You broke my heart, Vander

[White Shaq]

The only thing I could think of after this disappointing season...

[NavinRJohnson]

How dare he not do what is in your best interest.

[MU31]

I see that Vander is now the 4th ranked prospect in the NBDL, and he was just traded from the 87ers to Idaho.  Idaho is associated with the Blazers organization.  Hopefully things will continue to roll well for Vander.

[MUHoopsFan2]

How dare he not do what is in your best interest.

It wasn't in his best interests either...professionally. At least not what he thought or planned for.

[Sunbelt15]

Vander is old news.

[Hards Alumni]

It wasn't in his best interests either...professionally. At least not what he thought or planned for.

How so?  He has played in the NBA.

Why does everyone assume that Vander hadn't hit his ceiling for draft potential last year?

[PGsHeroes32]

How dare he not do what is in your best interest.

While I don't hold a grudge because it truly is his call.

I think we can say he didn't do what was in his best interest either.

[NavinRJohnson]

I think we can say he didn't do what was in his best interest either.

No, we absolutely cannot, nor is it pur place to do so. You are basing that opinion on what you would likely do. My guess, and this is only my opinion, if you asked him right now if he knew the way things would go, if he would make he same decision, the answer would be yes.

[PGsHeroes32]

No, we absolutely cannot, nor is it pur place to do so. You are basing that opinion on what you would likely do. My guess, and this is only my opinion, if you asked him right now if he knew the way things would go, if he would make he same decision, the answer would be yes.

Then he is foolish and any person who looks at the situation objectively would say so.

Again, I don't hold it against him but it was the wrong call and literally anyone around the NBA game will tell you that.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Then he is foolish and any person who looks at the situation objectively would say so.

Again, I don't hold it against him but it was the wrong call and literally anyone around the NBA game will tell you that.

I look at it objectively (actually I wanted him to stay) and think he made the right choice. His goal was to get drafted. He was riding a helluva  tournament run. But more importantly the 2013 draft class was weak and the 2014 draft class is gonna be stacked. Blue was a lot more likely to get drafted in 2013 than 2014.

[PGsHeroes32]

I look at it objectively (actually I wanted him to stay) and think he made the right choice. His goal was to get drafted. He was riding a helluva  tournament run. But more importantly the 2013 draft class was weak and the 2014 draft class is gonna be stacked. Blue was a lot more likely to get drafted in 2013 than 2014.

See that's the thing. To most he wasn't more likely. If he comes back not only does he have another year to keep getting better but he goes into the year with a lot of hype. He ends up a BE 1st teamer forsure. We make the tourney. He gets even more exposure. It's reasonable to assume he is a wooden watch(top 50 finalist at least) candidate.

His stock could have only went up. Nobody had him leaving his junior year for reasons we saw. He wasn't going to get his shot at the league this year.

[NavinRJohnson]

See that's the thing. To most he wasn't more likely. If he comes back not only does he have another year to keep getting better but he goes into the year with a lot of hype. He ends up a BE 1st teamer forsure. We make the tourney. He gets even more exposure. It's reasonable to assume he is a wooden watch(top 50 finalist at least) candidate.

His stock could have only went up. Nobody had him leaving his junior year for reasons we saw. He wasn't going to get his shot at the league this year.

And he didn't want to stay another year in college. He's playing ball, which is the only reason he was at MU, and he's getting paid (albeit modestly) to do so. Neither you or I have any idea how it might have turned out. You projecting your view of how he should have done things doesnt mean anything where he is concerned.

[PGsHeroes32]

And he didn't want to stay another year in college. He's playing ball, which is the only reason he was at MU, and he's getting paid (albeit modestly) to do so. Neither you or I have any idea how it might have turned out. You projecting your view of how he should have done things doesnt mean anything where he is concerned.

That doesn't mean it wasn't the wrong decision. There is always a better decision. If he stays, he's still playing ball and at the very worst case scenario he's in the same situation next year that he'd be whether he stayed or not.

Again, it's why literally every person involved with the draft situation not only were surprised but thought it was a awful decision.

If Israeli Bball, some d league ball and a couple garbage time minutes on the garbage celtics was his vision then you're right he's satisfied. But I can flat guarantee you this is not his vision. Hence why he declared early.

[wadesworld]

That doesn't mean it wasn't the wrong decision. There is always a better decision. If he stays, he's still playing ball and at the very worst case scenario he's in the same situation next year that he'd be whether he stayed or not.

Again, it's why literally every person involved with the draft situation not only were surprised but thought it was a awful decision.

If Israeli Bball, some d league ball and a couple garbage time minutes on the garbage celtics was his vision then you're right he's satisfied. But I can flat guarantee you this is not his vision. Hence why he declared early.

Can you please direct me as to what I should do with my life?

[Hards Alumni]

I look at it objectively (actually I wanted him to stay) and think he made the right choice. His goal was to get drafted. He was riding a helluva  tournament run. But more importantly the 2013 draft class was weak and the 2014 draft class is gonna be stacked. Blue was a lot more likely to get drafted in 2013 than 2014.

+1. Hayward, you have nothing to actually back up your claims.

[NavinRJohnson]

If Israeli Bball, some d league ball and a couple garbage time minutes on the garbage celtics was his vision then you're right he's satisfied. But I can flat guarantee you this is not his vision. Hence why he declared early.

Source? If everyone involved said he wasnt ready, what was his vision? How exactly do you know he wasn't fully prepared to spend time overseas or in the D League? Did you discuss it with him? Maybe he'd rather do that than play another year in college. Did the two of you ever talk about that? No, you didn't, but you state this crap as fact, because you view it from your own perspective only...."Of course he should stay in school and play for MU. After all, that's what I would have done. The team would be better, he can get his degree, and it gives him another year to work on his game." News flash, he is working in his game, to make it NBA caliber, likely more so than he would have had he stayed at MU. Getting paid more too.

While staying would have made it a better decision for you, as I said, I'd be willing to bet he would make the same decision all over again.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

+1 Hayward.  You have nothing to actually back up your claims.

No one has any proof. It's all speculation. How do we know Vander would have gotten better? Maybe playing with Derrick at the point causes his numbers to go down? I don't think that would happen but I can't prove it won't.

I can prove that the 2014 draft class is being considered stronger than the 2013 class.

[Hards Alumni]

No one has any proof. It's all speculation. How do we know Vander would have gotten better? Maybe playing with Derrick at the point causes his numbers to go down? I don't think that would happen but I can't prove it won't.

I can prove that the 2014 draft class is being considered stronger than the 2013 class.

Sorry, I wrote that wrong, edited so it makes sense the way it was intended.  Lol.

[The Lens]

This is embarrassing. 

[MUDPT]

This is embarrassing. 

+1000.  I heard from someone close to his family, that one of Vander's closefamily members lost their job last March.  I hope that everyone thinks of that when deciding what is/was the best option for his future.  I hope this is the end of this discussion forever.

[Coleman]

This thread is dumb. But the picture still made me laugh

[martyconlonontherun]

I don't get how focusing on playing BBall full-time, geting experience while playing with grown men in other professional leagues, and having professional coaches is not a good career development move.

I like Buzz,  but I think he is a better mention/recruiter than coach. I think Blue plateaued as a college player. I don't know how he could've topped being the best player in a waaay tougher conference and leading his team to the Elite 8 by making game-winning plays.

But who cares if Blue would've lost out on around $75K salary this year, he would've got HH a couple more Marquette wins!!! Selfish idiot that Blue is...

[White Shaq]

This thread is dumb. But the picture still made me laugh

Thanks, Bleuteaux. I was hoping to elicit a few laughs from my sweet photoshop job not start a bash Vander thread. Maybe I should have put Buzz's face on Michael Corleone?

Like all MU fans, I wish he stayed but you can't blame a man for chasing his dreams.

Onward and upward...

[Coleman]

Thanks, Bleuteaux. I was hoping to elicit a few laughs from my sweet photoshop job not start a bash Vander thread. Maybe I should have put Buzz's face on Michael Corleone?

Like all MU fans, I wish he stayed but you can't blame a man for chasing his dreams.

Onward and upward...

That was my first thought, you should have put Buzz's face on Michael. Oh well. Still hilarious