Could Vanderbilt’s Star Guard Tyler Tanner Thrive Off the Ball?

When Vanderbilt rolled out a 70‑48 victory against UAB at the Memorial Gym, most fans were still focused on the scoreboard. A closer look, however, revealed something subtler: sophomore point guard Tyler Tanner spent a handful of possessions hanging back, watching rather than handling the rock.

Coach Mark Byington admitted after the game that he’s been “wearing him out” with the usual 40‑minute grind. “If I can give him a breather, maybe he’ll stay fresher for the season,” he said, half‑smiling, half‑serious. The idea isn’t brand‑new—Byington has toyed with off‑ball duties in practice for a while—but the exhibition gave him a live test.

Enter freshman Ant Brown, a lanky wing who Byington describes as a “one‑of‑a‑kind” talent. On a few inbound plays Brown sprinted the length of the floor while Tanner stationed himself beyond the arc, ready to pop a three if the defense over‑committed. No heavy‑handed play‑calling, just a simple read‑and‑react moment. It felt, to the casual observer, like a breath of fresh air for a player usually chained to the ball.

For Tanner, the shift is more than a physical reprieve; it’s a chance to see the game from a different angle. “It lets me play the same basketball I’m used to, but without the constant pressure,” he told SI. While he still expects to lead the offense most nights—he’s a preseason All‑American after all—the occasional off‑ball stint could help him navigate the ever‑evolving defenses that now circle his name on scouting reports.

The numbers back up his value. Last season he averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 assists and 3.6 rebounds while shooting 48.5 % from the floor and 36.8 % from three. NBA scouts knocked on his door, and though he slipped just outside the first round, he chose to return to Nashville, citing the chance to add defensive polish and a stronger frame.

Byington’s experiment aligns with that philosophy. “We have guys like Brown and Ace Glass who can take the ball‑handling load,” he noted, “and our bigs can swing it up front. Giving Tyler a few off‑ball minutes could keep him fresher, keep defenses honest, and maybe even open up his own scoring when he gets the ball back.”

Whether this will become a regular trick or a one‑off tweak remains to be seen. For now, the Commodores will likely keep rotating Tanner between the helm and the perimeter, watching to see if the new rhythm sticks as the SEC season looms.