Is Vander Blue Heading For The Same Treatment As Dominic James/Scott Merritt?

[jmayer1]

What a bunch of non-sensical bullshit!! One of the worst posts ever on this board, and that's saying something. DJ was a gamer who fell victim to unrealistic expectations after one of the best, if not the best, Freshman seasons in MU history. For all his shooting woes, it's easy to forget how good James was and how he turned in many clutch performances.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

As a matter of fact, James did wear his arm sleeve for vanity. I had forgotten about that, but thanks for pointing it out.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

PuertoRicanNightmare, you write that Dominic James would "feign injuries," and that you had never seen any player do so as much as he.

That is stupid, just plain stupid.

It's not stupid. It's a fact. His foot injury was tragic, but because of his history...when it happened...I thought he was faking. I'm 100 percent positive I wasn't alone in that assessment.

[Ari Gold]

PRN: Stop... just stop

Sultan and MU Ave articulated a defense of James well enough that I can only reiterated what they said.

James was a class act all the way

[MU Avenue]

It's not stupid. It's a fact. His foot injury was tragic, but because of his history...when it happened...I thought he was faking. I'm 100 percent positive I wasn't alone in that assessment.

I cannot recall the last time I said this to anyone here or anywhere else, but you, PuertoRicanNightmare, need to shut the **** up.

You really thought Dominic James was "feigning" a broken foot. Really? REALLY?

And you really believe that others agreed with your idiotic theory? Really? REALLY?

Stop. Just stop.

Dominic James had a terrific freshman season, and the resulting expectation and hype were more than James could satisfy for the rest of his Marquette career.

PuertoRicanNightmare, your lingering dislike of Dominic James is your creepy issue. Why not make a big-boy effort to let it go.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and to Dominic James.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

You really thought Dominic James was "feigning" a broken foot. Really? REALLY?

I think you're a dummy.

I believe the moderators will allow me to say that since you sank to using profanity.

[DiaperDandy]

I do not think Dominic James was faking his foot injury but I do understand where PRN was coming from when saying that.  Throughout his four years at MU, Dom did have a flair for the dramatics.  Being at MU for all four years Dom played, I do recall him getting injured quite often and rolling on the ground multiple times from cramps and ankle injuries.  Now I do not believe that any of these injuries were faked, but I do believe their was some acting and overplaying of these injuries.

I was at the game against UCONN when Dom went down.  I remember that when he went down, he went straight to the locker room.  At that moment, I knew that he was in trouble and that something was wrong, unlike many of his previous injuries.  That was the worst moment I can recall as an MU fan as I knew our season as we knew it was finished.  I didnt even want to stay for the rest of the game I was so depressed.

[Stronghold]

I do not think Dominic James was faking his foot injury but I do understand where PRN was coming from when saying that.  Throughout his four years at MU, Dom did have a flair for the dramatics.  Being at MU for all four years Dom played, I do recall him getting injured quite often and rolling on the ground multiple times from cramps and ankle injuries.  Now I do not believe that any of these injuries were faked, but I do believe their was some acting and overplaying of these injuries.

I was at the game against UCONN when Dom went down.  I remember that when he went down, he went straight to the locker room.  At that moment, I knew that he was in trouble and that something was wrong, unlike many of his previous injuries.  That was the worst moment I can recall as an MU fan as I knew our season as we knew it was finished.  I didnt even want to stay for the rest of the game I was so depressed.

As an undergrad that was one of my favorite games to attend.  19,000+ fans and an awesome atmosphere.  We even held a lead halfway through the second half but ultimately the loss of Dominic hurt us too much.  Still love the guy for playing 4 years @ MU.

[brewcity77]

PRN: Stop... just stop

Sultan and MU Ave articulated a defense of James well enough that I can only reiterated what they said.

James was a class act all the way

+1

This has to be one of the least warranted attacks I've ever seen on a former player. Honestly, as a Marquette fan, it's a bit embarrassing.

[redbirdwarrior]

I was spoiled by Tony Miller, too, but I was also spoiled by Dom James.  He was an explosive ball player, especially at his height.  He missed his share of clutch FTs, but he also made his share of clutch plays.  The fact he rushed himself back from a broken foot to help his team is one of the gutsiest things I ever saw.

As for Blue, the guy keeps improving his game.  That pass at the end of the Norfolk St. game was a great play by a guy who had an off offensive night.  I think he will continue to grow as a player.  By the end of his MU career, I think he will have left a very positive mark.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

[marquette09]

As an undergrad that was one of my favorite games to attend.  19,000+ fans and an awesome atmosphere.  We even held a lead halfway through the second half but ultimately the loss of Dominic hurt us too much.  Still love the guy for playing 4 years @ MU.

+1, that was the game I was most excited for during my four years at MU.  Turned out to be a crappy day though with the loss and DJ getting hurt. 

[brewcity77]

+1, that was the game I was most excited for during my four years at MU.  Turned out to be a crappy day though with the loss and DJ getting hurt.

I really believe in that moment we went from a 2-seed or better to a 6. If James doesn't get injured, I think we would have beat UConn that day, and beat Louisville and Syracuse as well. The timing of that was simply brutal, as well as Acker did he wasn't nearly prepared to fill that big of shoes.

With a healthy James, we would have had a shot at sharing the Big East regular season title, winning the Big East tourney title, and possibly even edging out UConn or Louisville for one of those 1-seeds.

Might that have meant a Final Four? Who knows. But I do think as awesome as that team may have been, we might be better off that they didn't reach those heights. If Buzz wins the Big East, the Big East tourney, and reaches a Final Four in his first year here, those big-time offers wouldn't have taken 2-3 years to start arriving. He would have been at the top of everyone's list, and I think that his first three years in Milwaukee helped solidify his desire to be here.

Maybe Kentucky's first call would have been to Buzz instead of John Calipari in April 2009. If that's the case, does he stay? I doubt it.

At the time, James' injury was one of the most crippling I've seen at Marquette in terms of derailing a season. But three years later, it might have been one of the saving graces for the long-term success of the program.

[marquette09]

Maybe Kentucky's first call would have been to Buzz instead of John Calipari in April 2009. If that's the case, does he stay? I doubt it.

Not sure Kentucky is going to call Buzz before Calipari, especially only after one year. 

[naptownEagle]

PRN Absolutely false. I went to Richmond High School with Dominic and that has always been how his name has been pronounced. He suffered from cramping in high school as well. And you're right he did have a flare for the dramatics especially in games against teams like Valpo, NC State, and Duke.

[brewcity77]

Not sure Kentucky is going to call Buzz before Calipari, especially only after one year.

Probably not, it was just the first high-profile 2009 opening that came to mind. Regardless, it seems far more likely that he'd have jumped on the coaching carousel early if he had been the hottest young name in hoops instead of just one of many up-and-comers.

Hindsight is 20/20 and all, but it's entirely possible that James' injury helped keep Buzz in Milwaukee.

[Jam Chowder]

PRN Absolutely false. I went to Richmond High School with Dominic and that has always been how his name has been pronounced. He suffered from cramping in high school as well. And you're right he did have a flare for the dramatics especially in games against teams like Valpo, NC State, and Duke.

BOOM. Winner.

PRN - Literally worst post I've ever seen on this board... and that's saying something.

I'm amazed at the negativity toward DJ. Nic was ALWAYS a class act whenever I had contact with him on and off campus. Great guy, and one hell of a player. We would be lucky to have another player like him. He was a sick defender, and was exciting to watch. I completely believe that MU makes the final four if he stays healthy his senior year. Seeing him go down in that UCONN game was one of the worst memories I have as an MU fan.

[NersEllenson]

I really believe in that moment we went from a 2-seed or better to a 6. If James doesn't get injured, I think we would have beat UConn that day, and beat Louisville and Syracuse as well. The timing of that was simply brutal, as well as Acker did he wasn't nearly prepared to fill that big of shoes.

With a healthy James, we would have had a shot at sharing the Big East regular season title, winning the Big East tourney title, and possibly even edging out UConn or Louisville for one of those 1-seeds.

Might that have meant a Final Four? Who knows. But I do think as awesome as that team may have been, we might be better off that they didn't reach those heights. If Buzz wins the Big East, the Big East tourney, and reaches a Final Four in his first year here, those big-time offers wouldn't have taken 2-3 years to start arriving. He would have been at the top of everyone's list, and I think that his first three years in Milwaukee helped solidify his desire to be here.

Maybe Kentucky's first call would have been to Buzz instead of John Calipari in April 2009. If that's the case, does he stay? I doubt it.

At the time, James' injury was one of the most crippling I've seen at Marquette in terms of derailing a season. But three years later, it might have been one of the saving graces for the long-term success of the program.

The fallacy of the argument that MU would have been a 2 seed or a Final Four team with DJ, is that MU's record in the Big East up until the time DJ went down was built primarily on beating the teams it was supposed to beat.  The last 5 games of that season (which DJ missed) were the murderer's row portion of MU's Big East schedule.  I suspect MU would have gone 2-2, 2-3 in those last 5 games with James.  DJ was certainly a good player and great defender, but Mo Acker showed those last 5 games and the following year that he was a pretty darn solid PG, and actually a much better shooter/offensive threat than DJ

[Jam Chowder]

DJ was certainly a good player and great defender, but Mo Acker showed those last 5 games and the following year that he was a pretty darn solid PG, and actually a much better shooter/offensive threat than DJ

I give all the credit in the world to Mo, but I would take DJ over Mo every single time. Better shooter? Yes. Better player? No.

[Golden Avalanche]

I give all the credit in the world to Mo, but I would take DJ over Mo every single time. Better shooter? Yes. Better player? No.

+1.

Not sure what that quoted excerpt is thinking. Revisionist (and wrong) history to say that Maurice Acker was a better offensive threat then Dominic James.

[karavotsos]

The fallacy of the argument . . . a much better shooter/offensive threat

I like the use of these 2 phrases in the same post.  I have never seen the term 'shooter/offensive threat' before.  My interpretation of that term is that it implies that 3-point shooting percentage equates to value on offense.  Even if this were the case, such as Steve Kerr was a much better shooter/offensive threat than Michael Jordan, I would say that DJ more than made up any difference in value between he and Mo Acker on offense on the defensive end.

[NersEllenson]

I give all the credit in the world to Mo, but I would take DJ over Mo every single time. Better shooter? Yes. Better player? No.

I agree...just was pointing out in that post that to assume MU would have been 1 or 2 seed with a healthy James that year, or a Final Four team - is a bit of a stretch in the sense that the fall off from DJ to Mo Acker was not THAT great.  Now the freshman DJ??  That's a different story, but the Sophomore-Senior DJ...not so much.  By DJ's senior year, DJ was a GREAT defender, and a solid floor general, but largely a liability offensively other than dunks/layups.  His FT shooting and 3 point shooting were poor.

[GGGG]

His offensive game fell off a bit, but really what happened was our expectations went sky high after his freshman year.  DJ's problem was that he didn't expand beyond his freshman year offensively, but honestly he was essentially the same player. 

[foreverwarriors]

PRN Absolutely false. I went to Richmond High School with Dominic and that has always been how his name has been pronounced. He suffered from cramping in high school as well. And you're right he did have a flare for the dramatics especially in games against teams like Valpo, NC State, and Duke.

THANK. YOU.

I'm embarrassed to think that PRN says that about former players. DJ was the embodiment of the name Warriors.

[brewcity77]

The fallacy of the argument that MU would have been a 2 seed or a Final Four team with DJ, is that MU's record in the Big East up until the time DJ went down was built primarily on beating the teams it was supposed to beat.  The last 5 games of that season (which DJ missed) were the murderer's row portion of MU's Big East schedule.  I suspect MU would have gone 2-2, 2-3 in those last 5 games with James.  DJ was certainly a good player and great defender, but Mo Acker showed those last 5 games and the following year that he was a pretty darn solid PG, and actually a much better shooter/offensive threat than DJ

If we got the doors blown off us in those games, I might be inclined to agree. But we didn't. Against UConn, we were in it deep in the second half until they pulled away late. I would argue that with James, they don't pull away. We lost at Louisville by 4. We lost to Syracuse in overtime. I think we win both of those games with James in the lineup. While that would have changed everything in terms of our Big East seeding -- would have been top-3, I honestly don't know which because we'd have been tied with Louisville and Pitt at 15-3 with each team splitting 1-1 against the other two -- I also think we'd have beaten Villanova had we seen them (1 point loss in Big East tourney).

I think that Acker's finish to 2008-09 is some of the most revisionist history I've ever seen by Marquette fans. What Acker did when James went down was essentially become a game-manager. He averaged 5.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, and 2.9 apg with a 2.5/1 A/T ratio in 30.4 mpg. That's fine for a backup. But James was averaging 11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, and 5.0 apg with a 2.7/1 A/T ratio in 31.4 mpg.

Acker did fine, but in every way he was a lesser player than James. In every aspect of his game, as a junior, he was worse than James as a senior. We lost a scoring threat. We lost his rebounding. We lost his assists. And perhaps most important, and not at all contained in these stats, we lost his defense. Does AJ Price torch us for 36 if Buzz can put James on him? Does Andre McGee hit us up for 16 with James covering him? Is Levance Fields putting up 17/10 on James? Does Johnny Flynn drop 24 at the BC with DJ all over him? How about Scottie Reynolds, I'm guessing he doesn't get 21/8/4 at MSG against James.

In four of our five losses after James went down, the leading scorer on the other team was the point guard. The only exception was against Pitt, when DeJuan Blair had 23. It wasn't just James' offense that we lost, it was his defense, and teams exploited that to no end. If James doesn't get injured, I feel I can say with 90% certainty that we beat UConn, Louisville, and Syracuse to finish tied for first in the Big East with UL and Pitt. I'm also confident we would have went at least 1-1, with a win over WVU or Providence and then who knows in the Big East's Final Four.

I don't mean to diminish Acker. He had a great senior season, and he did an okay job as game-manager when James went down. But anyone who acts like we didn't lose a HUGE piece of our team when James went down is simply delusional. And anyone who thinks that we were going to automatically lose to UConn, Louisville, and Syracuse anyway doesn't realize just how good we were that year.

[MUMac]

I agree...just was pointing out in that post that to assume MU would have been 1 or 2 seed with a healthy James that year, or a Final Four team - is a bit of a stretch in the sense that the fall off from DJ to Mo Acker was not THAT great.  Now the freshman DJ??  That's a different story, but the Sophomore-Senior DJ...not so much.  By DJ's senior year, DJ was a GREAT defender, and a solid floor general, but largely a liability offensively other than dunks/layups.  His FT shooting and 3 point shooting were poor.

Sorry, not buying what you are selling.  The dropoff was huge.  Mo's play alone lost the Syracuse game. 

Just the presence of DJ makes a difference in the rest of the team.  Yes, they were facing the meat of their schedule, but they were jelling.  They were focused.  Had everything in their sights.  DJ's injury took a lot of air out of them.

There was a significant reason why DJ played most of each game and Mo saw very limited action.  To state there was little fall off is absurd.