Aloha,
On a night when we had no energy on the 2nd night of a back to back and 3rd game in 4 nights, with Smart was not available and Brooks ripping us up, I was surprised that Vando did not get any run. Yes he is offensively challenged but he brings a boat load of energy to the game, plays solid defense and rebounds. We desperately needed that last night. I really do not know what is going on between him and JJ. But whatever it is, JJ needed to use him last night. Perhaps there are trade talks involving him, I don’t know. Regardless, we still need to win games and Vando should have been on the court.
He’s been pine riding for a couple weeks now and Kleber is getting his minutes. Maxi brings a different vibe off the bench but, like Vando, can’t continue to pass up open shots. Folks like to rip on Vanderbilt for his offense but I’ve never seen him air ball a finger roll at the rim…he’s also shooting better from three than Smart is. So either it’s a run where the staff told him he’s riding pine while they look at something or, more likely, Redick just isn’t the right coach for him. It happens, Vando, in the right system, is solid. In what we’re doing these days he needs to hit the corner three and cut for open layups.
Might be they want to showcase maxi a bit, see if they can get something for him at the deadline?