Borges: Despite Instagram message, expect Vital back

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

When a coach says of a player "at this point I support him," the clear message is that we are close to a point (if not at the point) where the coach doesn't support him.

Christian has every right to leave school and go overseas and earn some money, and if he wants or needs to do that good luck to him. But as a basketball matter -- what is good for his development and long term career -- he is on a crazy path. The same path is to get ten toes in with Hurley now and see what this year brings.

CV is better off finishing his degree and starting out answering phones at Travelers for $40k than trying to make money overseas.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

CV is better off finishing his degree and starting out answering phones at Travelers for $40k than trying to make money overseas.

We don't know his family's current financial situation so it's wrong for us to advise him how to handle his financial future. That said, we can comment strictly from a basketball perspective and from that end it's foolish from a career growth perspective to leave now and try to grind it out in minor leagues around the world with less practice and growth opportunity as opposed to remaining in a structured and developmental environment. Basketball-wise, going pro now would be an incredibly bad decision.

 

[ctchamps]

I think push comes to shove he comes back - but again - he's one of those guys i'm agnostic to. LOVE the kid - he's plucky - no doubt we're better with him than without him, but he's another player on this roster that if we lose him, can be replaced.

I have to disagree. It will be difficult to find someone this late in the recruiting season to bring fill his production.

He's the player with the most experience playing with Jalen. That counts for a lot.

He could be a beneficial leader his senior year.

 

[ctchamps]

Another nugget from the Jacobs article:

"Vital could go overseas or try the G-League. He could transfer immediately, or at mid-season or do any of that after next season. Jere Quinn, who coached Vital at St. Thomas More, told our Dave Borges he believes Vital will return to UConn. Other sources say the same."

All in all, it's a pretty harsh rebuke of Vital's decision by JJ. He's certainly not wrong in anything he said, but unusual to see it from a writer. Dan Hurley's comments are very clearly non-committal and muted by design. I get the sense that in reality Dan Hurley is not quite on the same page as Christian here. It doesn't seem like many people are.

If someone thinks it's ridiculous to play the lottery because the odds are incredibly stacked against winning would it be a smart move for that individual to throw out a lottery ticket someone gives him for free before seeing the results?

If CV's family has some financial issue, if CV decides he wants to help them and believes his best shot is overseas, he plays the lottery ticket and declares he's heading for the NBA. He's got nothing to lose and the MORANs who think he's delusional because of a public declaration are more interested in public ridicule versus take the long shot because there is nothing to lose.

If CV really thinks his chances are great than it would be delusional. But I haven't seen it posted anywhere he declared that.

"That Guy" is making a case for a new name: "That Idiot"!!

 

[businesslawyer]

If someone thinks it's ridiculous to play the lottery because the odds are incredibly stacked against winning would it be a smart move for that individual to throw out a lottery ticket someone gives him for free before seeing the results?

If CV's family has some financial issue, if CV decides he wants to help them and believes his best shot is overseas, he plays the lottery ticket and declares he's heading for the NBA. He's got nothing to lose and the MORANs who think he's delusional because of a public declaration are more interested in public ridicule versus take the long shot because there is nothing to lose.

If CV really thinks his chances are great than it would be delusional. But I haven't seen it posted anywhere he declared that.

"That Guy" is making a case for a new name: "That Idiot"!!

That entire raving ignores that fact that CV told us goodbye. You're acting as if he's testing the waters without any declaration about his future.

 

[JMick]

That entire raving ignores that fact that CV told us goodbye. You're acting as if he's testing the waters without any declaration about his future.

Did he actually say goodbye or did he just word his post in an unclear manner?

 

[ctchamps]

That entire raving ignores that fact that CV told us goodbye. You're acting as if he's testing the waters without any declaration about his future.

That raving hypothesizes he's leaving. And testing the NBA is not delusional.

 

[businesslawyer]

Did he actually say goodbye or did he just word his post in an unclear manner?

He did not use the word goodbye. But there was/is only one rational interpretation of his post. if you choose to believe in an irrational interpretation of his words, more power to you. But don't expect us to do so. His words were not subject to multiple interpretations. He's either leaving or he misspoke.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

That raving hypothesizes he's leaving. And testing the NBA is not delusional.

Declaring for the draft without hiring an agent to test the waters and get developmental feedback is not at all delusional. Staying in the draft and forgoing his collegiate eligibility would be delusional from a basketball standpoint. If he wants to try and better his family's financial situation that's a different story that we don't have the information to comment on. But in terms of maximizing his potential as a basketball player it's completely indisputable that leaving college now is a horrendous idea.

 

[KingAG]

He did not use the word goodbye. But there was/is only one rational interpretation of his post. if you choose to believe in an irrational interpretation of his words, more power to you. But don't expect us to do so. His words were not subject to multiple interpretations. He's either leaving or he misspoke.

He didn’t misspeak. You drew your own conclusions based on what he said. Not once did he say he was definitively leaving.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

CV is better off finishing his degree and starting out answering phones at Travelers for $40k than trying to make money overseas.

why? He's got the next 60 years to be a cubicle monkey. Seeing new countries and making a (modest) living playing basketball doesn't sound like a terrible way to spend your early 20s. The soul-crushing office job will be there.

 

[ctchamps]

Declaring for the draft without hiring an agent to test the waters and get developmental feedback is not at all delusional. Staying in the draft and forgoing his collegiate eligibility would be delusional from a basketball standpoint. If he wants to try and better his family's financial situation that's a different story that we don't have the information to comment on. But in terms of maximizing his potential as a basketball player it's completely indisputable that leaving college now is a horrendous idea.

I agree.

 

[ctchamps]

He didn’t misspeak. You drew your own conclusions based on what he said. Not once did he say he was definitively leaving.

No he did not say he was definitely leaving. The wording in his instagram implied it however.
Even in the interview with Some Guy it appears Hurley is unsure which way CV is leaning.

Thanking UConn for support could be read as him being grateful for his situation at UConn up to now as opposed to a farewell. You've been right on JA. How about going two for two!

 

[JMick]

He did not use the word goodbye. But there was/is only one rational interpretation of his post. if you choose to believe in an irrational interpretation of his words, more power to you. But don't expect us to do so. His words were not subject to multiple interpretations. He's either leaving or he misspoke.

I agree that is reads as if he's leaving but I don't think it was meant that way. There's no way of knowing that for sure though

 

[KingAG]

No he did not say he was definitely leaving. The wording in his instagram implied it however.
Even in the interview with Some Guy it appears Hurley is unsure which way CV is leaning.

Thanking UConn for support could be read as him being grateful for his situation at UConn up to now as opposed to a farewell. You've been right on JA. How about going two for two!

I hope so too! Lol. I’m just fighting the narrative that he “mispoke” and “said he’s leaving”. I prefer to wait until he actually announces his decision before I fret about it

 

[Hans Sprungfeld]

You mean to say 24 pages of idle speculation in the other thread are a complete waste of time? I'm shocked.

Ya never know. Might have saved a life or two.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

There's no way of knowing that for sure though

And I think that's what Jacobs and others here are getting at - that there's even a possibility that CV is going to stay in the draft is ludicrous from a basketball perspective. I agree that we can't read his IG comment to be a 100% decision that he's gone, but it's fair to say that right now it's a 50/50 shot he is not in fact just getting feedback from pro scouts and he actually does stay in the draft. That there's a 50% chance he hires an agent and this isn't just taking advantage of the opportunity to workout with the pros is what many are commenting on. We've moved far beyond the "Well, no one actually thinks he's leaving" point.

 

[champs99and04]

He didn’t misspeak. You drew your own conclusions based on what he said. Not once did he say he was definitively leaving.

Are you also the type that sends texts saying "if I never see you again, I love you?"

 

[auror]

why? He's got the next 60 years to be a cubicle monkey. Seeing new countries and making a (modest) living playing basketball doesn't sound like a terrible way to spend your early 20s. The soul-crushing office job will be there.

Might not be if you don't finish your degree, at least not a decent one where you could help out a family in poor financial shape (if true). Won't have scholarship to go back and finish the degree later.

Vital is not exactly going to be in demand in Europe. DeAndre Daniels, top 10 recruit, NCAA champion, drafted by NBA, played in Fran Fraschilla's 13th best league in the world and then after getting injured opted to make 30k playing in the G League instead (an option unlikely to be open for Vital). Will Vital make $20-30k playing in a mid to lower tier league with teammates who don't speak English and wondering if he'll get paid on time? Not sure that will really help his family out.

 

[BlueMAB]

I strongly doubt Dan Hurley would've pushed him out the door. It doesn't add up - why would Dan Hurley voluntarily get rid of one of our leading rebounders, a leader in the locker room, a good shooter, and a relatively good ballhandler in favor of bringing in another grad transfer? The MUCH more likely scenario would be that he stayed in due to personal financial reasons.

I agree, I just think it's a fair question.

 

[BlueMAB]

Not once did he say he was "testing the waters". That didn't stop posters from drawing their own conclusions and making that claim.

 

[Leebo]

That's what you call entering the draft without hiring an agent. If you stay in or later sign an agent or withdraw later, that doesn't change the fact that it's initially testing the waters.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Not sure that will really help his family out.

I'm not sure why you think he's the breadwinner for his family.

 

[auror]

I'm not sure why you think he's the breadwinner for his family.

Because there have been rumors that this is financially motivated and you didn't quote the part of my post that said "if true".

*Edit*

Hoping he stays in school and I think he will. Heard that the decision is largely financial, that his family isn't all that comfortable and if he could make some money before the end of the year that would help out quite a bit. People are saying he's a smart kid who cares about his degree which I didn't know but great to hear. I hope he and family can find a way to let him finish out his full eligibility in blue.

 

[willie99]

Despite Instagram message, expect Christian Vital to be back at UConn next season

"He aspires to play in the NBA,” said Quinn, who won his 1,000th career game this past winter. “I think he just wants to listen to people as to where he is and where he’ll stand. Then, he’ll come back to Connecticut.”​

" I know he’s spoken to the coaches to make sure he can come back, I know that as a fact,” said Quinn. “Honestly, the coaches have been great with him. Danny Hurley and Tommy Moore have been great with him. They’ve done everything to make him feel good about himself. Christian said that.”​

But I thought Hurley was pushing him out?


Can't wait to see the small lineup of Adams, Gilbert, Vital, Wilson, and Carlton.

Under Hurley and staff, with this talent returning, we should compete for the AAC championship and make the tourney.

you mean it's not a done deal that's he's gone?

how can that be? I read it on the internet, where psychoanalyzing kids tweets have been perfected and 1,000% accurate

so he must be gone, just like 4 star recruits won't come to UConn anymore and Hurley has way too many options better than Storrs to ever call it home and our entire 2017/2018 roster is leaving after the season

did I miss anything?

 

[Huskyforlife]

You guys read that instagram post. Either he's gone, or he did a really poor job wording his message.

 

[ctchamps]

you mean it's not a done deal that's he's gone?

how can that be? I read it on the internet, where psychoanalyzing kids tweets have been perfected and 1,000% accurate

so he must be gone, just like 4 star recruits won't come to UConn anymore and Hurley has way too many options better than Storrs to ever call it home and our entire 2017/2018 roster is leaving after the season

did I miss anything?

Psychoanalysis was whether CV was delusional to declare.

Debate over Instagram statement.

 

[whaler11]

More shots for Cobb.

 

[Spokesbender]

Cobb is our sniper from deep next year. He's a corn-fueled Rashad Anderson

 

[intlzncster]

Cobb is our sniper from deep next year. He's a corn-fueled Rashad Anderson

What's a corn-fueled Rashad Anderson?

If Vital wants to shoot 42% off of good shots from 3, then he can be our sniper.