NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Kevin Stallings has lost six players within the past year and half, and the Vanderbilt coach says to blame him for the losses.
"I have made some mistakes and in some instances of bringing in guys that probably didn't belong here," Stallings said Tuesday. "There's nobody to blame for that but me, so I take responsibility for that. And I have to do a better job ... of bringing in guys."
Like most coaches, Stallings has had players leave during his 15 seasons at Vanderbilt. But Stallings dismissed three players since January, while three others transferred in 2013. That ramped up criticism that players don't like playing for Stallings, and the man who has won more basketball games at Vanderbilt than any other coach said at media day that some of the departures have been more frustrating than others.
"I just have to do a better job of making sure when I'm recruiting a guy that he's a guy that fits here," Stallings said. "Whether that means fits in our program or fits at our university, I just have to make sure I do, and that's where the failings have been. ... I know everybody likes to try to say that guys don't want to play for me. Well, everybody inside this program knows that nothing could be further from the truth."
Stallings listed players from Matt Freije and Shan Foster to current NBA players John Jenkins, Jeff Taylor and Festus Ezeli being among those he confidently could say liked playing for him.
Vanderbilt won the Southeastern Conference tournament in 2012, and the Commodores have had consecutive losing seasons since then, including a 15-16 record last season.
In 2013, Sheldon Jeter and A.J. Astroth transferred followed by guard Kevin Bright returning home to Germany to be closer to his mother where he also signed a pro contract. Stallings suspended, then dismissed guard Eric McClellan in January.
Point guard Kedren Johnson was suspended for the 2013-14 academic year for violating university policy, and Stallings dismissed Johnson and guard Dai-Jon Parker in August for not meeting standards to remain with the team. Both transferred with Johnson cleared Monday by the NCAA to play immediately at Memphis.
Stallings brought in six new players, including five freshmen with three poised to start this season with Shelton Mitchell at point guard. Stallings says he's never been in position where he had to start a freshman point guard. But Stallings also praised his Commodores for working hard with long practices the past couple days.
The coach wouldn't compare the difference between the freshmen and the players lost, saying he wouldn't be able to answer without being "derogatory" to people that had been here. He said he thinks this team's future is really bright because of his current group of players do what they're supposed to do.
"I haven't had to worry about something on the weekend," Stallings said. "I haven't had to worry about anything in the classroom. I haven't had to worry about anything in dorm, and it's a pretty fun job when the biggest thing I have to worry about every day is get them better on defense and that's where we're at."