Vander a Sixer

[BrewCity83]

If Vander is supposed to be in Philli, then why was he just at dogg Haus at 2:30 AM?

Q-Doba was closed?

[MUHoopsFan2]

If Vander is supposed to be in Philli, then why was he just at dogg Haus at 2:30 AM?

Because training camp does not start until next week that is why  and he is probably training on campus during the day to prepare...and because he is grown man and was probably hungry?

That answer your question?

[mu_hilltopper]

Reowwww.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Because training camp does not start until next week that is why  and he is probably training on campus during the day to prepare...and because he is grown man and was probably hungry?

That answer your question?

Excellent response. +1 to you sir

[MU86NC]

Amen. As do I.

Go get it Van! You landed in a great spot. A team with no set lineup at your position [which or whatever that ends up being PG/SG].

And it is a team that is obviously committed to a total rebuild with a new young coach out of nowhere not pressured to win and a guy who doesn't know anyone else any more then he would Vander, and no guys with big contracts they are forced to play instead of Blue if he performs well.

Great gig...and setup on the surface if you ask me.

With no real expectations except development Vander Blue will get a fair shake and a long solid look with the Sixers that he could not have asked for a better place! It's a real blessing...really if you ask me.

This summer MU is rollin. Dwight Bucyks has a two year deal and contract up in Toronto.

Trent Lockett has shockingly to me has a two year deal over  in Sacramento with the Kings.

And Junior Cadougan has a training camp invite here with the Milwaukee Bucks and Vander Blue is now in Philly!

Wow...Stand up Marquette! The residual Crean/Wade/Buzz effect of the MU Brand. Unreal...

Another great fit. Perfect timing, team and place. With any kind of camp or break Vander Blue could be a rotation guy for the Sixers for all we know...Quick tell me, who starts at SG for them? J-Rich?

If they had hired a name coach like Lionel Hollins [Like they should have, he won 50 + games last year and is a former Sixer] I would have had my doubts. But now I think anything can happen now if he impresses. It has worked out for him so far.

Good for him.

Thanks for all the great info HoopsFan!

[Galway Eagle]

Now if only we can get one two or all of Deiner, Hayward or DJO back in the league we'd be perfect. 

[314warrior]

Good for Blue.  I am very happy for him and slightly happy for myself.  If he is on an NBA roster, I won't play the 'what if' game throughout the year.

[WarriorFan]

I'm very happy for him that he at least has a training camp invite and will get some guaranteed cash... but seriously he's competing for the last spot on the worst team in the NBA!  We'll never know for sure if he could have done better with one more year, but this "status" of competing for the honor of being the worst player in the NBA is not where I want our Warriors!

[We R Final Four]

Isn't that a better title than the best player NOT in the NBA????

BTW--I dont agree with your logic.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm very happy for him that he at least has a training camp invite and will get some guaranteed cash... but seriously he's competing for the last spot on the worst team in the NBA!  We'll never know for sure if he could have done better with one more year, but this "status" of competing for the honor of being the worst player in the NBA is not where I want our Warriors!

The NBA is the highest level of competition in Blue's sport. Even as you said "competing for the honor of being the worst player in the NBA" means that he is better than 99.9% of people who play basketball. I'd say that's pretty damn good

[w0bbie]

I'm very happy for him that he at least has a training camp invite and will get some guaranteed cash... but seriously he's competing for the last spot on the worst team in the NBA!  We'll never know for sure if he could have done better with one more year, but this "status" of competing for the honor of being the worst player in the NBA is not where I want our Warriors!

I think your logic is a bit flawed.  Even if Vander is fighting for the last roster spot, doesn't mean that he would necessarily be the worst player on the team.  There are other factors involved.  Furthermore, just because Detroit may be the worst team in the NBA, there is no reason why their worst player should be considered the worst in the entire league.  The Heat/Thunder/Spurs could sign me to sit at the end of the bench.  I would certainly be the worst player, but it wouldn't suddenly drop the team from contender to bottomfeeder status.

[WarriorFan]

I think your logic is a bit flawed.  Even if Vander is fighting for the last roster spot, doesn't mean that he would necessarily be the worst player on the team.  There are other factors involved.  Furthermore, just because Detroit may be the worst team in the NBA, there is no reason why their worst player should be considered the worst in the entire league.  The Heat/Thunder/Spurs could sign me to sit at the end of the bench.  I would certainly be the worst player, but it wouldn't suddenly drop the team from contender to bottomfeeder status.

Engineers in my day didn't have to take PHIL 1000:  LOGIC.  Obviously you passed it.  Good to see it put to use.

[hoyasincebirth]

Sixers just signed Hollis Thompson as well. Probably both our guys will be playing in the D-League, but still nice for them to get a chance.

[MerrittsMustache]

Sixers just signed Hollis Thompson as well. Probably both our guys will be playing in the D-League, but still nice for them to get a chance.

I recently read that the Sixers are planning to invite the max number of players (20, I believe) to training camp this year. Not sure what other fringe guys besides Van and Thompson have gotten invites or if any of them are guards.

[Brewtown Andy]

Isn't that a better title than the best player NOT in the NBA????

BTW--I dont agree with your logic.

Dunno, there's probably guys in Europe who are more than capable of catching on with a NBA team if they wanted to give it a try.

[Markusquette]

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Dang he look good in that

[Coleman]

Dang he look good in that

+1

Really hope he lands on the roster. I'm definitely back on the Vandwagon

[GGGG]

+1

Really hope he lands on the roster. I'm definitely back on the Vandwagon

Oh you gotta trademark that.

[Markusquette]

Always been on the Vandwagon.  It's silly how some can immediately discount him since he left Marquette to pursue his dream.  Hope he proves the doubters wrong.  He's gotta beat out a few young guards to make it in Philly so I hope he has a good camp.

[Coleman]

Always been on the Vandwagon.  It's silly how some can immediately discount him since he left Marquette to pursue his dream.  Hope he proves the doubters wrong.  He's gotta beat out a few young guards to make it in Philly so I hope he has a good camp.

I thought it was a dumb decision, and frankly still do. But it's done and I wish nothing but the best for him.

I'm sure most MU fans are in the same boat. No one wished him ill. We were just surprised and disappointed he walked away from a top 10 team to go undrafted. But the chips fell in his favor with the Sixers and I hope he makes the most of it. I am submitting a trademark application for Vandwagon and will license it to Mr. Blue in perpetuity for 10% of his NBA salary.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

I thought it was a dumb decision, and frankly still do. But it's done and I wish nothing but the best for him.

I'm sure most MU fans are in the same boat. No one wished him ill. We were just surprised and disappointed he walked away from a top 10 team to go undrafted. But the chips fell in his favor with the Sixers and I hope he makes the most of it. I am submitting a trademark application for Vandwagon and will license it to Mr. Blue in perpetuity for 10% of his NBA salary.

I was disappointed, because I had been looking forward to this season for a couple of years. The roster was very good, and had a nice mix of talent and experience.

Losing Vander hurts.

With this said, my guess is that Vander didn't necessarily love school, so getting a shot to play basketball and get paid (even if it's oversees) was pretty appealing to him.

Not everybody loves college (like most of us did).

At the end of the day, I hope it works out for him.

[Markusquette]

I thought it was a dumb decision, and frankly still do. But it's done and I wish nothing but the best for him.

I'm sure most MU fans are in the same boat. No one wished him ill. We were just surprised and disappointed he walked away from a top 10 team to go undrafted. But the chips fell in his favor with the Sixers and I hope he makes the most of it. I am submitting a trademark application for Vandwagon and will license it to Mr. Blue in perpetuity for 10% of his NBA salary.

Sorry, didn't mean you in particular!  From what I recall there were a number of posts that were quite bitter and didn't seem like people would support him because of his decision to leave.  But I agree.  Questionable decision by all means, but hopefully it works out in the end.  Seems like our guys are so hard working that they eventually latch on somewhere. 

[77ncaachamps]

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/sixers/20131006_Sixers_prepare_for_first_action_in_Spain.html

Sixers' Vander Blue only thinking about playing basketball

BILBAO, Spain - Vander Blue hasn't been much of a thinker since signing with the 76ers.

"I just play ball," he said. "That's all I know how to do."

The undrafted rookie free agent believes that's the best way for him to remain on the Sixers roster.

So the 6-foot-4 guard, whose team takes on Bilbao Basket here at noon Sunday, doesn't think about the encouraging comments he receives from coach Brett Brown. Nor does he allow himself to reflect on being a reserve wing the Sixers might depend on this season.

"I'm just taking it one day at a time," said Blue, who signed a multiyear, partially guaranteed deal last month. "I never try to think too far ahead and just start controlling what I can control."

Going undrafted in June might have something to do with his mind-set.

The Madison, Wis., native left Marquette after his junior season believing he would be selected in the second round. NBA.com compared Blue with former NBA guard Kendall Gill after he averaged 14.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals last season.

"I don't know what happened," Blue said of not getting drafted. "There's a lot more things that go into the draft than basketball. So I don't know.

"But the draft is over. And I'm ready to get my professional career started."

He eventually chose the Sixers over the Miami Heat's free-agent offer.

Blue realized the Sixers are in the beginning stages of a rebuilding process. With that, he knew that there would be plenty of opportunity for immediate playing time. Meanwhile, Blue would have probably had a tough time making the Heat's roster. And even if he did, he would have been an end-of-the-bench reserve for the two-time defending NBA champions.

"I think I can bring a lot of things" to the Sixers, he said. "I'm a dog. I'm a terror. And the way I play and the way I go about the game, going hard every possession."

His best attribute this far has been his tenacious on-ball defense. He also has impressed Brown with athleticism and shooting ability.

"He has the combination of toughness and competitiveness," Brown said. "And the fact that he can get out on the open court is exciting in a young player."

[77ncaachamps]

http://www.nba.com/sixers/video/2013/10/05/131005bluepracticemov-2611483