Feeling Blue

[MerrittsMustache]

Watching Blue play, you can tell the kid is a special talent...but you can also tell that he's a freshman. He has exceeded my expectations so far but still has work to do.

Many fans (not just posters on here) equate scoring points with being a good player. As others have pointed out, Vander often impacts the game without scoring a ton of points. Personally, I don't think he's ever going to be a 20ppg guy at MU, but that's not a bad thing (and I won't be upset if I'm wrong about that). I think he'll be more like Terrence Williams of L'ville in that he's a freakish athlete who will consistently fill up the stat sheet. In his final 3 collegiate seasons, Williams averaged about 12 points, 8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.7 blocks. While I do expect Blue to average more points than Williams, I would not be at all disappointed if he put up similar numbers across the board.

As far as Blue's jumper, it's fixable. Very few high school players, particularly those who are as athletic as Blue, come to college with a polished jumpshot. This is in large part because they don't need it because they can get to the basket seemingly at will. Blue's shooting form is not very pretty and I think that distracts people and makes them think he's a worse shooter than he really is. What I've noticed is that he rushes his shot at times and doesn't use much touch, but that is something that will be righted with more experience. One play comes to mind last night where he made a nice move to get around his man, but then thumped a 6-footer off the backboard. He was trying to use the glass but the touch just wasn't there. As he gets more comfortable offensively, that will be a shot he hits 9 times out of 10.

[MUfan12]

I thought he was fantastic last night. Had some great looks, was good getting to the hoop, and even though he missed a couple, confidently shot the basketball.

I don't like to throw out these comparisons, but Vander is the best I have seen at getting into passing lanes since Wade was here. Watch him off the ball once on defense, he has an unreal awareness of where his man is, where the ball is, and if he can make a play on it. Very rarely does he have to really scramble back.

Offensively, for the most part he's very smart with how he drives. A lot of freshman wings will just bullrush their way to the basket. That happens every now and then, but Vander has a nice sense of where the help will be, and where there's space. A couple of times last night, he took his time, and allowed space on the opposite block to open before he went to the rim. His jumper isn't as far off as it could be. He elevates enough on it where the low release isn't a huge issue. What his problem is, is the release itself. He still has a tendency to push the ball off his palm rather than release from his fingertips. That is correctable in time.

I really hope he keeps his head on Saturday and lights the Rodents up.

[hairy worthen]

I really hope he keeps his head on Saturday and lights the Rodents up.

+1

I saw him play in the state championship game last year against Arrowhead. He had just lost out on the state player of the year award before the game. It looked like he was pressing too much trying to prove a point and he didn't have a good game.  I hope that was an aberration and that the same thing doesn't happen against the Badgers.

[Goose]

I think the kid is a flat out stud. I remember Doc Rivers having an ugly looking jumper and he turned out pretty good. I think Blue will be a better college player than Doc ever was...after college hard to say.

[groove]

I think the kid is a flat out stud. I remember Doc Rivers having an ugly looking jumper and he turned out pretty good. I think Blue will be a better college player than Doc ever was...after college hard to say.

So Blue will be All America after his junior season?

[APieperFan3]

So Blue will be All America after his junior season?

Definately has a chance.

[Dawson Rental]

So Blue will be All America after his junior season?

I hope not.  Call me greedy, but I'd like to see him stay for his senior year....

[dwaderoy2004]

Sometimes I am amazed at what I read on this board.  Vander Blue has by many counts, exceeded expectations.  He is doing things, like playing defense and rebounding well for his position, that has kept Erik Williams stapled to the bench the last two years.  He has a breakout offensive game, and what do we say?  Well, it was against crappy competition.

Who cares?  Everyone was playing the same "crappy competition" and he was our leading scorer.  He is a smart basketball player who is doing the little things necessary to earn playing time.  His offense will come around...he's nine games into his freshman year for goodness sakes...

Didn't you basically say what i said?  for example:

i said: "his jump shot is still poor"
you said: "his offense will come around:

i said: "he does everything else very well"
you said: "He is doing things, like playing defense and rebounding well for his position"

i said: "let's not go gasser on the kid"
you said: "he's nine games into his freshman year for goodness sakes..."

I basically said I think Vander is a wonderful basketball player who does many things well except shoot the basketball.  Considering he only made 2 jumpshots all night, i would say he hasn't proven anything yet in regards to that area.  Furthermore, he has had only one large point output all season, and it has come against the #261st best team in the country.  Let's see him do it a few more times before I will believe he can be a consistent scorer this season.  I think he has the potential to be great, but I think people need to maintain an even keel in their expectations.  Remember when amoroso had a breakout game and went off for 35(?).  tell me when he did that again?

[groove]

Definately has a chance.

He is going to be better than Lazar and the Big Three? The first all-american since Wade? You do realise that Rivers set school freshman records for points scored, points per game, field goal percentage and steals. Blue has to have more than one good game against one of the worst teams in division one before i start talking about him in the terms you are.

[Goose]

I believe that Blue will be All American senior year if he still is on school. Obviously he has a long way to go but he has upper end skills and a good body. Learning to shoot prettier is easy, learning to be an athlete not possible.

[APieperFan3]

He is going to be better than Lazar and the Big Three? The first all-american since Wade? You do realise that Rivers set school freshman records for points scored, points per game, field goal percentage and steals. Blue has to have more than one good game against one of the worst teams in division one before i start talking about him in the terms you are.

Groove- he's not a lock by any means.

I think he could develop into an All American while at Marquette.

I'm not comparing him to ANY players that you have listed....b/c thats just not fair.

Perhaps I'm being too opimistic...

But I assure you, everyone else on the board hopes it happens too....!

[groove]

I'm optimistic too. I was just making reference to someone saying that he was going to be better than Rivers.

[nyg]

I believe Jerel McNeal was second team AP All American in 2008-2009 season.