Scotty Hopson is like a big brother...

[MrBamSeydu]

He beats up on you in the driveway because you're weaker, smaller, slower, and less athletic than he is....

but when he plays against kids his own age, he goes 0-for behind the arc and airballs freethrows.

Look, the guy has potential, but he really needs to stay for his junior season and get stronger. He would get destroyed in the NBA.

 

[ranradVOL]

He beats up on you in the driveway because you're weaker, smaller, slower, and less athletic than he is....

but when he plays against kids his own age, he goes 0-for behind the arc and airballs freethrows.

Look, the guy has potential, but he really needs to stay for his junior season and get stronger. He would get destroyed in the NBA.

The NBA is all about potential.

He'll get stronger and will be coached better at the next level.

 

[MrBamSeydu]

I understand that.

But you base potential off of performance against quality opponents.

There are alot of 6'7 guards (JP Prince) but alot of his "potential" is still riding the waves from his high school days.

If he doesn't play better against the better competition, that "potential" will go out the door. Tyler Smith can attest. He had alot of potential after transferring from Iowa, and in my opinion, he has gotten worse the last 2 years, not better. Of course he had Lofton and Smith as a sophomore to take pressure off, but once teams realize he couldn't shoot the 3 and saw that his only real shot is a pivot-move turnaround in the paint, they got better at shutting him down.

I doubt he'll get drafted. Hopson will for sure, but you can see my point.... I think his stock would be better after next year, no question about it.

 

[OrangeSuspenders]

I understand that.

But you base potential off of performance against quality opponents.

There are alot of 6'7 guards (JP Prince) but alot of his "potential" is still riding the waves from his high school days.

If he doesn't play better against the better competition, that "potential" will go out the door. Tyler Smith can attest. He had alot of potential after transferring from Iowa, and in my opinion, he has gotten worse the last 2 years, not better. Of course he had Lofton and Smith as a sophomore to take pressure off, but once teams realize he couldn't shoot the 3 and saw that his only real shot is a pivot-move turnaround in the paint, they got better at shutting him down.

I doubt he'll get drafted. Hopson will for sure, but you can see my point.... I think his stock would be better after next year, no question about it.

So both have/had "potential" after their sophomore years but Hopson should stay and Tyler should have left? I smell a contradiction

 

[ranradVOL]

We've only played a handful of games thus far. Hopson has shown up in all but one of those. I'd wait until the end of the season to evaluate his NBA stock.

Tyler will be drafted. Probably not in the 1st round like he wants, but he will be drafted.

 

[volroadwarrior]

Why can't anyone besides Tyler shoot free throws? This is going to get us beat.

 

[MrBamSeydu]

We've only played a handful of games thus far. Hopson has shown up in all but one of those. I'd wait until the end of the season to evaluate his NBA stock.

Tyler will be drafted. Probably not in the 1st round like he wants, but he will be drafted.

Actually he didn't show up against the only 2 decent teams we've played this year.

1. DePaul
2. Purdue

And he was known for doing that as a freshman. Remember, we have to hold Hopson to higher standards than most because he's supposed to be Mr. 1-n-dun... ya know? I mean, he should be dominating teams like CoC and playing very well against teams like Purdue. But in 40-something games so far at UT, he's been known to sort of disappear in big games. I'll give him last year, but this year he needs to understand this is his team. Tyler Smith or no Tyler Smith, this is Scotty Hopson's team.

 

[MrBamSeydu]

So both have/had "potential" after their sophomore years but Hopson should stay and Tyler should have left? I smell a contradiction

Actually, friend, there's no contradiction. It's simple.

As I agree with the "NBA draft is all about potential" theory, I am telling you, good sir, that Scotty Hopson has that. And with that, he should continue to grow and get stronger. Tyler Smith should have also grown and gotten stronger, but it looks like maybe he didn't. He made a mistake. Maybe, he should have left. And Scotty Hopson could face that same mistake... or it could work.

There's no contradiction, friend, it's all just forks in the road. Both of them could've been drafted after their sophomore season. Tyler will have to fight his way into the league from the looks of it. Scotty had more "potential" as one of the highest rated prospects we've ever gotten. So I'd say, friend, that is a slightly different situation.

Scotty come back! You can blame it all on me! I was wrong and I just can't live withoutcha!:dance:

 

[whocaresgobobcats]

If he would attack the rim like he did on that last rebound and put back, he would improve his game dramatically. He just gets scared it seems.

 

[utman47]

if hopson leaves i hope harris can give us better production that hopson did his freshman year

 

[ranradVOL]

Actually he didn't show up against the only 2 decent teams we've played this year.

1. DePaul
2. Purdue

And he was known for doing that as a freshman. Remember, we have to hold Hopson to higher standards than most because he's supposed to be Mr. 1-n-dun... ya know? I mean, he should be dominating teams like CoC and playing very well against teams like Purdue. But in 40-something games so far at UT, he's been known to sort of disappear in big games. I'll give him last year, but this year he needs to understand this is his team. Tyler Smith or no Tyler Smith, this is Scotty Hopson's team.

I don't hold him to higher standards because he was supposed to be one and done. He was a freshman last year and if you look at most freshman, they don't show up in big games. It's not his fault he had so much hype from people saying he was a one and done type player.

However, of the 6 games we've played this season he's scored 20+ in 4 of them. So, why the hate? Though I shouldn't be surprised because most UT bball "fans" are extremely negative toward this team/coach/players.

 

[Rockytoprowdy]

I understand that.

But you base potential off of performance against quality opponents.

There are alot of 6'7 guards (JP Prince) but alot of his "potential" is still riding the waves from his high school days.

If he doesn't play better against the better competition, that "potential" will go out the door. Tyler Smith can attest. He had alot of potential after transferring from Iowa, and in my opinion, he has gotten worse the last 2 years, not better. Of course he had Lofton and Smith as a sophomore to take pressure off, but once teams realize he couldn't shoot the 3 and saw that his only real shot is a pivot-move turnaround in the paint, they got better at shutting him down.

I doubt he'll get drafted. Hopson will for sure, but you can see my point.... I think his stock would be better after next year, no question about it.

I have never understood how he is considered a guard...I thought you needed to be able to dribble and shoot to be a guard. He can dunk and hit about every 3rd reverse layup and he can cherry pick to get easy baskets. Other than that, completely useless. Hopson would get manhandled in the NBA...can you imagine him switching off on Lebron or Kobe?! Oh my...

 

[MrBamSeydu]

I don't hold him to higher standards because he was supposed to be one and done. He was a freshman last year and if you look at most freshman, they don't show up in big games. It's not his fault he had so much hype from people saying he was a one and done type player.

However, of the 6 games we've played this season he's scored 20+ in 4 of them. So, why the hate? Though I shouldn't be surprised because most UT bball "fans" are extremely negative toward this team/coach/players.

You're wrong yet again.

He's scored 20+ in 3 of them. Against crap teams.

I guess you want to count his stats in exhibition games too?

I'm not being negative. I am simply saying he needs 1 more year in college. Scoring 20+ points in those types of games doesn't show off his "potential." If he wants to be a lottery pick, he needs to be scoring 20+ points just about every game. Not 3 out of 6 and busting out 9 and 4 (I think?) against Purdue and DePaul. Big players play big in big games.

 

[MrBamSeydu]

I have never understood how he is considered a guard...I thought you needed to be able to dribble and shoot to be a guard. He can dunk and hit about every 3rd reverse layup and he can cherry pick to get easy baskets. Other than that, completely useless. Hopson would get manhandled in the NBA...can you imagine him switching off on Lebron or Kobe?! Oh my...

Exactly, if he goes to the NBA after this year, they'll be paying him $5 million a year to sit on the bench for the next 2 years at least. After that, he'd probably pan out. But I'm saying right now, he just needs a year PHYSICALLY to develop and get stronger. His shot is nice and when he really, really wants to get to the rim, he can. But then again, I've seen him go up strong against better teams and either get rejected or lose it at the rim.

Oh, and he also needs to practice dribbling up court. He's bounced it off he knees more than a few times when he dribbles and looks upcourt on a break.

 

[Rockytoprowdy]

Exactly, if he goes to the NBA after this year, they'll be paying him $5 million a year to sit on the bench for the next 2 years at least. After that, he'd probably pan out. But I'm saying right now, he just needs a year PHYSICALLY to develop and get stronger. His shot is nice and when he really, really wants to get to the rim, he can. But then again, I've seen him go up strong against better teams and either get rejected or lose it at the rim.

Oh, and he also needs to practice dribbling up court. He's bounced it off he knees more than a few times when he dribbles and looks upcourt on a break.

I think that is your key word. He isn't strong enough to both draw a foul and finish around the basket. And I agree that his ball handling could also improve. Kind of like T. Smith is making it a point to show scouts that he can dribble and dish, as well as, score because he knows he isn't going to play the four at the next level. He could be a tough matchup at the point, taking smaller guys inside and scoring over them. Back to Hopson, I think the coaching staff should let him practice layups and hack the crap out of him every time to get him use to contact. Anytime he gets touched he loses the ball. It's like he does it to sell the foul or something but he needs to be able to finish.

 

[Volfan_TrappedN_KY]

Hopson dominated Florida last year IIRC in both games.

 

[ranradVOL]

You're wrong yet again.

He's scored 20+ in 3 of them. Against crap teams.

I guess you want to count his stats in exhibition games too?

I'm not being negative. I am simply saying he needs 1 more year in college. Scoring 20+ points in those types of games doesn't show off his "potential." If he wants to be a lottery pick, he needs to be scoring 20+ points just about every game. Not 3 out of 6 and busting out 9 and 4 (I think?) against Purdue and DePaul. Big players play big in big games.

In 6 games this year Hopson has scored 16,25,25,4,9,21.

He's averaging 16pts, 2asts, 4 rebs, 1 stl as a SOPHMORE.

Yet you and others continue to hate on him.

He's 6 games into the season and you start a thread talking about how he's soft and needs to come back another year. How about you let this one play out before you make an assumption?

Then again you'd have to wait a season to spew the hate and that's no fun is it.

 

[Shaun1985]

I wouldn't worry too much about Hopson. He wasn't too hot last year against these "beat up" teams either. He just had a couple of off game, it happens. I say he puts up good numbers against good competition. He's a 6'7 shooting guard that can absolutely drill the ball. Defenders, on any team, will have trouble contesting his shot. He also has the ability to get in the paint quickly.