Vanderbilt can’t stop showing how scared of Nebraska they are in the NCAA Tournament

To hear SEC and Vanderbilt fans, writers, and coaches talk, you'd think the University of Nebraska is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After watching the Huskers blow out the Troy Trojans in the first round of the NCAA Tournament and watching NU fans show up to the tourney in droves, it's clear the Commodores and their backers are scared about what awaits them on Saturday night.

Fred Hoiberg's squad came out and dominated the Sun Belt Champions after an iffy start in Thursday's first game. Even more impressive than the score was the number of Husker fans who made the 7.5-hour drive to OKC to cheer on their team and watch history unfold. More than a few onlookers commented that the Nebraska fans had so completely taken over Paycom Arena that it was like a game being played in Lincoln.

Vanderbilt, which managed to win its game in far more of a battle, noticed the "home court" advantage. That was underlined when Saturday Down South writer Neil Blackmon went so far as to act like it was a slap in the face and an insult that the Commodores have to play Nebraska in the second round.

Vanderbilt's complaints about Nebraska basketball's crowd are the best possible sign for Saturday

"Incredible environment in OKC for Nebraska, Blackmon wrote on Twitter shortly after the Huskers' win. "If I'm Vanderbilt AD Candice Storey Lee, I'd love to know how my team became healthier, added multiple Quad 1A wins, and not only went down a seed line from the February seedline reveal but also was shipped to OKC to potentially play a functional road game in the round of 32."

Blackmon didn't stop there, calling it the "biggest committee error of the Field of 68," and added, "Commodores fans are right to feel aggrieved."

Vandy head coach Mark Byington didn't go quite as far as pretending the NCAA had somehow harmed his team by sending them to Oklahoma City, but he also made it clear he noticed the crowd's obvious bias.

"How lucky are we that we're going to play basically a road game in the NCAA Tournament?" Byington remarked sarcastically. "So much for neutral site."

In regard to Blackmon's complaints, it's worth noting that Nebraska spent most of the season on the 3 seed line as well and was also bumped down to a 4 seed at the last minute. And yes, while Husker fans were hoping for NU to go to Oklahoma City because it's the closest location to Omaha and Lincoln, it's not as though it's right next door. 

Nebraska fans had to get in the car and drive a long distance to be in attendance for the game as well. They're spending money on gas and hotel rooms just like everyone else. 

It's clear that Vanderbilt and its fans and followers are scared about what Paycom Arena will be like on Saturday night, especially since the 7:45 p.m. start will give even more Nebraska fans time to get into the car on Saturday morning and head on down to OKC. NU needs to cash in on that fear factor and topple the SEC upstart.