In essence, Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings footed the bill for his team's recent 10-day trip to Australia.

Stallings, according to NCAA rules, isn't allowed to actually pay for the overseas trip. However, to make it legal, he deferred a $100,000 raise – money that went to the trip.

"Because of the economy, like so many other places and businesses, we're working on a budget," Stallings said. "People aren't getting raises, and we're cutting budgets by 10 to 20 percent. I didn't feel that it was appropriate to say we're going to use a pretty large sum of money to send our basketball team to Australia."

"I was determined to find another way because I felt like it was a very important time for our program," he added.

Stallings said the money was well spent – and the players were not only appreciative of the basketball facet of the trip, but culturally as well.

Vanderbilt went 3-2 on the trip, but Stallings said a couple of highlights for him were returning to Sydney (he called it "spectacular" more than once) and also watching some of his players feed kangaroos and hold pythons.

Stallings returns everyone except for reserve guard George Drake, who graduated and transferred to UAB for the year, from a team that won 19 games last season.

The core is Aussie junior big man A.J. Ogilvy, guards Jermaine Beal and Brad Tinsley and athletic wing Jeffery Taylor – each of which started at least 28 games last season and averaged in double-figures.

Stallings and his staff have been waiting for Ogilvy (15.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg) to become more assertive and want to take over games.

"He played like a man on the trip," Stallings raved. "He had to – because he was playing against men. He had 23 and 16 in one game. I think he's ready to take that jump we're all hoping and expecting he will take this year."

Ogilvy's life may also be made easier with the addition of freshman John Jenkins – a much-needed perimeter shooter. Jenkins wasn't allowed to go on the trip to Australia (freshmen aren't allowed to go until after school begins in the fall), but Stallings feels as though his ability to stretch the defense will open things up for Ogilvy and Taylor.

"I'll be surprised if Josh isn't in the rotation," Stallings said. "If nothing else, we know he's a terrific shooter, but there are other things he can do as well."

"He'll give Jeff room to slash and drive and A.J. more room to do what he does," Stallings said.
 
The wild card of the group could be long and athletic big man Festus Ezeli, who could play alongside of Ogilvy at times to give the Commodores a huge frontline.

"You can make a case he was our fifth-best player on the trip," Stallings said. "He's still got a ways to go from a consistency standpoint. I don't know how quickly the light will come on and stay on for him, but it's flickering. He's definitely gotten a lot better."