Mark Byington calls out fans not attending Vanderbilt games in-person: 'We don't feel that support'

Mark Byington didn’t appreciate the empty Memorial Gymnasium student section during the Commodores beatdown of Eastern Kentucky 92-62 on Wednesday. During his postgame press conference, the Vanderbilt men’s basketball coach called out those students, as well as the rest of Vanderbilt’s fans who are choosing to watch the game on television.

“We’re looking around tonight, and we’ve got to do more with Memorial,” Byington told reporters after the win. “We’ve got to support this team now and build along the way, and not wait for an opponent to come in and take over this place.

“The people that came out tonight, we really appreciate your support, the ones that are watching at home, we don’t feel that support. This place is great. It’s loud. We talk a lot about Memorial Magic, but the truth behind the magic is when people are in the stands.”

It’s not as if Vanderbilt fans aren’t passionate — the fans of the Commodores’ football team have shown out in droves over the past two seasons. The 2025 season has regularly seen FirstBank Stadium filled with reinvigorated fans. Byington wants to have that same support for this year’s men’s basketball program.

He wants to prove that something special is being built at Vanderbilt. Namely, the Commodores finished the season with a 20-13 record one season after winning just nine games during the 2023-24 season. They were a 10-seed in last year’s NCAA Tournament — the first time Vanderbilt had gone dancing since the 2016-17 season.

Byington’s squad is off to a 3-0 start this season. His team scored 100+ points in each their first two matchups, and finishing with 92 points against EKU on Wednesday.

The Commodores head coach feels as though he’s got a fun team this season. He wants to prove that to Vanderbilt fans, and doesn’t want to have another team being the reason his arena is full.

“You’re going to like this team,” Byington continued. “But at the same time, I feel like we need to make this a great environment, whether it’s who we are playing, the time of the day or anything else, come join us now. Be a part of this now and don’t wait.”

Vanderbilt’s next home game will be held this weekend against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Tip-off for the non-conference matchups is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET and will air live on SECN+.