http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/206616661.html
Former Marquette guard Vander Blue says he ready to compete in the NBA
By Bob Wolfley of the Journal Sentinel May 8, 2013
Former Marquette guard Vander Blue said it was a "really tough decision" to leave the Golden Eagles' program and make himself eligible for the NBA draft.
In an extended interview with the "NY2LA" show on Milwaukee radio station WAUK-AM (540), Blue said he felt it was time to leave MU and pursue his dream of playing in the National Basketball Association.
Blue is in Los Angeles training in preparation for the NBA draft combine May 15-19 in Chicago. Among the players he said he is working out with in L.A. are Detroit guard Ray McCallum, Georgia guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Louisville center Gorgui Dieng, all players eligible for the draft on June 27.
"It could have gone either way," Blue said about his decision to leave Marquette. "I was thinking about I have one more year left to get my degree. I want to make sure I still come back and get that. . . . It's been a life-long dream of mine to play in the NBA. I think that I am ready. I think that I really put the team on my back this year and really carried us where we needed to go. . . . I was really happy for our team to make it to the Elite Eight. I did a lot of praying to God. He has never steered me wrong. I never heard him tell me to come back. My mom, my mentor . . . all sat down and they gave me the pros and cons of both (decisions). I ended up making the final decision about what I wanted to do. This is what I'm ready for. If I felt I wasn't ready one ounce, I would have come back to school. I'm totally in. I'm two feet in. I'm working as hard as I can. This is a great opportunity for me. This is a great draft to come out in. I think there are some players who maybe should have come out stayed in. That's helping me. But I can't control that. All I can control is what I do every single day to help prepare myself. Right now I'm just preparing, getting ready for Chicago, so I can impress some scouts. Just try to work myself up. That's what it's all about now. This is my profession. This is my job. I wake up every day and treat it that way. But in the end it was a hard decision. I love Marquette, love our fans. I love everything they have done for me but I just felt it was my time to go."
Blue expressed nothing but gratitude about being coached by Buzz Williams for three seasons.
"I just feel like Buzz helped me a lot," Blue said. "He did everything a player can ask from a coach. He has always been there for me. He never gave up on me, when everybody (else) did. He's an unbelievable person, man. That was one of the hardest parts for me coming out this year because of not being able to play for him again. . . . Buzz was really rough on me my three years there. He never let me get away with anything. He always expected more of me. I had to do more than anybody else. He just made it tough for me, man. It's really helped me in my move. Now as I do workouts here (in Los Angeles) with other guys from other universities, we separate ourselves because we are going so hard. It's just a Marquette thing. Everybody (says) 'You're playing so hard.' I'm like, 'I've been doing this for years. This is how we go about things.' I just want to be better and make every shot. Buzz has taught me a lot on and off the court, how to be a man, to be a professional as well. I talk to him every day, man. He asks me, 'How's it going?' Tells me things I still need to work on. He has helped me through this whole process."
Blue was asked about how it was that his mid-range jump shot improved so much during his junior season.
"I actually did not change much about my jump shot," Blue said. "It was more about what shots to take and what areas I wanted to perfect. . . . I never had trouble shooting the ball until maybe my freshman year in college and a little bit my sophomore year I was shaky as well. It came along my junior year. It's all about confidence. You just need to make sure in your mind and deep down in your heart you can make the shot."
Blue said he needs to demonstrate to NBA scouts and general managers that he can play point guard.
"I have talked to a lot of teams, a lot of scouts," Blue said. "I really didn't play the point at Marquette much because we had guys like Junior (Cadougan) and Darius (Johnson-Odom) who played the point. . . . A lot of teams just want to see me play point. That's actually not a problem. I was recruited as a point guard. I played point guard all the time up until my time at Marquette. I played point guard a little bit in my freshman and sophomore year. Now it is just me adjusting to how the NBA game is. There are a lot of pick and rolls, a lot of mid-range (shots), a lot of things that work to my strengths. A lot of one-one-one. . . . Things I can take advantage of - my speed, my athleticism, my quickness. So I just have to show these guys I can run a team. I think that I can help a team. I can get things going, get the break going. I can guard a one (point guard) through the three (small forward). I have a lot of attributes that people really couldn't see at Marquette because of the role I had to play for that team."
(Photo credit: AP. Marquette coach Buzz Williams (right) is elated that guard Vander Blue (13) made the winning basket with a second left in a second-round NCAA tournament game against Davidson on March 21 in Lexington, Ky.)
Sounds like he's going into the process with his eyes wide open. Love the credit he gives MU and Buzz for how they prepared him. Since he talks to Buzz every day and seeks out his advice, I think we can put aside the silliness of some sort of rift between them.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on May 08, 2013, 01:19:32 PM
I think we can put aside the silliness of some sort of rift between them.
where's the fun in that?
Glad he put Marquette on his back!
Quote from: Marqevans on May 08, 2013, 07:40:07 PM
Glad he put Marquette on his back!
Cura Personalis by Vander...thank you Vander.
Quote from: Lennys Tap on May 08, 2013, 01:19:32 PM
Sounds like he's going into the process with his eyes wide open. Love the credit he gives MU and Buzz for how they prepared him. Since he talks to Buzz every day and seeks out his advice, I think we can put aside the silliness of some sort of rift between them.
There was no rift between Vander and Buzz....but I bet there was one between Vander and the fans here. I am sure of it.
Well first off he was not ready regardless to what his mother, his mentor and even what he thinks.
Vander just wanted to go...saw the draft class and the opportunity and the opening and just left. It is that simple. It had NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD or prayer. He had made up his own mind.
God and a true mentor would have had him look at the whole situation and told him to stay. He needed it. But kids today get up and run because they can and the NBA suffers.
I pray too and there is no way it is in God's character and will to tell anyone to leave college on a scholarship and not get a degree and honor that fully.
I think you steered God, God did not steer you in this decision. I am not saying I am one to hear someone else's prayers but I know that was not God's choice. I think he talked it over briefly and made a decision.
I think his only regret was not coming back and winning a title but he is so impatient and impulsive and strong willed that he simply left.
As a fan I think looking at his game he has no position, can only go one way and no consistent shot if he is defended and no experience at running or leading a team. He says he really did not do anything to improve his shot and that it was confidence.
Well guess what, the NBA is not like college. You can say or think you are ready all you want to that does not mean you are. But you have to live with it. He couldn't have picked a better time to have 3 great games when he did.
But at 6'3 it will be an uphill battle. I think Vander if drafted will be one of the few MU Players to come here besides Wade who left here before his Senior year and did not stay to finish it out.
That is unfortunate.
Vander Blue was a great player at Marquette and I wish him all the best as he begins his professional life. He gave us some of the best moments in the history of Marquette basketball. I hope he continues to make us proud.
Quote from: MUHoopsFan2 on May 09, 2013, 03:09:52 AM
I think Vander if drafted will be one of the few MU Players to come here besides Wade who left here before his Senior year and did not stay to finish it out.
.... In other words he's leaving early for the NBA draft.
Quote from: Marqevans on May 08, 2013, 07:40:07 PM
Glad he put Marquette on his back!
That comment seemed a bit arrogant, but fairly accurate.
Quote from: leever on May 09, 2013, 10:07:05 AM
That comment seemed a bit arrogant, but fairly accurate.
Yes, it is fairly accurate that his comment was arrogant. Not so sure how accurate the actual comment was...there were games he carried us, games he absolutely disappeared, and games where he was on of many reasons the team won.
As some of us stated over the last few weeks, confidence has never been lacking with Vander going back to the day he set foot on campus. In some cases that has served him well, and in other cases not so much.
Quote from: leever on May 09, 2013, 10:07:05 AM
That comment seemed a bit arrogant, but fairly accurate.
I think that I really put the team on my back this year and really carried us where we needed to go.It's too bad we didn't
need to go to the Final Four!
Quote from: ChicosBailBonds on May 09, 2013, 10:13:39 AM
Yes, it is fairly accurate that his comment was arrogant. Not so sure how accurate the actual comment was...there were games he carried us, games he absolutely disappeared, and games where he was on of many reasons the team won.
Glad I'm not alone on that. Thought it was very arrogant, and rubbed me the wrong way. If Steve Taylor doesn't step up against Rutgers, or Davante against Syracuse, that St. John's game doesn't mean dick. If Jamil doesn't hit two threes at the end, Davidson beats us, and we're not having this conversation.
He's gonna get a rude awakening. And frankly, I'm okay with it.
So you are ok(maybe more than ok)with him getting a rude awakening? Why? So, you can see him get knocked down a few rungs? I want another Buzz player in the league. That serves MUBB the best. Some want him to fail so people on here can say--'yeah I never cared for the guy or his attitude anyways'.
I think Vander's quote is a little out of line to his team play, which was unselfish. Face it, Vander could have played for "me only" and not given up the rock a lot more often to advance his NBA ambitions, but he didn't. I think Jerel and DJO were guilty of this at times...trying to do too much alone. Vander played within the offense and defense and made others and the team better. And, at the end, MU DID hand Vander the backpack to strap it on and carry them back from the dead...and he delivered. At Florida, in that debacle, he was the ONLY MU player who strapped it on and the ONLY MU player who deserved to be on the same floor as Gators.
Fact is, like JFB, Vander could have been more selfish at times, which between Wes, Jae and Jimmy, may be the thing that earns him a spot on the draft board. The kid has NBA talent and athleticism, just may be a year away on the rawness index.
Dr Blackheart
I agree completely. Vander seldom played selfish ball and did carry the team in some big moments. I believe that unselfish attitude coupled with talent and athleticism is what gets Blue a paycheck. He was playing for NBA contract this year but always put team first IMO.
Quote from: Dr. Blackheart on May 09, 2013, 10:46:39 AM
I think Vander's quote is a little out of line to his team play, which was unselfish. Face it, Vander could have played for "me only" and not given up the rock a lot more often to advance his NBA ambitions, but he didn't. I think Jerel and DJO were guilty of this at times...trying to do too much alone. Vander played within the offense and defense and made others and the team better. And, at the end, MU DID hand Vander the backpack to strap it on and carry them back from the dead...and he delivered. At Florida, in that debacle, he was the ONLY MU player who strapped it on and the ONLY MU player who deserved to be on the same floor as Gators.
Fact is, like JFB, Vander could have been more selfish at times, which between Wes, Jae and Jimmy, may be the thing that earns him a spot on the draft board. The kid has NBA talent and athleticism, just may be a year away on the rawness index.
Agree, Doc. Vander's play last year was anything but selfish, but at some of our biggest moments (St Johns, Davidson, Butler in the tourney) he DID strap us on his back and carry us across the finish line. That said, I'd be happier if he let me or you say it instead of saying it himself.
Quote from: Goose on May 09, 2013, 10:51:26 AM
Dr Blackheart
I agree completely. Vander seldom played selfish ball and did carry the team in some big moments. I believe that unselfish attitude coupled with talent and athleticism is what gets Blue a paycheck. He was playing for NBA contract this year but always put team first IMO.
100% agree with this and the good doctor! The comment comes across as arrogant, but he is who he is. We've seen that part of his personality before. Not sure where all the Vander hate comes from. He left early. Many think that was a mistake. I thank him for his contributions to the last three highly sucessfull teams and wish him well in the future.
Quote from: leever on May 09, 2013, 11:28:46 AM
100% agree with this and the good doctor! The comment comes across as arrogant, but he is who he is. We've seen that part of his personality before. Not sure where all the Vander hate comes from. He left early. Many think that was a mistake. I thank him for his contributions to the last three highly sucessfull teams and wish him well in the future.
How could anyone possibly hate Vander after he publicly shamed Bucky in the recruiting process, beat them in their buildings, then delivered us buzzer beaters to win the last legandary BEast and escape a 1st round shaming, then beasting us past Butler where we coasted to the E8 (first time in a decade)? Happy trails my dude, live long in the NBA and prosper. Glad we got Mayo and a borderline 5 star JJJ waiting in the wings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INpbD106-LE
I PUT THE TEAM ON MY BACK!
I wish Vander had a stronger back. Having said that, I'm totally behind him in his pursuit of play for pay. And, I think he'll carve out a very nice NBA career.
I think Vander is going to surprise all of us in the NBA, for the better.
Quote from: Marqevans on May 08, 2013, 07:40:07 PM
Glad he put Marquette on his back!
I should not burn him for that comment because he needs to do the best sell job possible to make it to the NBA. I hope he does! The more good press Marquette gets the better. Not sure he will make the impact Jimmy Butler has, but it would be great if he did.
It's not every day that you see fans rip on the best player from their Elite 8 team. No matter what Vander says or does, some MU fans are going to dislike him because he didn't live up to the impossible-to-reach expectations that they set for him before he was even finished with HS.
I thought Blue was great this year after being terrible his freshman year and OK his sophomore year. I think he is going to have a hard time making the NBA, but I think he would have had a hard time making the NBA next year, too. So leaving early is only a mistake if a) he doesn't make the NBA, and b) he was going to put his MU degree to work should he fail to make the NBA.
I'm sorry he's going, but I think we'll be fine without him, and I hope he has a long and fruitful professional career, and hopefully that career is in the NBA. I always want all the guys who wore the blue and gold to be happy and successful.
Quote from: MUHoopsFan2 on May 09, 2013, 03:09:52 AM
Well first off he was not ready regardless to what his mother, his mentor and even what he thinks.
Vander just wanted to go...saw the draft class and the opportunity and the opening and just left. It is that simple. It had NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD or prayer. He had made up his own mind.
God and a true mentor would have had him look at the whole situation and told him to stay. He needed it. But kids today get up and run because they can and the NBA suffers.
I pray too and there is no way it is in God's character and will to tell anyone to leave college on a scholarship and not get a degree and honor that fully.
I think you steered God, God did not steer you in this decision. I am not saying I am one to hear someone else's prayers but I know that was not God's choice. I think he talked it over briefly and made a decision.
I think his only regret was not coming back and winning a title but he is so impatient and impulsive and strong willed that he simply left.
As a fan I think looking at his game he has no position, can only go one way and no consistent shot if he is defended and no experience at running or leading a team. He says he really did not do anything to improve his shot and that it was confidence.
Well guess what, the NBA is not like college. You can say or think you are ready all you want to that does not mean you are. But you have to live with it. He couldn't have picked a better time to have 3 great games when he did.
But at 6'3 it will be an uphill battle. I think Vander if drafted will be one of the few MU Players to come here besides Wade who left here before his Senior year and did not stay to finish it out.
That is unfortunate.
I think you are imparting a lot of your own values and opinions into this post - and you really have no idea what Vander's thought process was.
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on May 09, 2013, 03:52:00 PM
It's not every day that you see fans rip on the best player from their Elite 8 team. No matter what Vander says or does, some MU fans are going to dislike him because he didn't live up to the impossible-to-reach expectations that they set for him before he was even finished with HS.
I'm not a Vander hater in the least. Personally, I disagreed with his decision and hoped he proved me wrong.
I just really dislike his line about carrying the team to the Elite 8. First of all, it's not true. Second, it's extremely arrogant and craps on his teammates. Without whom, he wouldn't have had the chance to be where he is.
Quote from: MUfan12 on May 09, 2013, 10:28:48 AM
Glad I'm not alone on that. Thought it was very arrogant, and rubbed me the wrong way. If Steve Taylor doesn't step up against Rutgers, or Davante against Syracuse, that St. John's game doesn't mean dick. If Jamil doesn't hit two threes at the end, Davidson beats us, and we're not having this conversation.
He's gonna get a rude awakening. And frankly, I'm okay with it.
I don't hope he gets a rude awakening...hope he makes it. He has a ton of confidence, some of it is arrogance...maybe that is a good thing, maybe not. I think at times it can carry you through tough times to have such belief in yourself and your talents. On the flip side, it can make you think you are better than you really are at time and may cloud your judgment. I hope that isn't what happened with his decision making in this whole endeavor. Time will tell.
The line about carrying the team seemed over the top to me, but without actually hearing it and the tone in which it was used, hard to say for sure.
Quote from: MUfan12 on May 09, 2013, 04:17:09 PM
I'm not a Vander hater in the least. Personally, I disagreed with his decision and hoped he proved me wrong.
I just really dislike his line about carrying the team to the Elite 8. First of all, it's not true. Second, it's extremely arrogant and craps on his teammates. Without whom, he wouldn't have had the chance to be where he is.
Really? You don't think he carried the team at times in those first 3 Tourney games? Saying so in no way "craps on his teammates." There's nothing wrong with a player acknowledging that he's the best player on the team, especially when he's the best player on the team.
I think the best posts above are those that say that any MU player in the NBA is good for MU so if Vander makes it - great. Personally, I think he made a bad call because he's not ready, and I agree with the post above that next year might also have not made him ready. It will be great if Vander succeeds in NBA and I hope he does, because it's a rough life for the guys bouncing around China, Philippines, SE Asia, Europe etc. making small dollars, and his skill set is more like a lot of those guys than most NBA players.
As for MU - I think it'll be a better team next year without him than with him, and better long term as well because it means more minutes for the new guys and a chance for Jamil and Davante to really carry the team - which they will do. Wouldn't you rather have Jamil getting all of Vander's touches? - he's got very similar shooting stats (much better 3point), similar assists and fewer turnovers!
Quote from: MerrittsMustache on May 10, 2013, 07:47:16 AM
Really? You don't think he carried the team at times in those first 3 Tourney games? Saying so in no way "craps on his teammates." There's nothing wrong with a player acknowledging that he's the best player on the team, especially when he's the best player on the team.
I'll give you the Butler game, he was fantastic. He hit the winner against Davidson, but without Jamil it doesn't matter. The Miami game was a total team effort. Against Syracuse, he crapped the bed just like everyone else.
I can think of several efforts from other players that were crucial to the team's accomplishments last season.
I think we are simply differing in our definition of "carrying the team." Carrying the team IMO doesn't mean "best player on the floor," but SIGNIFICANTLY the best player on the floor. I don't think Vander was that with the exception of the Butler game.
Quote from: MUfan12 on May 10, 2013, 08:55:53 AM
I'll give you the Butler game, he was fantastic. He hit the winner against Davidson, but without Jamil it doesn't matter. The Miami game was a total team effort. Against Syracuse, he crapped the bed just like everyone else.
I can think of several efforts from other players that were crucial to the team's accomplishments last season.
Exactly. For example, Junior put the team on his back in the Wisconsin and UConn games.
The quote speaks to Vander's arrogance, but there aren't many great athletes who aren't at least a little arrogant. Jordan, Bird, Kareem, West, Kobe, LeBron and a whole lot of inferior ones were/are supremely confident. As another poster said, it would have been nice if Vander let others say great things about him, but it doesn't offend me that he said those things about himself.
I don't see Vander being an NBA player but I have nothing against him and I hope he makes it. I enjoy turning on an NBA game and seeing a Warrior or two in uniform, and it can only help recruiting for Buzz to put a player in the NBA every year.
It warms my heart to see that Scoop it's back to it's regularly scheduled off season quote parsing and over analysis.
I can't wait until the next LW article, so we can slice and dice that one up too.
Oh, maybe there will be an article about Diamond Stone we can all pick 2 sentences from and spend 2 weeks talking about!
One thing is for sure - Vander has been controversial on this board since day one. One wonders why - his personality? our unrealistic expectations?
As for the comment, I don't find it that offensive - and at times it was certainly true. I doubt that he meant to denigrate his teammates or he wouldn't have played as unselfishly as he did. I think he meant that he's worked hard at the game, and that he's had a degree of success. He was our best player most of the time, and you can't deny he was clutch.
The controversy continues re: the draft decision - whether he's "ready" or whether he's deluding himself. One thing that you can be sure of is that there will be another wave of differing opinions on the board after the draft (however it goes for Vander).
Put me in the camp with those that root for another MU success in the league.
Thanks for the memories, Van, and best of luck.