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Mark Byington chides Kentucky fans after big Vanderbilt win: 'They can sit on Broadway and get drunk'

FaceProfileby: Thomas Goldkamp01/28/26

No. 18 Vanderbilt steamrolled Kentucky on Tuesday night in an 80-55 demolition, and coach Mark Byington was feeling himself after the game. And why not?

The Commodores’ win snapped a five-game winning streak for the Wildcats. The home crowd at Memorial Gym was revved up from start to finish. And, after the game, Byington dropped a little red meat for the fans.

“We want to be Nashville’s team,” Byington said, per KSR’s Tyler Thompson. “We had an opportunity tonight make a lot of people feel good. Maybe people wearing blue didn’t feel good, but they can sit on Broadway and get drunk.”

Vanderbilt dominated from start to finish, never trailing in the contest and leading for 39:18 of game time. The Commodores were hot inside and out, nailing 10 3-pointers and scoring 28 points in the paint.

Whatever the team did, it was working. Even if Mark Byington had some less-than-desirable living quarters prior to the game.

Mark Byington living in makeshift room at facilities

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington has been a victim of the severe winter ice storm that crossed the southern portion of the United States this weekend. He’s had to stay at the team facilities with the power at his Nashville home out. ESPN’s broadcast crew ran a short segment featuring his plight during a game against Kentucky on Tuesday night.

“Welcome back to Nashville, Tennessee, where snow and ice has coated Nashville and the surrounding areas,” ESPN sideline reporter Alyssa Lang reported on air. “It’s been a wintry mix everywhere you drive, and over 100,000 without power here in the Nashville area.

“That includes Vanderbilt head coach Mark Byington, who told us that since Saturday he’s had an air mattress blown up in his office and has been sleeping here in the facility because his house has been about 30, 40 degrees. He’s been one of those without power, as well.”

After the big win over Kentucky, perhaps Mark Byington isn’t in any hurry to get back to his house. That is, if he’s superstitious at all.