Vander's game in High School

[GGGG]

I think buzz has actually been very patient with vander.  He's not playing scared of buzz. Its just too fast for him. Anyone who has played bball knows that when the game is slow, things go better for you. When things are too fast your mechanics go south and you make dumb mistakes. He will be fine with experience. 

[MU_Iceman]

I think the best thing he could do is start using the glass on his jumper. I remember when Wade was first here, his jump shot was okay but not spectacular. But he did use the backboard to his advantage, both from medium range and when attacking the lane and it greatly improved his accuracy. After a year, he used it less, but i've little doubt it helped improve his jump shot and maintain his confidence. Blue could definitely use a page from that book.

Exactly...Wade wasn't able to hit the broad side of a barn outside of 15ft his first year actively playing at MU; yes, he still looked like he had a better jumper than Vander, but the fact is that he focused his off-season on improving his shot and eventually became a more consistent shooter.

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not saying that Vander has Wade's upside; and I, too, have been extremely frustrated by his lack of offensive contribution this season...but the kid is still in his first year and has plenty of time to improve his game and become the high major player everyone was hoping for...

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

This board makes my head hurt sometimes.

Do people honestly believe that Blue only plays because Buzz promised him PT during his recruitment? And that Jones and even Frozena would be a better options but don't play because of this promise? Really?! A Division 1 basketball coach is going to play a kid to the detriment of the team because he told him that he'd get to play? Seriously? You believe that?

This is major college basketball. This is Buzz's livelihood. This isn't 6th grade boys basketball where a kid plays because his dad is friends with the coach. Blue plays because he brings a lot to the floor and is a very talented player. It shocks me that fans would be so ignorant as to believe that the only reason he sees the floor is because Buzz made a promise to him before he was even enrolled at MU.

It is embarrassing to have to explain to you that the suggestion that Frozena was sarcastic.

Secondly, if you don't believe that playing time is promised during recruitment...particularly when it involves a highly recruited in-state kid who previously committed to the only other high major program in the state...then your head should hurt. From being vacant.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Exactly...Wade wasn't able to hit the broad side of a barn outside of 15ft his first year actively playing at MU; yes, he still looked like he had a better jumper than Vander, but the fact is that he focused his off-season on improving his shot and eventually became a more consistent shooter.

Wade got better, but let's not go to far here, he was certainly able to hit the broadside of a barn.  He shot 54.4% his first year at MU, now granted not all those were outside shots.  His 3Pt% was 35% his first year...it actually went DOWN his second year to 32%.

One area he improved greatly was FT% where he jumped 9 points from his first to second year.

[MerrittsMustache]

It is embarrassing to have to explain to you that the suggestion that Frozena was sarcastic.

Secondly, if you don't believe that playing time is promised during recruitment...particularly when it involves a highly recruited in-state kid who previously committed to the only other high major program in the state...then your head should hurt. From being vacant.

I understood your sarcasm in regards to Frozena. I was simply making a point.

Try to keep up. I never said that PT isn't promised during recruitment. I said that it's asinine for anyone to honestly believe that there are better options on the roster than VB but Buzz plays Vander over them, to the detriment of the team, because he promised him he'd play. In other words, you believe that Buzz is intentionally hurting his team's chances of winning.

Yep, it's my head that's vacant  

[Niv Berkowitz]

If others were being given equal opportunity, such as EW or JJ, it might make more sense.  But he's getting pretty major minutes reagardless of performance.

He's played 7 and 6 minutes the last two games. I don't think he's getting 'major minutes' right now. I think Buzz sees what the rest of us see, hence, his lack of playing time.