[Paint Touches] Strotman: Blue's own mistake lands him undrafted

[Babybluejeans]

I don't begrudge Vander or his decision. And I certainly wish him well. But. If his goal was to play in the NBA, not just professionally somewhere but the NBA, then his best opportunity would have been to return to MU. While he may develop elsewhere in Europe or the d-league, he will never be given the exposure he'd get as one of the best players in CBB. That's an opportunity he may or may not have taken advantage of to his benefit, we can't know (though I'd bet he'd shine and would have been drafted low 1st/high 2nd next year). But it's a unique opportunity nevertheless, and one that is no longer available to him.

Other factors are involved, I get that. But if looking at a scale, his highest probability to play in the NBA weighed fairly heavily in favor of staying. I'm not sure how one can conclude otherwise.

[Hards Alumni]

I don't begrudge Vander or his decision. And I certainly wish him well. But. If his goal was to play in the NBA, not just professionally somewhere but the NBA, then his best opportunity would have been to return to MU. While he may develop elsewhere in Europe or the d-league, he will never be given the exposure he'd get as one of the best players in CBB. That's an opportunity he may or may not have taken advantage of to his benefit, we can't know (though I'd bet he'd shine and would have been drafted low 1st/high 2nd next year). But it's a unique opportunity nevertheless, and one that is no longer available to him.

Other factors are involved, I get that. But if looking at a scale, his highest probability to play in the NBA weighed fairly heavily in favor of staying. I'm not sure how one can conclude otherwise.

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/results/player/_/id/19947/glen-rice-jr 

Drafted right out of the NBDL... So there are other routes.

[Litehouse]

I don't think exposure from college means much to NBA scouts.  Just look at all the foregin players drafted.  If you're good enough, they'll find you in college, the D-League, or Europe.  Going to the D-League will give him more time to work on his game and play against better players than he would have in college, and also gives him a chance for a mid-season call-up or a 10-day contract.  If he wanted to come back to college to enjoy the college experience for one more year and make a big run on a loaded team in March, then that's one thing.  But I think he'll have a just as good, if not better, chance to improve his game and get exposure in Europe or the D-League.

Oddly enough, I think the biggest reason next years loaded draft could help him is that a lot of teams (like the Bucks and Celtics) look like they're tanking it next year in hopes getting a higher draft pick.  That means they'll be looking for a lot of players to fill roster spots at the league minimum salary to save money, and VB might be able to sneak into one of those spots.

[77ncaachamps]

I was looking at previous MU alum Draft Combine results and I can't believe that Vander (4) did less Bench Presses than Steve Novak (5)!

That's not good!
I wonder if the Strength and Conditioning coaches weren't/aren't happy with him.

UPDATE: Diener had ONE bench press...and got drafted!


Off to the Grizz:

http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/nba/2209/vander-blue

[MUWarrior4Life]

Ah here it is.....I bet you couldn't wait to run in here and throw this thread together to rip Blue could you. Very spiteful. You don't have to jump on the kid....

An entire new thread does not have to be made for this. We know he was not drafted. So what. You were not either....He will be more then okay and has a bright future.

He has the ability to play professionally and will have to be humble and receptive enough to take some suggestions and advice FROM THE RIGHT PEOPLE...to perhaps reinvent his game of sorts to make himself signable.

And he will and he has. DWade and I am sure J.B and Jae and Wesley are their to reach out to him and Sanders on the Bucks. It will be interesting to see who gets a crack first Dwight Buycks, Korie Lucious, or Vander Blue...this summer?

I will be watching all three to see what goes down...I am proud and hopeful of them all as a fan and will always stay true to our local kids with hoops dreams from Wisconsin and Milwaukee especially. 

This 1000+, couldn't have said it any better.

[Lennys Tap]

He averaged almost 15 on an Elite 8 team this year.  And that isn't what scouts look at anyway.  He wasn't drafted because he had fundamental flaws in his game.  Unless his extra year at MU was going to fix those flaws, NBA scouts would judge him the same way.

Exactly. The numbers that the average fan uses to judge a player mean very little to NBA scouts. They are in the business of "projecting" how a player fits at the next level.

[MarquetteDano]

This is a tough crowd to please.  The big knock against the Three Amigos was that they never even got to the Sweet Sixteen, so people questioned whether they were winners.

Blue gets to three Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight and you just get the bad vibe around here.

I really think going to school just wasn't his thing.  I really don't think another year would have moved him to a first round pick anyways.  Especially the way people are talking about next year's draft class.

Now the man can focus on a basketball career.  Will that include the NBA?  Maybe not.  But he can get another year's worth of earnings as a pro now.

Godspeed Vander.

[NersEllenson]

We should all subscribe to the never judge another man until you've walked in his shoes philosophy..in this case and any case in life. Sometimes easier said than done.  But, we should all support, and hope the best for Vander.  He played hard during his time at MU, and was THE reason MU got to the Elite 8 this year.  So, thank you Vander for your contributions to the MU program, and all the best in the future.

[reinko]

We should all subscribe to the never judge another man until you've walked in his shoes philosophy..in this case and any case in life. Sometimes easier said than done.  But, we should all support, and hope the best for Vander.  He played hard during his time at MU, and was THE reason MU got to the Elite 8 this year.  So, thank you Vander for your contributions to the MU program, and all the best in the future.

Have you walked in Larry Williams's shoes?

Ba-ZING!

[NersEllenson]

Have you walked in Larry Williams's shoes?

Ba-ZING!

LOL - Well played Reinko.  But to answer your question - obviously not - but I did read his idiotic/negative comments to the Milwaukee Journal 90 days on the job regarding the biggest asset he has in his Athletic Department:  Buzz Williams.

Thankfully, theres been a big shift in the tone of Larry's remarks regarding Buzz over the last 6-12 months...so, he's at least been man enough to realize the folly of his ways and correct them...and for that he deserves credit.

[reinko]

LOL - Well played Reinko.  But to answer your question - obviously not - but I did read his idiotic/negative comments to the Milwaukee Journal 90 days on the job regarding the biggest asset he has in his Athletic Department:  Buzz Williams.

Thankfully, theres been a big shift in the tone of Larry's remarks regarding Buzz over the last 6-12 months...so, he's at least been man enough to realize the folly of his ways and correct them...and for that he deserves credit.

Agree on all fronts, glad you can have a sense a humor about it.

Legggooo MU!

[Groin_pull]

This is a tough crowd to please.  The big knock against the Three Amigos was that they never even got to the Sweet Sixteen, so people questioned whether they were winners.

Blue gets to three Sweet Sixteens and an Elite Eight and you just get the bad vibe around here.

I really think going to school just wasn't his thing.  I really don't think another year would have moved him to a first round pick anyways.  Especially the way people are talking about next year's draft class.

Now the man can focus on a basketball career.  Will that include the NBA?  Maybe not.  But he can get another year's worth of earnings as a pro now.

Godspeed Vander.

It's simple. Some guys you want to root for—and some you don't. Cheered hard for Wesley, Jimmy, and Jae to make it to the next level. Vander, not so much.

[GGGG]

It's simple. Some guys you want to root for—and some you don't. Cheered hard for Wesley, Jimmy, and Jae to make it to the next level. Vander, not so much.

That's kind of sad.

[Groin_pull]

That's kind of sad.

So sorry. Didn't mean to bring a little honesty to this board.

[Lennys Tap]

So sorry. Didn't mean to bring a little honesty to this board.

Skink didn't impugn your honesty. Just said it's sad that you feel that way.

[Groin_pull]

Skink didn't impugn your honesty. Just said it's sad that you feel that way.

Why? I'm supposed to blindly cheer for all MU players? I don't—and neither do any of you.

I didn't say I wanted Vander to break a leg or end up homeless. I simply said I'm not rooting for him as much as other players from the recent past. Didn't realize that was such a crime.

[GGGG]

Why? I'm supposed to blindly cheer for all MU players? I don't—and neither do any of you.

I didn't say I wanted Vander to break a leg or end up homeless. I simply said I'm not rooting for him as much as other players from the recent past. Didn't realize that was such a crime.

I don't know what is so different about Blue that makes people feel that way.

[mu_hilltopper]

Scoop should have a side business, renting high horses.

[Hards Alumni]

Scoop should have a side business, renting high horses.

LMAO QFT