Mark Byington has earned the right to take a victory lap and dunk on everyone who doubted him and picked Vanderbilt to finish last in the SEC. After all, he's done this before. His first team at James Madison four years ago was picked to finish ninth of 10 teams in the CAA before surging past expectations to share the conference crown.

Mark Byington will now be the Mark H. Carter and Family Men's Basketball Head Coach at Vanderbilt, after Carter endowed the head coaching position for the Commodores, the program announced in a release Tuesday.

Vanderbilt basketball lost to Auburn as expected, but it must play better going forward against elite teams if it hopes to make the NCAA tournament.

The Vanderbilt Commodores (17-7, 5-6) couldn't find an extra gear on Tuesday as they lost to No. 1 Auburn 80-68 in Memorial Gymnasium. The Commodores battled hard, but were buried in the game's last 14 minutes to fall to below .