6 points, 2.0 assists) is back and expected to take on a more prominent role, along with Tyler Doyle (10.0 points, 4.0 assists).

"I know the system really well," Doyle said. "I know what Doug expects, so just passing it on to the younger dudes and seeing them improve has been fun."