point guard

[MU B2002]

brinsler

Just because VB is playing SG does not mean he is SG. Vander is far better with ball in his hand and room to move. Watching him go to coast to coast after D rebound is fun to watch. He knows how to push the ball, with either hand, and does it in different speed than others. Like L Ellis said last night, Vander can take over a game. I 100% am convinced he is a PG playing out of position.

Agree
More of a 1.5: ie Russell Westbrook.

[MU82]

Vander has many of the skills to play point and I agree with brew that he would have a much better shot in the NBA to do so. However, I also share brew's doubts about Vander's passing and game-management skills.

Passing, court vision, game managment, etc. -- unlike shooting or some other physical skills -- are more innate skills. Either a guy is a great passer with great vision or he isn't. It's difficult for me to see Vander being any better as an NBA point guard prospect than McNeal has been.

Westbrook, Parker and numerous others have a "scorer's mentality," but they are still very good passers. As much as he has improved in so many phases, Vander hasn't shown that.

It would be great if we could put out a lineup next year with no player smaller than 6-3 or 6-4, but I too believe that Derrick Wilson will get the lion's share of PG time, at least at first. I am hoping Duane Wilson lives up to the hype and steals a lot of those minutes at the point, because I have yet to see anything from Derrick that suggests he is a Big East caliber, 25-30 mpg point guard.

As for Junior, I really like how he played last night. Though the same can be said of most players because USF offered so little resistance, we need more of the same from him.

[tower912]

Vander has the physical skills to play PG.   Watching him for 3 years, it is my opinion that he does not yet see the floor well enough and would also have difficulty deferring and letting other have the shots first.   

[Goose]

MU needs a PG that put pressure on the D side and ebility to push the ball on the O side. Neither Jr. nor D Wilson can do this against top level talent. Game has changed and PG has to be the most athletic or most talented guy on a team. VB should play more PG this year and start there next year. As for his passing, he sees court extremely well, especially in transition.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Wasn't it RJax55 who last year evaluated Vander as far as his inability to stay low with his dribble? I recall him suggesting it Was partly due to his physical superiority at the HS level and deceloping bad habits. I'd be interested in hearing how he thinks he's improved in that regard. It seems to me, besides his obvious improvement in putting the ball in the basket, he is making fewer unforced or glaring turnovers. Could be just increased confidence. I still don't see him as a point guard, though.

[RJax55]

Wasn't it RJax55 who last year evaluated Vander as far as his inability to stay low with his dribble? I recall him suggesting it Was partly due to his physical superiority at the HS level and deceloping bad habits. I'd be interested in hearing how he thinks he's improved in that regard. It seems to me, besides his obvious improvement in putting the ball in the basket, he is making fewer unforced or glaring turnovers. Could be just increased confidence. I still don't see him as a point guard, though.

Yes, I thought Vander dribbled far too upright. Because of that, it allowed less athletic defenders to stay with him and he had a nasty habit of using his off-hand to try to clear space. Using the off-hand in that way, led to a number of offensive fouls.

I definitely think he is playing lower to the ground, and it is certainly a factor in his development on the offensive end. His first two seasons, he had trouble driving the basketball from the wing. Defenders would force Vander baseline and he couldn't turn the corner. He would then be trapped, which caused him to make a difficult pass, which many times led to a turnover. Overall, the improvement in his body control has been amazing.