To All The Vander Haters

[TallTitan34]

Where are you all at?

You have no problem bashing him after a "bad" game.  Well you sure as hell better give him some love after a great game today.  Whenever Marquette dropped down 4 he got us back in almost immediately.

Without Vander we aren't even talking about the three at the end.

[Goose]

Did not see the game due to work but heard Homer giving big time praise on a drive late in the game. I hope for his sake and the team's season today was a start of something big for the kid.

[tower912]

Yup.   None of the Vander haters will give him any love today.   If he had put up numbers like JWilson did today, it would have been a 6 page thread.   Blue totally stepped up during the last 25 minutes today.  

[Benny B]

Vander started slow, but he definitely turned it on at the half.  Honestly, if not for Vander, MU would have been the team making the desperation three at the end of the game... and we still would have lost by 7-10 points.

[MUCam]

If he shoots 100% we win. Plain and simple. I blame him and Mbakwe for the loss.

[GGGG]

37 minutes today.  Guy rarely sits too. 

[Skatastrophy]

37 minutes today.  Guy rarely sits too. 

Hard to take him off the floor in the 2nd half.  He was a pleasure to watch, darting around the hoop.

[JakeBarnes]

He still makes me nervous when he drives sometimes (I always feel like he's going to draw a charge), but man... he had so much confidence in his game today.  Really nice shooting, tough defense and that added factor of just getting gritty and doing it all to get the ball (2 real big instances during the game where he hounded the ball on a rebound situation and set up a score).

It's games like this that make me really excited.

[CTWarrior]

Don't consider myself a Vander hater, but I am one of those who has knocked his offensive game.  I said this in another thread, though:

+1 - Only saw the last 9 minutes because of work, but that was the best stretch I remember ever seeing from him.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Had some nice moves going left, which is encouraging.

He likes to shoot that floater, I don't know if that is good or bad.

I think the slower he players, the better he is. He's strong enough and explosive enough that he doesn't need to beat guys to the rim. He can absorb contact and elevate enough to get his shot off.

Oh, and if/when he makes 3's, it will create significant driving lanes for him.

[JTBMU7]

van was awesome today, got some big boards and played tough. i wouldnt rely on him to make three's at that rate all season, but nice to see either way.

[bilsu]

Blue took several bad shots. He did score some points at critical times and I have to admit I would have voted for him for SoG.

[Skatastrophy]

Blue took several bad shots. He did score some points at critical times and I have to admit I would have voted for him for SoG.

The first half was brutal for him (and everyone else).

[mr.MUskie]

If MU had won today VB would have been SoG.

[Lighthouse 84]

I was thisclose to posting VB for SOTG until the last shot.  Great game for Vander.

[Tugg Speedman]

I have repeatedly said this board should offer investment advice, do the opposite and we can all be Dick Strongs.

So now about it Vander haters, should I buy or sell Apple?

[spartan3186]

If he shoots 100% we win. Plain and simple. I blame him and Mbakwe for the loss.

You blame a player that left MU like 5 years ago?

[WellsstreetWanderer]

I felt Vander was the one player who wanted the ball today. He had my vote for SOG

[AirPunches]

I guess you can consider me a semi-vander hater but he was the man today. He ought to be because Butler doubled in the post every time and forced Cadougan and Blue to make plays which they did.

Also, not sure if anyone is paying attention but Texas may be joining us in the losers bracket tonight. Down by 15 to Chaminade with 11:35 to play.

[ecompt]

Vander played very, very well. Took two awful shots in second half but more than made up for it with those five straight points. Very active on offense, unlike some of his teammates.   

[NersEllenson]

Okay -I'll oblige.  First things first - definitely the best game of Vander's career - as it is his best game against a mid-high major team on a fairly large stage.  Happy for Vander and hope it is a springboard to similar consistent performances.

I'm probably in the camp of a Vander hater - simply because I call his game as I've seen it - and for the most part - it hasn't been very noteworthy or good.  The fact Vander scored 21 points on 50% shooting including 62% on 3 of 5 from the 3 is something to get excited about given his past performances.  The fact he scored 21 and virtually all were in the half court game is a ray of hope for the future.

Nonetheless, the fact we have a thread of this variety - is kind of interesting.  A 21 point performance on 50% shooting, isn't exactly an earth shattering amazing performance for a 3rd year starting player at the 2 guard.  But, it is basically the first time in Vander's career those who have been his staunchest supporters, can actually support their argument.  Don't hear anyone commenting on the fact he only had 3 rebounds today, 1 assist and no steals - yet talking about how he provides so many intangible things to the team in the way of defending, rebounding, hustling, steals, etc.  And why was he not guarding Clarke all day?  He should be defending the oppositions best player...

[lab_warrior]

http://www.youtube.com/v/g04aCp3ej-I&fs=1&source=uds

[BCHoopster]

It was a nice game for Vander.  Like I have been saying, Vander needs to make a few shots and not force them, like he did in the first half.  He has to keep playing like this every game,
I was more disappointed with Jamil and Trent.  How did Trent average almost 14 a game last year?  The Pac 10 must be awful soft, he played really soft in this game.  I am sure Buzz
does not play mickey mouse D, but a box and one on Clarke would have stopped there forwards from getting easy lay-ups, inside will have to get much tougher.  The team needs these
3 games, glad they are not playing NC, it might have been ugly.  2 wins would be good.  Then Florida, do not see that as a W.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Nonetheless, the fact we have a thread of this variety - is kind of interesting.  A 21 point performance on 50% shooting, isn't exactly an earth shattering amazing performance for a 3rd year starting player at the 2 guard. 

For whatever reason, Vander is a polarizing figure.

Jamil Wilson is a year older than Vander, is a local kid, and was also highly rated in HS.

He had a TERRIBLE game.

There is no Jamil Wilson thread. Why not? (honestly, I don't know why).

The fact that there is a pro-Vander thread probably has more to do with the anti-vander threads than it does with people being super excited about him.

I think Vander is an above average player with a high ceiling. His biggest flaws (shooting and finishing) are usually items that get better with age/experience. I would guess most people agree, but we see the emotional roller coaster this board goes through with this kid.

[statnik]

Yup.   None of the Vander haters will give him any love today.   If he had put up numbers like JWilson did today, it would have been a 6 page thread.   Blue totally stepped up during the last 25 minutes today.  

Well, I will give him love, it's too bad that the team as a whole didn't perform well enough to allow him to be SOTG.  I have doubted him, truthfully, but I'm the kind of guy who wants to be proven wrong when it's to the benefit of the team.