Why is Blue playing?

[Golden Avalanche]

Some of you classy MF'ers, must be why Vander is questioning the deletion of his Twitter account.

That shouldn't even be a question.

It's a clear deletion. That crap is a ticking bomb for college kids.

Blue's a Frosh. Next year is the time to hold the light up to his talents.

[Tugg Speedman]

 ... This thread is why this board is so maddening ... 

We go between this thread and the Junior thread and pound these guys for being worthless (even they are far from being worthless) to the "why don't we play EWill and JJ more so they can develop even if it means losing a game or two along the way."

Just when I think the analysis here is completely idiotic, it makes a new low.

[chren21]

Sitting 4 rows behind the bench is a whole different view. I really almost forgot what it is like that close. Blues efforts were fantastic. After one of his layups there was a little heated jawing. He was really into it and was even tryingto get others pumped.  With that said his offense is bad, but when the game slows down for him, watch out.  JFB was not happy getting pulled often, either was Jae but they took it like men.  More of u that were there should have just walked down there.  It was easy.

[GGGG]

... This thread is why this board is so maddening ... 

We go between this thread and the Junior thread and pound these guys for being worthless (even they are far from being worthless) to the "why don't we play EWill and JJ more so they can develop even if it means losing a game or two along the way."

+1 million.

Didn't get to see last night's game, but this thread is pretty sad.

[MU B2002]

Saying this thread is sad is an insult to sad things everywhere.  This thread is a fucking joke.  Blue busted ass last night.  Did he score a bunch? Nope, but he didn't need to.  Snagged some key rebounds moved the ball well and had some aggressive moves to the basket.  He also appeared to be trying to pump some of the other guys up when MU was trying to put a run together.  I have no issue with the amount of PT he gets.

[willie warrior]

Saying this thread is sad is an insult to sad things everywhere.  This thread is a fracking joke.  Blue busted ass last night.  Did he score a bunch? Nope, but he didn't need to.  Snagged some key rebounds moved the ball well and had some aggressive moves to the basket.  He also appeared to be trying to pump some of the other guys up when MU was trying to put a run together.  I have no issue with the amount of PT he gets.

Of course you are entitled to your opinion, and others who disagree with you are entitled to theirs.

[GGGG]

willie, I agree, but it would be nice if people would do so in a respectful manner.

It has been said countless times that current players and recruits read this board.  Yet some people hide behind their anonymity to insult and degrade - saying things they would never say if they were sitting across the table from them.

[MUBurrow]

I don't remember the last time that it felt like I was watching a different game than a lot of people here, at least to this extent. 
- Does anyone remember what we looked like when Vander was taking most of those shots that led to his low FG%?  What, given the games development up to that point, would you rather have seen happen at that point?  We were going turnover for turnover with the most careless team in the BEast. At one point midway through the first half, we had 7 more shots than USF in about 10-12 minutes.  Thats why we came back people. We shot about 40% while they shot OVER 50%.  Vander's energy is one big reason we had that volume advantage.  That volume advantage is the reason we won. 
- And ripping on his defense last night? In the first half, he was guarding guys that were 6'10"!!! And he still was our leading rebounder. Once Buzz changed the plan and used his on the ball pressure, he was invaluable to that man press.

[NYWarrior]

Go Vander go.  I'd like to see him avoid the three's but he should take the ball to the hoop when it is there. His three ORBs last night were huge -- esp his ORB and assist to Fulce late in the 1H to cut the lead to 9.  I was pleased to see Buzz leave Vander out there to play through some mistakes, and for Blue to have the aggressiveness and confidence he'll need to succeed going forward.  He didn't shoot well but contributed to a win.  He'll be very good next season and beyond.

[reinko]

Go Vander go.  I'd like to see him avoid the three's but he should take the ball to the hoop when it is there. His three ORBs last night were huge -- esp his ORB and assist to Fulce late in the 1H to cut the lead to 9.  I was pleased to see Buzz leave Vander out there to play through some mistakes, and for Blue to have the aggressiveness and confidence he'll need to succeed going forward.  He didn't shoot well but contributed to a win.  He'll be very good next season and beyond.

+1

[ErickJD08]

I don't remember the last time that it felt like I was watching a different game than a lot of people here, at least to this extent. 
- Does anyone remember what we looked like when Vander was taking most of those shots that led to his low FG%?  What, given the games development up to that point, would you rather have seen happen at that point?  We were going turnover for turnover with the most careless team in the BEast. At one point midway through the first half, we had 7 more shots than USF in about 10-12 minutes.  Thats why we came back people. We shot about 40% while they shot OVER 50%.  Vander's energy is one big reason we had that volume advantage.  That volume advantage is the reason we won. 
- And ripping on his defense last night? In the first half, he was guarding guys that were 6'10"!!! And he still was our leading rebounder. Once Buzz changed the plan and used his on the ball pressure, he was invaluable to that man press.

I don't want this thread to be a bashing contest.  The point is that Blue is VERY limited on offense right now.  When he is out there, he should defer on offense.  When he stops doing that, I don't think he should be playing.  That's all.  Therefore, I think he should stick to playing tough defense and defer on offense, a la Jimmy Butler his first year.  Jimmy's first year was all about defense and offensive rebound and put backs.  

[Tugg Speedman]

You realize that VB has probably played against more top 10 teams this year than Henry or Miller saw in their careers.

This years SOS = 34, RPI = 58

Cordell Henry's Freshman year
1999 = SOS 109, RPI = 130

Tony Miller's Freshman year was 1992 and I cannot find SOS and RPI but I'll guess that it was NOT as good as Henry's first year.

From the MU wiki about 1992 - Marquette played top-25 opponents five times, only managing one victory against DePaul. However, that was Marquette's first victory over a ranked opponent since January 28, 1984, ending a drought of 15 consecutive losses against ranked opponents over the previous eight years.

---

We forgot who much worse the competition was back then.  As the Wiki says, in 1992 (Tony Miller's freshman year) we played 5 ranked teams, winning one.  From 1984 to 1992 (8 years), we played just 15 ranked opponents.

Just this year, depending on how things work out, we could play as many as 17 ranked opponents BEFORE the BE and NCAA tourneys.  That is more than some decades!

Miller and Henry freshman years never saw anything like VB is seeing this year.  Henry and Miller never had to defend the national POY like VB might have done (and will do again!) in Uconn's Kimba Walker.

[Henry Sugar]

I just want Blue to stop taking threes.

[GOO]

Another MU 84.  You make too much sense and bring too much logic.  Someone is going to rip you for pointing this out   

[TJ]

I just want Blue to stop taking threes.

and long two's.  Really, anything outside the paint.

I thought he was excellent defensively last night and really helped the press work.  But his offense was maddening and I thought he could have used a short sit-down after his 3 possession run of offensive bad in the second half.

[Henry Sugar]

and long two's.  Really, anything outside the paint.

I actually want everyone on the team to stop taking long two's.  It's the MOST INEFFICIENT SHOT IN BASKETBALL! (MISIB)

[JWags85]

and long two's.  Really, anything outside the paint.

I thought he was excellent defensively last night and really helped the press work.  But his offense was maddening and I thought he could have used a short sit-down after his 3 possession run of offensive bad in the second half.

I agree that he struggled a bit offensively last night, but remember how everyone was bashing how tentative and "scared" he looked the last couple games?  That was gone and he was attacking offensively for the first time in awhile.  He should work on his shot selection, sure, but that intensity and confidence is gonna help him improve offensively.  He only had 1 TO and his 3 was wide open and in the flow of the offense, relax people.

[warriors1965]

I want Blue to stop driving to the hoop, so he won't have to miss FT's over and over again.

With his release point getting lower and lower with each game, he'll look like a fifth grade girl shooting from her chest in a few games.

A question for the Blue fans out there...

If this is what he's going to be, a guy who's quick and hustles and plays good defense (imo, he's beaten off the dribble too much), is that enough?  

[LON]

I actually want everyone on the team to stop taking long two's.  It's the MOST INEFFICIENT SHOT IN BASKETBALL! (MISIB)

Most. Infuriating. Shot. Ever.

Buycks had one where he got his man to bite on the shot fake, then he takes one dribble to his left, and straddles the line.

Poland (maybe it was him) had a set shot from the baseline with his foot on the line.  Mike Kelley voiced our shared annoyance when players do that.

[mikem91288]

Jimmy was a pretty quiet guy during his first year here. Granted he had a year of JUCO under his belt, but still he was not contributing much in the way of points. There were the whispers that he would be the guy in a few years. Not many believed it. Look at him now. Just be patient, Vander will get there too.

[Tugg Speedman]

A follow up to my earlier post.  

Compare VB's number through the Vanderbilt game (OOC) to Henry and Miller's Freshman years.  Through Vandy, VB numbers were similar to Miller's and better than Henry's freshman years.

Though Vandy this year's SOS was similar to all of 1999 (Henry's Freshman year) and 1992 (Miller's Freshman year).

Then we hit the BE and VB struggles.  Well Henry and Miller would have been run off the court their Freshman year had we played a BE type of stretch then as well.

Relax, VB will be fine and can still be a decent pro.  Miller was.

[Earl Tatum]

You talk about Blue's shooting? What about Odom's. Thought he was suppose to be the leader. Not NBA material, he better come back next year and learn what pressure is. He's sick.
He should learn from Crowder what hustle and shooting is. Thought Blue did well except shoot.
Did Butler start?

[MUBurrow]

A question for the Blue fans out there...

If this is what he's going to be, a guy who's quick and hustles and plays good defense (imo, he's beaten off the dribble too much), is that enough?  

What does this have to do with anything? You think all he's going to be for four years is a guy who is athletic, hustles and plays good defense?  I think that right now, he more than makes up for a lack of one on one offense with those things. 
Is it enough? Enough for what? Even if he never developed a better offensive game (which he absolutely will, and fwiw needs to take open threes in the flow of the offense as he's a guard) would it be worth it to have him on the team? Absolutely.  Enough to get PT? Absolutely, look at some of the guards we've had over the past few years who brought little on ball offense but were important contributors.  I just don't get what you are trying to say here.

[NavinRJohnson]

I agree that he struggled a bit offensively last night, but remember how everyone was bashing how tentative and "scared" he looked the last couple games?  That was gone and he was attacking offensively for the first time in awhile.  He should work on his shot selection, sure, but that intensity and confidence is gonna help him improve offensively.  He only had 1 TO and his 3 was wide open and in the flow of the offense, relax people.

This.

As I just said in another post where someone was bashing the kid, I came away from last night thinking that he is going to be heard from teh rest of the way. Despite the missed shots, he showed me the stones I have been hoping to see all year, to match his talent and athleticism.

Some people like willie and Marquette65 seem to think its ok to bitch and moan, because they somehow think they deserved to have Dwyane Wade show up in the person of Vander Blue. So sorry he isn't the player you feel you are entitled to, but what has he ever done to deserve to be criticized for not being an All Big East player in his freshmen year? Should we rip on/write off Jamail Jones and Eric Williams to because they can't even get on the floor?

[ATL MU Warrior]

This.

As I just said in another post where someone was bashing the kid, I came away from last night thinking that he is going to be heard from teh rest of the way. Despite the missed shots, he showed me the stones I have been hoping to see all year, to match his talent and athleticism.

Some people like willie and Marquette65 seem to think its ok to bitch and moan, because they somehow think they deserved to have Dwyane Wade show up in the person of Vander Blue. So sorry he isn't the player you feel you are entitled to, but what has he ever done to deserve to be criticized for not being an All Big East player in his freshmen year? Should we rip on/write off Jamail Jones and Eric Williams to because they can't even get on the floor?

I believe this has already been done...numerous times.