Chad Ford on Vander (new)

[The Equalizer]

Chico's


I said on here months ago that I heard Vander was going pro this year regardless of his performance. Person that told me this I trust a great deal and he stated that was common knowledge within the program. Love Buzz big time, but he is sly guy. Expectations were probably at very high level for next year and this helps put the chip on the shoulder back into play. He might have known Blue was going but like everyone on here believe it is mistake. I stood steady on Blue leaving for months yet I was hoping he would hang around.

Given what we heard about Todd Mayo's non-relationship with Buzz last year, I don't completely buy in to the fact that Buzz knew about Vander's plans.

Perhaps he heard that Vander was thinking about leaving early, but the surprise came from the fact that he actually did it--in the interviews it comes across as  news to him.

[Coleman]

Been thinking about this a lot lately. Vander will go in the 2nd round. I hated to see him leave, but this was the right choice for him.

[Aughnanure]

DJO had a terrible handle.  Dribbled way too high.  He was a better finisher, but Vander made leaps and bounds in that area over the past year.

Never been impressed w/ Vander's either.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Been thinking about this a lot lately. Vander will go in the 2nd round. I hated to see him leave, but this was the right choice for him.

If he would have gone in 1st round next year with guaranteed money, different answer.  We'll never know.

[mu-rara]

I don't think htis will work out well for VB, but if he was mentally checked out of school, it is for the best.

[BM1090]

What are you talking about? You seem to have a very short and selective memory about Vander. Do you have no memory of the many times DJO drove, stopped, and made a fade-away jumper to halt a run?

DJO scored much more points, shot the ball more, had a better effective FG%, True shooting %, player efficiency rating, 3 point %, and in all but 1 year a better FG% (by .07%). In Vander's best year, his efficiency doesn't come close to DJO's worst.

To clarify, I meant that Vander's mid range game from his JR year was better than DJO's. If we are comparing careers then yes, DJO's was significantly better. DJO was also a much better three point shooter.

[Coleman]

If he would have gone in 1st round next year with guaranteed money, different answer.  We'll never know.

Agreed, but what if he fell off or had an injury next year, and went undrafted after next year? He is striking while the iron is hot and you can't fault him for that.

[Skatastrophy]

Given what we heard about Todd Mayo's non-relationship with Buzz last year, I don't completely buy in to the fact that Buzz knew about Vander's plans.

Perhaps he heard that Vander was thinking about leaving early, but the surprise came from the fact that he actually did it--in the interviews it comes across as  news to him.

That's hard for me to believe.  Everyone knew that Vander's only goal was to go pro as quickly as possible.  If I knew that, the coaching staff knew it.

[Aughnanure]

Agreed, but what if he fell off or had an injury next year, and went undrafted after next year? He is striking while the iron is hot and you can't fault him for that.

I think the larger point is that the iron is not as hot as he and some here believe it is.

[Hards Alumni]

If he would have gone in 1st round next year with guaranteed money, different answer.  We'll never know.

You're right we'll never know.  But the odds seem better that he will get drafted this year.

[swoopem]

Agreed, but what if he fell off or had an injury next year, and went undrafted after next year? He is striking while the iron is hot and you can't fault him for that.

I can fault him because I want my National Championship. Kind of like how Bud Kilmer wants his district title in Varsity Blues

[ChicosBailBonds]

Agreed, but what if he fell off or had an injury next year, and went undrafted after next year? He is striking while the iron is hot and you can't fault him for that.

Yup.  Though I would argue he's striking while HE thinks the iron is hot, whether the market place does (the teams), remains to be seen.  Always risk and reward with decisions in life, this is just at an elevated scale than 99% of the public has to go through.  Hope it works out for him.

[Aughnanure]

To clarify, I meant that Vander's mid range game from his JR year was better than DJO's. If we are comparing careers then yes, DJO's was significantly better. DJO was also a much better three point shooter.

But it wasn't. Ever.

[WarriorFan]

It's tough to compare DJO and VB for NBA potential, simply because DJO is 6'1 maybe and VB is a long 6'4.  DJO definitely had and has more skills, but the height could make the difference for Vander. 

[GGGG]

But it wasn't. Ever.

Vander Blue's 2 pt. FG% last year was 14 points higher than DJO's his last season.

Vander's mid range game was clearly better than DJO's last year.

[GGGG]

It's tough to compare DJO and VB for NBA potential, simply because DJO is 6'1 maybe and VB is a long 6'4.  DJO definitely had and has more skills, but the height could make the difference for Vander. 

Skills?  DJO could do one thing better than Vander - long range shooting.  That's about it.

[MUSF]

Skills?  DJO could do one thing better than Vander - long range shooting.  That's about it.

Yup.

I'm surprised how many people here think DJO was a better pro prospect than Vander. I think it's Vander and I don't think it's that close.

[GGGG]

Yup.

I'm surprised how many people here think DJO was a better pro prospect than Vander. I think it's Vander and I don't think it's that close.

Half this board thinks the only thing that makes a player worthwhile is scoring.

[MUSF]

Half this board thinks the only thing that makes a player worthwhile is scoring.

Yeah, I love it when we start playing the stat comparison game to figure out who the better pro prospect is.

[mu_hilltopper]

Vander Blue's 2 pt. FG% last year was 14 points higher than DJO's his last season.

Vander's mid range game was clearly better than DJO's last year.

Where are you getting those numbers?  Statsheet has FG and 3FG, so I computed 2FG%.

Vander's junior year vs. DJO's Senior year 2fg%:
Vander: 52.8% .. DJO 49.3%. 

Both numbers are great, but separated by 3.5, not 14 points. 

[77ncaachamps]

???  No NBA team wants him.

I know he's in Russia, but those were my sentiments before he was drafted.
I still think he'll return to the League someday.

Like I posted earlier, DJO's ceiling seemed limited (compared to Vander's). NBA teams want to see some ceiling in their investment.

[GGGG]

Where are you getting those numbers?  Statsheet has FG and 3FG, so I computed 2FG%.

Vander's junior year vs. DJO's Senior year 2fg%:
Vander: 52.8% .. DJO 49.3%. 

Both numbers are great, but separated by 3.5, not 14 points. 

You are correct.  I looked at the wrong number for DJO.

[GGGG]

I know he's in Russia, but those were my sentiments before he was drafted.
I still think he'll return to the League someday.

Like I posted earlier, DJO's ceiling seemed limited (compared to Vander's). NBA teams want to see some ceiling in their investment.

Unless DJO can significantly improve his outside shot, I just don't see it.

I think Buycks makes the NBA before DJO does.

[DegenerateDish]

The more I think about this and analyze it, I think Vander winds up a first round pick. Might not be totally apples/apples, but I think teams will look at Vander and see Iman Shumpert (ironically). I think the more success Shumpert has in the playoffs, helps Vander's stock rise (even though they are mutually exclusive).

[DegenerateDish]

Mea Culpa, I didn't see Sultan's thread on the Vander/Shumpert comparison until now, my bad.