Vander at PG?

[Lighthouse 84]

On the Scout site, Dodds posts:

MU Coach Buzz Williams talks about his starters as of tonight (11-9-11)

Vander Blue
Chris Otule
Jae Crowder
DJO

"Based on who steps up next, Junior could be the first starting PG.  If not, Vander will play PG."

Is this motivation for Junior or Jamil?  I say Jamil steps up first.

[BrewCity83]

I would love to see Vander develop into a viable point guard.  It would really help the team and would really help his NBA chances down the line.

[copious1218]

On the Scout site, Dodds posts:

MU Coach Buzz Williams talks about his starters as of tonight (11-9-11)

Vander Blue
Chris Otule
Jae Crowder
DJO

"Based on who steps up next, Junior could be the first starting PG.  If not, Vander will play PG."

Is this motivation for Junior or Jamil?  I say Jamil steps up first.

If those are for sure 4 of the starting 5 - I'm going to assume Junior starts at PG, and Jamil is first off the bench.

[MUBurrow]

early on then at least, so much for all that size we talk about. thats a pretty small lineup

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

On the Scout site, Dodds posts:

MU Coach Buzz Williams talks about his starters as of tonight (11-9-11)

Vander Blue
Chris Otule
Jae Crowder
DJO

"Based on who steps up next, Junior could be the first starting PG.  If not, Vander will play PG."

Is this motivation for Junior or Jamil?  I say Jamil steps up first.

Assuming Junior plays PG, bringing Jamil off of the bench provides a lot of flexibility. If Buzz wants to go big, he can sub out Vander. If Jae picks up an early foul, Jamil can come in and play PF.

Junior
DJO
Vander
Jae
Otule

Jamil (3/4)
Jamail (2/3)
Gardner (5)
Wilson (1)

That's a pretty good/versatile 9 man rotation.

[GGGG]

early on then at least, so much for all that size we talk about. thats a pretty small lineup

But you have Gardner and Jamil coming off the bench.  Whomever starts, especially the first couple games of the season, hardly dictates who plays come crunch time.

[MUBurrow]

But you have Gardner and Jamil coming off the bench.  Whomever starts, especially the first couple games of the season, hardly dictates who plays come crunch time.

I didn't necessarily mean that as criticism, especially given the way we've played when going small in the past. Its just out of the gate, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 is tiny, even when you add a 6-6 and 6-8. I agree though that it gives us a lot of versatility.  Especially if Vander can play some point, it allows us to either go big and sub Jamil for Vander or also go big by subbing Jamil for Junior and moving Vander to point.

[Henry Sugar]

I would love to see Vander develop into a viable point guard.  It would really help the team and would really help his NBA chances down the line.

Tim from CS has long advocated that Vander's natural position is a scoring PG and that the staff was playing him out of position last year.  I'm coming around on the idea myself.

[We R Final Four]

But you have Gardner and Jamil coming off the bench.  Whomever starts, especially the first couple games of the season, hardly dictates who plays come crunch time.

Fouls usually dictate that--especially when either Jae or Chris picks one up in the first few minutes at the top of the key.

[Clarence]

I really like the idea of starting the game with your best defensive unit.  That way you set a tone and a tempo for how you want the rest of the game to play out.  You can then bring Junior off the bench at the 15 minute mark to run the half court offense.     

[Golden Avalanche]

Tim from CS has long advocated that Vander's natural position is a scoring PG and that the staff was playing him out of position last year.  I'm coming around on the idea myself.

May be the case but a scoring PG who can't shoot doesn't translate to winning.

[Henry Sugar]

May be the case but a scoring PG who can't shoot doesn't translate to winning.

I don't think Vander (or Cadougan) have to shoot all that well in order to be scorers.  All they have to be able to do is attack the basket off the dribble.  Each of them could be good scorers by converting a higher percentage close to the rim and being better at FT shooting.

[wojosdojo]

I don't see how Junior doesn't deserve to start. If he doesn't tomorrow it'll just be another one of Buzz's mindtrickingsendamessageproveapoint lineup. MU is better with Junior on the floor at the one more than anyone!! Who really knows though, tomorrow Buzz may say Chris, Ox, and three freshmen are starting because they had a great practice. Last year DJ and Jae didn't even start right away. 

Junior
DJO
Jamail
Jae
Chris

[bilsu]

I don't see how Junior doesn't deserve to start. If he doesn't tomorrow it'll just be another one of Buzz's mindtrickingsendamessageproveapoint lineup. MU is better with Junior on the floor at the one more than anyone!! Who really knows though, tomorrow Buzz may say Chris, Ox, and three freshmen are starting because they had a great practice. Last year DJ and Jae didn't even start right away. 

Junior
DJO
Jamail
Jae
Chris

I think MU is better defensively and on the boards with Blue and Wilson starting. Cadougan is the better passer, but Wilson is also a very good passer and will hhelp offset the difference between Blue's and Cadougan's passing ability. Besides that having watched both Blue and Cadougan handle the ball in the pro am, Blue is the better dribbler.

[muball]

I didnt see where Blue was the better dribbler in the ProAM. What I saw was he could penetrate, was fast, and scored with little post defense. He has some skills but to play point against the best he will need to learn to keep his head up when penetrating and think ahead and pass where a player can do something with the ball. Junior is not as fast but his speed has improved and he understands how to make others better and Vander has a ways to go where he doesnt have to think about every play and things just come in the flow of the game. Will be great if Vander can play some point. What I saw this summer is Junior is way ahead as an offensive PG then Vander at this stage of their careers. 

[Golden Avalanche]

I don't think Vander (or Cadougan) have to shoot all that well in order to be scorers.  All they have to be able to do is attack the basket off the dribble.  Each of them could be good scorers by converting a higher percentage close to the rim and being better at FT shooting.

Agree they can be effective but the non-shooting PG always scares me. Hell, a good shooter in Chris Thomas (ND) was given the reins as a scoring PG and ND stalled because of it. Jerome Dyson similar. He wasn't as effective in the role as Kemba Walker.

Certainly Blue can finish at the rim, or at least has the right package to. It will be interesting to watch this mini storyline within the season.

[GGGG]

I don't see how Junior doesn't deserve to start. If he doesn't tomorrow it'll just be another one of Buzz's mindtrickingsendamessageproveapoint lineup.

Hasn't Buzz kind of proven by this time that he knows how to motivate his guys and get them to play hard?  Honestly, you think he is just f*ckin' with their heads?

And you know who "deserves" to start versus the coach that sees them every day?

[esotericmindguy]

I would love to see Vander develop into a viable point guard.  It would really help the team and would really help his NBA chances down the line.

Seriously?

[avid1010]

Hasn't Buzz kind of proven by this time that he knows how to motivate his guys and get them to play hard?  Honestly, you think he is just f*ckin' with their heads?

And you know who "deserves" to start versus the coach that sees them every day?

Agreed, or perhaps it's a good way to reward those who deserve, or ensure he gets solid minutes to those that they need to develop, or give players a different perspective, or give a young player who is going to get many minutes in the BEAST a taste, etc.  It seems to me EVERYTHING Buzz does is with thought and purpose.  Sure he makes mistakes, but I don't think he just wakes up and decides he wants to mess with Juniors head.  Coaches that do that don't even win in high school.  

[Skatastrophy]

Hasn't Buzz kind of proven by this time that he knows how to motivate his guys and get them to play hard?  Honestly, you think he is just f*ckin' with their heads?

And you know who "deserves" to start versus the coach that sees them every day?

+1

Buzz's starting lineups have never had anything to do with who ends up getting the most minutes on the floor.  He uses starting as a motivational tool.

[avid1010]

Seriously?

Are you the guy Vander knocked out?

[NYWarrior]

Tim from CS has long advocated that Vander's natural position is a scoring PG and that the staff was playing him out of position last year.  I'm coming around on the idea myself.

Blue is an Alpha guard ... this is good to see IMHO.   He'll be better with the ball in his hands -- explosive, beat defenders off the dribble, etal. 

[Pakuni]

May be the case but a scoring PG who can't shoot doesn't translate to winning.

1. Why would he have to necessarily have to be a "scoring" point guard?
2. Some guy named Dominic James seemed to do OK in that role without the greatest of shooting ability.

[Golden Avalanche]

1. Why would he have to necessarily have to be a "scoring" point guard?
2. Some guy named Dominic James seemed to do OK in that role without the greatest of shooting ability.

1. Someone else made the claim that scoring PG is Blue's best role. They would be able to handle your query better.

2. Difference between James and Blue is the head. A non-shooting "heady" PG can do a lot of damage with their game intelligence (i.e. Levance Fields). Considering how often Blue drove the lane without an inch of opening to force up an attempt, I feel he has a lot to learn in this department.