Vander to the NBA draft

[mu_hilltopper]

If you are Vander, what do you think when you see CBS and ESPN writers saying that stuff?  Or just ignore the media all together?

One would hope he'd think "hmm .. did someone say I have until midnight to pull my name?"

But probably not.

[MUMonster03]

If you are Vander, what do you think when you see CBS and ESPN writers saying that stuff?  Or just ignore the media all together?

I don't know who is advising him but sometimes kids get bad advice. Agents will tell you anything because they are only looking out for themselves, they are just trying to find someone who may sneak into the draft so they get paid.

[ATWizJr]

I haven't given up on Mayo completely yet this is an if, and a big if, but if he has gotten his act together finally and can spend the entire summer working on his game and go through Buzz's boot camp he could finally start to use some of the potential we all saw in flashes during his freshman year. If he can stay out of Buzz's doghouse maybe this is the playing time chance he needed.

Wasn't there a tournament game in which Todd didn't even play?

[MUMonster03]

  Wasn't there a tournament game in which Todd didn't even play?

He didn't play against Miami, he did against Syracuse but played poorly. Like I said who knows if he can do it but it was hard to find minutes for him once he came back in an already crowded rotation.

[StillAWarrior]

If you are Vander, what do you think when you see CBS and ESPN writers saying that stuff?  Or just ignore the media all together?

I hope (and suspect) that Vander has been talking to and consulting with people who know a bit more than CBS and ESPN writers.  If he hasn't taken those initial steps (i.e., if he's just taking a shot in the dark here), then I can't imagine he's going to be terribly interested in what some writers say.

I wish him nothing but the best of luck.

[jesmu84]

ESPN's Jason King:

Marquette's Vander Blue jumps into first place on my "Most Baffling NBA draft decisions" list.

That's the 3rd analyst that has publicly questioned the decision (seth davis, king, goodman). Also including Hunt and his NBA source. Someone posted that his family wanted him to stay in school. If there's any truth to the argument between buzz/blue, then obvious buzz thought he should stay too. Who the hell is advising blue???

[Pakuni]

I think it's a bad decision, as I think almost all of us do, but that said, we're making these judgments without the benefit of knowing Vander's family circumstances and need for financial help.
It may turn out that he knows very well that his NBA chances are slim but making $80,000 or whatever playing in France or Turkey is better than playing for free at Marquette.

[Golden Avalanche]

If you are Vander, what do you think when you see CBS and ESPN writers saying that stuff?  Or just ignore the media all together?

He's thinking I've been doubted by two fanbases since I was 16 years old. How'd that work out?

[Pakuni]

He's thinking I've been doubted by two fanbases since I was 16 years old. How'd that work out?

No he hasn't.

[Markusquette]

Come on.  We're all selfishly wanting him to come back in the first place.  I can't fault him 1% for making this decision and I honestly don't know how much improved his stats would be this coming year.  There's no telling that he would make two game winning shots and score 29 in the second round of the tournament either.  He's at an all-time high now.  He gets drafted either year... maybe higher next year.  But if he feels it and goes for it, then so be it.  Sucks, but I am excited to see how everything transpires now.

[🏀]

He's thinking I've been doubted by two fanbases since I was 16 years old. How'd that work out?

If anything, he was a bit overrated as a 16 year old.

[Chicos' Buzz Scandal Countdown]

Mark me down as someone who thinks this is a huge plus for our program.

While I do think we would have been a better team in 2013-14 with Van (and Juan FWIW), I fully embrace the team's culture of next man up.  Let's face it, this was a better 'team' than last year's with Jae and DJO, and those guys were both better than Van.  And all signs point to having more in the incoming players as a whole than this year's team and I don't think it out of line to say that we could have as much success next year without Van as with him.

I think Mayo takes the next step (not much to couch that opinion in other than I know the talent is there) and we are really set at all the other positions on the team.

Bottom line is this is what prospects want to see, a chance to go to the NBA, and seeing a guy go early is even more to like.  Obviously every fan would like to see all players stay for four years and reach the maximum development for their team.  But thats just not how it is in today's college game.  

This is just one more sign of Marq trending to elite program status.

And for the folks all bent out of shape of "the reason why these kids go to college", its in part to prepare them for a professional career, whatever that career is.  In this case, for Van, its basketball.  I don't think anyone would argue Marq hasnt done that, with considerable work on his part.  If someone offered some computer IT genius who was a junior a mulit million dollar job in the corp world and their left their junior year, would you think differently about their decision and Marq's role in shaping that person for the future?

Well said - agreed

[Golden Avalanche]

No he hasn't.

Yes, he was. That is all.

[Warrior3211]

Come on.  We're all selfishly wanting him to come back in the first place.  I can't fault him 1% for making this decision and I honestly don't know how much improved his stats would be this coming year.  There's no telling that he would make two game winning shots and score 29 in the second round of the tournament either.  He's at an all-time high now.  He gets drafted either year... maybe higher next year.  But if he feels it and goes for it, then so be it.  Sucks, but I am excited to see how everything transpires now.

Vander isn't going to be drafted this year, but probably would have been next year.  If he is drafted, it would be second round, and I highly doubt he will make a roster.

It's just disappointing to see a kid clearly improve every year since being in college and then just leave when there's a lot he could still do to improve his game.  Lots of potential still there and I hope it doesn't get lost overseas.

Also, word was he consulted with former MU players. If that is true, he most likely consulted with guys who were drafted BECAUSE they came back for a senior year.

[jesmu84]

Also, word was he consulted with former MU players. If that is true, he most likely consulted with guys who were drafted BECAUSE they came back for a senior year.

Must have not spoken with DJames...

[Litehouse]

He had to have talked to Wesley, so I assume Wesley at a minimum didn't strongly advise him to wait a year.

[damuts222]

  I tend to withhold judgement when MU players are entering the draft.  Just think of the some of the more recent draftees of Matthews, Butler, Hayward and Crowder.  3 out of the 4 are contributors in the NBA.  The NBA draft is kind of a mockery it is based on potential more than anything. 
  Blue works his tail off and Marquette has gotten a good reputation in the NBA thanks to the players mentioned above.  Butler didn't have a jump shot and he has developed one and is starting to look like Chicago's starting 2.  Vander Blue will be on an NBA roster at the start of next year.

[NavinRJohnson]

  I tend to withhold judgement when MU players are entering the draft.  Just think of the some of the more recent draftees of Matthews, Butler, Hayward and Crowder.  3 out of the 4 are contributors in the NBA.  The NBA draft is kind of a mockery it is based on potential more than anything. 
  Blue works his tail off and Marquette has gotten a good reputation in the NBA thanks to the players mentioned above.  Butler didn't have a jump shot and he has developed one and is starting to look like Chicago's starting 2.  Vander Blue will be on an NBA roster at the start of next year.

On the money. It is a perfectly fair statement to say that players coming out of MU have developed a very positive reputation in the 5 years Buzz Williams has been here. As someone correctly pointed out above, Vander's draft success or failure will likely be determined in the Pre-draft camps and workouts as it was with the aforementioned players.

As I said earlier also, when I see draft projections containing names like Russ Smith, Pressey, Larkin, etc., I have no doubt that when those guys are stacked up against eachother, i believe a guy like Blue will differentiate himself between now and draft day, in much the same way Crowder, DJO, Butler etc. did.

[Blackhat]

some people owe wrkn an apology.  thank you for your service to this board.

[MU82]

I was working and just heard about this a half-hour ago.

I'm not shocked.

Vander has had this as a goal since before he switched from Bucky to MU. Now, he sees the opening after an outstanding finish to his season and he is going for it.

It's difficult to make it in the NBA, especially for those with Vander's size and skill sets. Lots of great college players have failed. I doubt he will be a first-round draft pick, and if you aren't a first-round pick, it is a long, difficult road. Then again, I admit I didn't think Jimmy would be a first-rounder, either. And I absolutely didn't think Lazar would. At this point, it's all just speculation. For one thing, none of us knows squat about the number and quality of foreign-born players who will be available.

I agree with those who think Vander would have benefited from another year in college but I am not at all surprised that he has the confidence in himself to think otherwise. It was that same confidence that let him make all those great plays down the stretch.

As for our program, I am excited to see what some of the freshmen can do. Buzz is reluctant to use freshmen, but maybe this will force his hand a little. Maybe it will force his hand a lot, if Duane and JJJ prove to be ready for prime time.

I was amazed at how well we did this year without Jae, without DJO and without being able to make 3-pointers. So I am done predicting doom and gloom just because of who isn't coming back. Go Marquette!

[MUWarrior4Life]

Good luck Vander! Godspeed!!

[Pakuni]

Yes, he was. That is all.

Memo: A small handful of fans on a message board does not equal a fan base.

[real chili 83]

some people owe wrkn an apology.  thank you for your service to this board.

Agreed on the apology.  I owe him one too.

Now that Vander has announced, he is telling folks that it has to do with the difference in the strength of the draft this year versus next.  He feels he has a good shot (better shot) this year due to a weaker draft.  

[Blackhat]

Good for Vander.  Don't agree with his decision but he has worked hard for himself and this university.   I doubted him, sorry Vander.  You developed into a stud this year.

Congratulations, Thanks, and Good Luck!

[KipsBayEagle]

Agreed on the apology.  I owe him one too.

Now that Vander has announced, he is telling folks that it has to do with the difference in the strength of the draft this year versus next.  He feels he has a good shot (better shot) this year due to a weaker draft.  

He is absolutely right. This is maybe the weakest draft in nba history.  I would trade my lottery pick if I had one and save the cap space.