Vanderbilt Experiments With Tyler Tanner Off-Ball
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Coach Mark Byington is testing a tactical shift to reduce the burden on the preseason All-American point guard.
Vanderbilt basketball coach Mark Byington is exploring the possibility of playing Tyler Tanner off the ball, a strategy tested during the team's exhibition victory over UAB on Monday, October 19, 2026, according to Sports Illustrated.
Byington admitted to Sports Illustrated that he had previously worn Tanner out by requiring him to handle nearly every aspect of the offense, particularly when veteran guard Frankie Collins or Duke Miles were absent from the lineup. During the UAB game, freshman Ant Brown took over primary ball-handling duties, allowing Tanner to position himself on the 3-point line to read and react rather than setting up the offense or managing ball pressure.
Tanner, a preseason All-American and SEC Preseason Player of the Year runner-up, believes the shift will help him navigate the various defensive coverages he faces as a primary target on scouting reports. While Tanner will still spend significant time as the point guard, he noted to Sports Illustrated that the presence of Brown, Ace Glass, and ball-handling bigs helps alleviate the pressure.
Last season, Tanner averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game. Despite participating in the NBA Combine and scrimmages, Tanner opted to return to Vanderbilt after being viewed as a fringe first-round draft pick.