Could Vander Play Extended Minutes at the Point Next Year

[NotAnAlum]

I know this has been discussed in past off seasons but it seems like next year might be the time to do it.  I admit Vander is a natural 2.  But next year we have got so many options at the 2/3 position and considering that we are going to want Vander on the floor a lot playing him extended minutes at the point would make sense.  Wilson is good defensively but unless he changes his game a lot in the off season offensive its like playing 4 on 5.  MU needs a way to get the ball into the post but honestly Wilson doesn't drive and dish or even create passing angles well.  In that area Vander is probably an upgrade.  With Vander's newly improved shot the defense has to guard him at beyond the arc and they have to be ready to help if he drives by his guy.  We then has an additional 2G spot to play Mayo or Ferguson or even JJJ or Burton.  If we can keep 3 legitimate 3 point threats on the court most of the time (J Wilson, Vander and one other) it should open things up and reduce those long scoring droughts.
I understand that if Duane Wilson is ready to start it may make this idea mute but you have to get very lucky to have a PG who can handle that position as a freshman.  One final reason would be Vander's draft potential.  He is much more likely to get drafted if (like Wade) a team feels they can play him at the point. 

[avid1010]

i had hoped to see him do so this year, in preparation for next year.  i'm not sure he played more that 3 minutes at the point out of desperation. 

[Les Nessman]

I'm not understanding what you mean when you say "He is much more likely to get drafted if (like Wade) a team feels they can play him at the point." When has Wade ever played the point?

[jeffreyweee]

I'm not understanding what you mean when you say "He is much more likely to get drafted if (like Wade) a team feels they can play him at the point." When has Wade ever played the point?

Wade has played point for the Heat very frequently to give Chalmers a rest. Really the PG in the Heat offense just gets the ball to Lebron or Wade anyway and hits open 3s.

[Sunbelt15]

I'm not understanding what you mean when you say "He is much more likely to get drafted if (like Wade) a team feels they can play him at the point." When has Wade ever played the point?

Guess he's saying Blue's size won't matter as much if he's able to play point efficiently.

[NotAnAlum]

I'm not understanding what you mean when you say "He is much more likely to get drafted if (like Wade) a team feels they can play him at the point." When has Wade ever played the point?

Vander doesn't shoot well enough to be a pure 2G in the NBA.  If he can play point he can get by with being not as good a shooter.  The knock on Wade when he came out was "can he hit the 3 consistently".  But the assessment was he could play the point which raised his draft value.  And early on Wade did play the point some for Miami.  Wade proved to be an such acceptional talent so it really didn't matter now where he played.

[Goose]

If he is back I would be shocked if he did not play more point. He is point playing out of position. He can move the ball up the court quickly and can make things happen.

[Sunbelt15]

According to Brewcity, he won't. It position is NOT interchangeable. The point is the point under Buzz.

[jsglow]

He wasn't going to play point this year with the senior leader in JC manning the position.  Buzz' job is to put the best team on the floor.  For '12-'13 that was JC, Van, and Trent at the three backcourt positions.  Things could be different next year as D Wilson's absolute unwillingness or inability to shoot make him a backup defensive specialist.  We'll know more only after we see extended minutes from the Frosh.

[brewcity77]

According to Brewcity, he won't. It position is NOT interchangeable. The point is the point under Buzz.

You obviously didn't understand my argument.

[HoopsMalone]

Not sure about the playing point, but I hope he plays 35+ minutes next year like Buzz did with McNeal, Matthews, and Lazar.  Those teams lacked depth, but I think Buzz should play J Wilson and Blue almost the whole game next year and not have them be part of the hectic substitution patterns.

[tower912]

Not sure about the playing point, but I hope he plays 35+ minutes next year like Buzz did with McNeal, Matthews, and Lazar.  Those teams lacked depth, but I think Buzz should play J Wilson and Blue almost the whole game next year and not have them be part of the hectic substitution patterns.

Assuming that JWilson is focused and doesn't commit dumb early fouls, I agree.   Play those two studs 32-35 mpg.   

[MU82]

nm

[MarquetteDano]

Not sure about the playing point, but I hope he plays 35+ minutes next year like Buzz did with McNeal, Matthews, and Lazar.  Those teams lacked depth, but I think Buzz should play J Wilson and Blue almost the whole game next year and not have them be part of the hectic substitution patterns.

OTOH, Louisville proves game in, game out depth is key.  Let's also remember McNeal, Matthews, Lazar, etc.. never played in a Sweet Sixteen let alone an Elite Eight with those non-hectic substituion patterns.

[GGGG]

You obviously didn't understand my argument.

I think by this point, we can only hope for Sunbelt to figure out that a basketball is round.

[HoopsMalone]

OTOH, Louisville proves game in, game out depth is key.  Let's also remember McNeal, Matthews, Lazar, etc.. never played in a Sweet Sixteen let alone an Elite Eight with those non-hectic substituion patterns.

Louisville is an exception this year, and they typically find ways to lose early in the tournament.  It's more about the players you have.  There are lots of teams that win who don't sub. Coach K rarely subbed on a lot of his title teams.  That Illinois team under Bruce Webber barely subbed when they got to the ship.  I don't think Calipari subbed much last year. 

If you have NBA players, you don't take them out for non-NBA players for extended minutes. Vander and Jamil (to some extent) have developed into NBA talent.  That was not the case early in the season when Buzz developed this substitution pattern. 

Also, if that McNeal, Hayward, Matthews, Butler, and James team were in the league today, they might be playing tonight if they had gotten a nice seed.  Their early exits had more to do with the level of talent they played against. 

[MarquetteDano]

Louisville is an exception this year, and they typically find ways to lose early in the tournament.  It's more about the players you have.  There are lots of teams that win who don't sub. Coach K rarely subbed on a lot of his title teams.  That Illinois team under Bruce Webber barely subbed when they got to the ship.  I don't think Calipari subbed much last year. 

If you have NBA players, you don't take them out for non-NBA players for extended minutes. Vander and Jamil (to some extent) have developed into NBA talent.  That was not the case early in the season when Buzz developed this substitution pattern. 

Also, if that McNeal, Hayward, Matthews, Butler, and James team were in the league today, they might be playing tonight if they had gotten a nice seed.  Their early exits had more to do with the level of talent they played against. 

All great arguments yet Buzz still substituted plenty at the end of the season.... and got to the Elite Eight doing it.... with a team who couldn't shoot particularly well.

I'll trust Buzz on this one.