Lineups & Hopson/Tatum/Woolridge

#1

beachvol23

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#1
I'm still trying to figure out why Hopson continues to start and get more minutes over Tatum and Woolridge. I think this is a serious issue that has not been addressed and seems to be significantly affecting our chemistry and production offensively and defensively.

It appears BP is coddling Hopson at the expense of other players and the entire team. Also, why are they starting Tabb along with Maze??? Has Tabb proved himself incapable of backing up the point? If so, what makes him worthy of starting at guard? Is BP using this as a challenge to Tatum and Woolridge and not Hopson?

I know BP has creative ways of "breaking" players, it just seems like Hopson is the one that needs to be broken down first IMO.

Despite all of this, I'd rather struggle now with so many young players and hope we're hitting the wall now, rather than next month and beyond like we've done in years past with much more experienced players.

Everyone needs to bring the noise at TBA tonight!!!!!!

GO VOLS!!!
 
#2
#2
Tabb is starting because he's the only one on the team who gives a crap about defense.

And what has Woolridge done besides play defense as badly as Hopson, and chuck up horrible 30 footers?
 
#3
#3
All I know is that Chism is the best 3pt shooter in the country


:iamwithstupid:
 
#4
#4
Obviously, only Bruce can answer the OP's questions, but in my limited viewing of this edition of the Vols, I've thought:

1. Maze and Tabb have looked good on the floor together. None of the freshmen are strong enough with the ball, and none play strong on the ball defense. The two upperclassmen are physically stronger and understand the game better than the guys behind them on a team that generally lacks physical strength and understanding of the game.

2. Hopson is a much more dangerous offensive player than Woolridge on the perimeter. He probably has more upside potential than Tatum, but with one guy playing 21 minutes and the other 19, they are essentially splitting time.

It is easy to point fingers at the McD AA and say he is being "coddled," but the fact is that he is putting up good yet somewhat inconsistent offensive numbers, struggles on defense, and is not as strong or intense as he needs to be--all the hallmarks of a talented freshman learning how to play the game.
 
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#5
#5
Tonight will tell everything about this team.. by now they have probably all heard the criticism of their toughness, effort and quickness so whether they prove them to be right or wrong i expect tonight to be their answer to all these criticisms.. that said i say they go out there tonight and beat Gonzaga by double digits.. no stinky mut from washington will come into TBA and beat the VOLS
 
#6
#6
Other than the Georgetown game - Hopson has done just as well or better than Tatum to this point - both offensively and defensively (obviously neither have been very good from here but both have made some great plays with steals and Hopson has had a few nice blocks when he's tried). They basically split the minutes 50/50... someone has to start.
 
#7
#7
The sad thing about tonight is that we just may beat Gonzaga tonight but with the dramatic inconsistency of this team i wouldnt be surprised at all if we dropped the game against UGA on Saturday
 
#8
#8
The sad thing about tonight is that we just may beat Gonzaga tonight but with the dramatic inconsistency of this team i wouldnt be surprised at all if we dropped the game against UGA on Saturday

Don't even say that. I hear what you are saying, but...

If we could either clamp down on defense, or find a consistent outside shot, we would cruise through most of the SEC.
 
#9
#9
Tonight will tell everything about this team.. by now they have probably all heard the criticism of their toughness, effort and quickness so whether they prove them to be right or wrong i expect tonight to be their answer to all these criticisms.. that said i say they go out there tonight and beat Gonzaga by double digits.. no stinky mut from washington will come into TBA and beat the VOLS

I hope you're right!!! We'll definitely see the impact of the total team meeting Sunday. It will all start clicking soon for them, just at different times as freshman always take different amounts of time for the light bulb to come on!
 
#10
#10
Other than the Georgetown game - Hopson has done just as well or better than Tatum to this point - both offensively and defensively (obviously neither have been very good from here but both have made some great plays with steals and Hopson has had a few nice blocks when he's tried). They basically split the minutes 50/50... someone has to start.

+1 Pearl would not get future McD AA if he does not start the one on his team. If Tatum was clearly outplaying Hopson, then, it would be different.
 
#11
#11
+1 Pearl would not get future McD AA if he does not start the one on his team. If Tatum was clearly outplaying Hopson, then, it would be different.

Well said I agree with that statement..:zeitung_lesen:
 
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#12
#12
Hopson is our best 3 point shooter, but he shoots the least amount of 3 of anyone on the team other than b-dub. hopson is dirty, he just needs to start trying to score more often
 
#13
#13
The sec will not be a cake walk. I suspect this team will struggle on the road in the sec.
 

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