Vanderbilt basketball gets brutal injury blow with Frankie Collins torn meniscus update

Vanderbilt basketball (12-0) just saw its dream season hit a snag. Fifth-year senior Frankie Collins has a torn meniscus and will be sidelined indefinitely, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. Fans will be happy to know that he did undergo successful surgery, but this is obviously brutal news for all involved.

Collins played for Michigan, Arizona State and TCU before arriving in Nashville. Despite taking on a lesser offensive role this season, he has been an important part of a historic Commodores campaign. Undefeated Vandy still boasts impactful scorers like Duke Miles, Tyler Tanner and Tyler Nickel, but the loss of Collins could negatively affect the team on both ends of the floor.

The 23-year-old averages 7.8 points, 4.7 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.4 steals in just 20.9 minutes per game. He is a glue guy whose absence could be evident once Vanderbilt’s schedule ramps up. While head coach Mark Byington and the Commodores deserve ample credit for their stellar start to the 2025-26 season, they have faced a relatively stress-free non-conference slate. Even if the SEC is well below the standard it set last year, winning games should get considerably harder.

That is just the reality of the situation. Vanderbilt basketball is still dangerous, which the advanced metrics illustrate, but the squad must stay hungry. Much like in football, the Commodores have benefited greatly by adopting a fearless mindset during competition. Unfortunately, also like football, there are questions about this program’s ceiling. They are bound to be magnified following the Frankie Collins injury.

Again, though, Vandy is perfect in the early goings. This group has earned respect and will enter 2026 with one of the most dynamic offenses in the country. Byington’s guys will get a chance to find their rhtyhem without the two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive selection when they host New Haven on Monday.

The post Vanderbilt basketball gets brutal injury blow with Frankie Collins torn meniscus update appeared first on ClutchPoints.