Is Jordan Vandenberg The Wolfpack’s “X-Factor” This Season?

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Jordan Vandenberg in 2012 (NC State photo)

Jordan Vandenberg in 2012 (NC State photo)

One of the most pleasant surprises from last night’s Primetime With The Pack “Midnight Madness”-style practice had to be…Jordan Vandenberg.  The Redshirt senior has lost around forty pounds, is in the best shape he’s ever been since coming to NC State from Australia, and was a definite contributor in the White Team’s 39-38 victory over the Red squad: he scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the scrimmage, something far exceeded expectations for the player who averaged 0.7 points and 0.7 rebounds in his 123 minutes in 2012-13.

Granted, that was only a short scrimmage, but Wolfpack head coach Mark Gottfried was impressed.

“I like the fact that Jordan has put himself in a position to have a good year,” Gottfried told gopack.com after the contest. “He’s in the best shape of his life, he’s got good stamina and conditioning and it shows. He’s running up and down the floor and not getting tired and he can affect the game because he won’t tire so much.”

That would be good news for a Wolfpack team that wouldn’t have a true center without Vandenberg.  At 7’1″, he could be a formidable presence on defense and if he can exercise some will in the paint, he could be a scoring option that opposition defenses would have to take into account.  That in turn would help prevent defenses from focusing completely on forwards like T.J. Warren, the player who will likely be the Wolfpack’s most consistent scoring threat whenever he is on the floor.  In short, Vandenberg’s play could help his entire team be more effective.

That’s a lot of expectations, sure, and like all players he’s sure to have his ups and downs throughout the year, but if Jordan Vandenberg has more ups than downs in the upcoming hoops campaign, Wolfpack basketball will certainly benefit and will definitely surprise everyone who has low expectations for a team in transition.

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37 Responses to Is Jordan Vandenberg The Wolfpack’s “X-Factor” This Season?

  1. 44fan 10/20/2013 at 7:02 AM #

    Sorry to say, he would not even make the team on any other ACC team.

  2. Texpack 10/20/2013 at 8:10 AM #

    We would benefit from Cozell McQueen type minutes and rebounds from Vandy. He doesn’t need to channel Lew Alcindor. Big men sometimes have one good year as seniors. The fact that JV lost 40 lbs does give reason to hope.

  3. Rick 10/20/2013 at 8:58 AM #

    LOL at calling people out.

    IF Vandy plays well, I predict he becomes a crowd favorite.

  4. DC_wolf 10/20/2013 at 9:38 AM #

    “He’s not going to lead the team in statical categories, unless twitter posts becomes a measured stat.” hahahah XD

    Thanks, wilmwolf, I needed that!!

  5. 44rules 10/20/2013 at 2:21 PM #

    PoppaJohn, I think you’re bringing back memories of the one and only Teviin Binns.

    And Australia is the only continent to pass from barbarism to decadence without going through civilization.

  6. Pack Mentality 10/20/2013 at 2:25 PM #

    If Vandy is our x-factor then that means that means that the sportswriters who have us at #10 in the acc were being very generous. I hope I’m wrong though.

    Or maybe you’re not talking about basketball. Was this an article about international food critiquing?

  7. travelwolf 10/20/2013 at 7:04 PM #

    My sarcasm about this article is based on the past with Vandenberg… For the last 3 years, it’s obvious that he hasn’t been working out at the level required for college basketball. If you’ve got a slight inner-tube, it means that you are either eating at McDonald’s all day, and/or are not working out enough. Most players take 3 years of constant working out to get to the point where they can affect the outcome of a game in a positive manner consistently. I just don’t see how Vandenberg can do this in one summer – even if he is a 7 footer. Prove me wrong, Vandy!!!

  8. tjfoose1 10/20/2013 at 7:21 PM #

    Wow. Judgements based on the FIRST practice (that’s not even a practice) of the season. First ‘practice’ of the freshmen’s collegiate career.

    Brilliant.

  9. vtpackfan 10/20/2013 at 10:37 PM #

    People may be looking at this wrong. Doesn’t JV just have to hold the line during OOC play? Washington/Freeman/Anya have until January to
    a) learn the offense
    b) get used to the speed and physical change

    TJW will be playing at the four a lot the season. I and many others had a great notion that replacing CJ Williams with Purvis or playing Zo and Tyler was the way things were going to be. It started something like that but ended up Scott Wood. At a certain point Gott will put guys that he trusts to run his offense because he really only understands offense-this we should know by now.

  10. Tuffy2 10/21/2013 at 8:18 AM #

    The problem with JV is he is foul prone whether he really commits the foul or the refs have labeled him and will not get the benefit of the doubt. That has been the case for what I have seen of him during his time here.

    Kind of hard to be any kind of a factor sitting on the bench because of getting into early foul trouble. We will see what happens and go from there. That is all any of us can really predict

  11. Pack Leader 10/21/2013 at 8:59 AM #

    I see Big V fitting in like Brian Zubeck did a few years ago at Duke. An anchor in the paint defensively (at 7’1 thats not too hard), 10rbs a game & always around the basket for garbage putbacks. A true center would allow Warren to roam freely and stretch a PF to the 3point line, thus opening up the lane for driving.

    I know some have been hard on Vandy, some rightfully so, but if State is going to suprise us this year, we need our senior center to show up. Just remember he did put up a double double at Arizona his freshman year, when allowed to play extended minutes. And at BeeJays weight, I dont see him logging big minutes early this season….

  12. ryebread 10/21/2013 at 11:03 AM #

    When Vandy committed, my hope is that his career would turn out like another Aussie that I believe came from the same basketball academy — Luke Schensier down at GT. LS didn’t play much his first couple of years, but had a senior season where he showed he was a legit ACC player. He was a key part of what GT did that year.

    Hewitt’s players never exactly developed much once they arrived on campus. As such, I don’t see Vandy’s developmental trajectory as much different than LS’s.

    Vandy’s more athletic than people give him credit for. Most 7 footers can hardly walk and chew gum at the same time. Vandy showed in that dunk contest and from time to time that he’s light of feet and can jump for someone of his size. Pair that with his height and there’s absolutely a spot for him.

    I’ve always thought that Vandy could contribute if he got the minutes, stayed out of foul trouble and played with a mean streak. His conditioning improvements should help the first two things. Here’s to hoping he’s ready to be a little nasty.

    If so, then I think he can prove that he’s a legit ACC starter, which would help our outlook tremendously. We could really use a defensive presence inside.

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