Adam Sparks

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

Bryce Drew set a target for the NCAA tournament and beyond in his first words he shared with players as Vanderbilt’s new coach last April.

On Sunday, the first goal was reached, as the Commodores received a bid in Drew’s debut season.

No. 9 seed Vanderbilt (19-15) will play No. 8 seed Northwestern (23-11) on Thursday (approximately 3:30 p.m., TBS) in Salt Lake City.

“In my very first meeting, when I first got the job, we talked in the (team) room, the same room we met in (Sunday) to see the pairings,” Drew said. “I said it, and they said it, too, that we wanted to make the (NCAA) tournament and go farther than they did last year.

“But there has been a lot that’s transpired in the meantime. We have also sat in that room and hoped we could just win a few more games the rest of the year.”

It will mark Vanderbilt’s 15th NCAA tournament appearance. Last season, the Commodores lost to Wichita State in the First Four opening round in Dayton. Northwestern is making its first NCAA tournament appearance.

Vanderbilt’s 15 losses mark the most ever by a team receiving an at-large bid. But with a No. 9 seed, the Commodores coasted into the bracket — due in large part to other elements of their résumé that were regarded more highly by the tournament committee than their record.

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“It’s a weird sense of pride,” said senior Nolan Cressler of the distinction of the most losses for an at-large team. “It’s not necessarily the most prideful thing to have 15 losses, but our strength of schedule was one or two in the country. I think in all those losses, we learned a lot along the way.

“The 15 losses were a learning experience for us.”

Vanderbilt has won 11 of its past 16 games, including a three-game sweep of No. 4 seed Florida and a win over No. 5 seed Iowa State, the Big 12 tournament champion. That late run toward the NCAA tournament came after an 8-10 start, when the Commodores’ chances at a bid appeared nearly dead.

“It was a trial by fire,” senior Luke Kornet said. “But we came out of it by the end of the season for the better.”

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @AdamSparks.

NCAA TOURNAMENT

VANDERBILT (19-15) vs. NORTHWESTERN (23-11)

When: Approximately 3:30 p.m., Thursday

Where: Salt Lake City

TV/radio: TBS/1510 AM, 560 AM, 95.9 FM