The Commodore hoped that his gift and the greater work of the university would help to heal the sectional wounds inflicted by the Civil War. The Vanderbilt Commodores men's basketball team represents Vanderbilt University in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference. Their official uniform colors are black and gold and the mascot is Commodores. The Commodores have won three SEC regular season titles in 1965, 1974 and 1993, and have competed in nine NCAA Tournaments, making it to the Elite Eight once in 1965 and the Sweet 16 five times in 1974, 1988, 1993, 2004 and 2007.

They have played in nine National Invitation Tournaments, winning it in 1990 and finishing runners-up in 1994. Their current head coach is Kevin Stallings, and their home games are played at the 14,316 capacity Memorial Gymnasium, which was built in the early 1950s, and is located in Nashville, TN. It was dedicated as the campus memorial to students and alumni killed in World War II, a plaque commemorating those who died is displayed in the Gym's North lobby.