Why Jerry Stackhouse promised Tyrin Lawrence he'd be his father figure at Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt basketball coach Jerry Stackhouse said that he has a father-son like relationship with guard Tyrin Lawrence.

Lawrence was held out of a 101-44 loss to Alabama last week after Stackhouse was upset with his demeanor in practice. But Lawrence subsequently scored 18 points with 10 rebounds in a win over Ole Miss four days later, the first double-double of his career. After that game, Stackhouse said the two were on the same page following a one-on-one meeting.

Stackhouse elaborated on that Tuesday, saying he promised to serve as a father-like figure for Lawrence after the death of his father.

"Tyrin lost his dad and a lot of the reason that he came to Vanderbilt was because I promised him that I would be a father figure and to his mom, so ... it's a lot more than just a damn game," Stackhouse said. "We're in the business of affecting these guys' lives in a lot of ways. I'm going to be at Tyrin Lawrence's wedding. When he had his first child, we were the ones that was was encouraging him and letting him know that you know, we still had his back, that (chief of staff Adell Harris) would change some diapers for him if we needed to, so that's what we're about."

Stackhouse said he felt Lawrence had enough talent to play professionally but that he wouldn't get there if he didn't step up, and that it was a message Lawrence needed to hear. Stackhouse said he has done similar to other players on the roster; he benched wing Jordan Wright in the second half of a loss to Kentucky due to low effort.

Vanderbilt (11-12, 4-6 SEC) faces No. 5 Tennessee (19-4, 8-2) on Wednesday (6 p.m. CT, SEC Network).

"Even though I critique them and I coach them hard at the same time I tell them I love them," Stackhouse said. "And it's not just fluff. I mean if it came down to it and I had to go and do something to protect Tyrin Lawrence and his family, that's what I would do."

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This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Jerry Stackhouse promised Tyrin Lawrence a father figure at Vanderbilt