Stokes dropping out?

#351
#351
volbeast33 said:
Yeah he had some bad moments but alot of the negative memories of scotty was bc so much was expected of him.....Bobby Maze was a good player and one of my faves but not one of the focal points of the team.

Is Martin able to fly around and sprinkle magical pixie dust over the tops of players heads and make them that much better as players. The man has not made the NCAA tournament in his coaching history yet. Scotty has been coached by numerous coaches in his playing history including one of the most successful at UT and noone has gotten him to the level you are referring I really doubt Martin would have made a huge impact on him.
Click to expand...

Maybe Martin couldn't have made him that much better, but he wasn't ready anyway. It would have been mutually beneficial for both Scotty and UT if he had returned. He would have been the senior offensive influence that we needed early in the season while McRae and Golden were figuring it out, and he would have played another year under a different coach. Additionally, somehow the light came on in January for Martin's first team, and they played excellent defense while beating Florida twice, UConn, and Vandy.

Point is, it wouldn't have hurt him. JMO.
 
#352
#352
volbeast33 said:
Yeah he had some bad moments but alot of the negative memories of scotty was bc so much was expected of him.....Bobby Maze was a good player and one of my faves but not one of the focal points of the team.

Is Martin able to fly around and sprinkle magical pixie dust over the tops of players heads and make them that much better as players. The man has not made the NCAA tournament in his coaching history yet. Scotty has been coached by numerous coaches in his playing history including one of the most successful at UT and noone has gotten him to the level you are referring I really doubt Martin would have made a huge impact on him.
Click to expand...

It could only have helped Hopson. At least CCM teaches to play hard every play. Idk what his future holds with UT, but he does hold players accountable on both ends not just on offense. I think that could have helpe Hopson out a lot as he wasn't very good on defense.
 
#353
#353
And is eligible to play immediately, only restrictions are can't go to a team Memphis will play next year right?

With Thomas and Black leaving, could get interesting if Powell and/or Iverson can't qualify. On a side not, absolutely shocked that Vegas has Memphis with 6th best odds to win it all next year, ridiculous.
Click to expand...

And now Jackson is contemplating going pro...wow.
 
#354
#354
keckjm said:
It could only have helped Hopson. At least CCM teaches to play hard every play. Idk what his future holds with UT, but he does hold players accountable on both ends not just on offense. I think that could have helpe Hopson out a lot as he wasn't very good on defense.
Click to expand...

I think he got plenty of good coaching from pearl and his teams played very hard.....At this time, CCM is not an upgrade.
 
Last edited:
#358
#358
MrVol said:
Hopson never lived up to his lofty high school rankings. He was disappointing in college.
Click to expand...

How about you be disappointed in the ranking system instead of the kid the represented the university the right why while improving each year and ultimately finishing as 16 ppg scorer.
 
#359
#359
I just read this entire thread hoping to find an answer on whether Stokes was staying or going.

What I have learned is:

Stokes may or may not be going to class.

His girlfriend lives in Knoxville

He may enter the draft he may not.

If he does enter the draft, he will be a bust and end up sharing an apartment in Israel with Scotty Hopson.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#360
#360
keckjm said:
Higgins In The Record Books
Ranks among UT’s all-time leaders for career three-point percentage (5th with 39.8), three-pointers made (4th with 209), three-point attempts (5th with 525), assists (8th with 352), steals (9th with 130), games started (3rd with 122) and games played (Tied 8th with 124).
Click to expand...

Forgive me if I don't put much stock in a career number comparison of a guy who played four years (Higgins), & one who played three years (Hopson).

Higgins had a fine career and was a model student-athlete, short of failing a math class that prevented him from playing in the tourney as a senior.

Calling him a better player than Hopson is ludicrous though. It has nothing to do with "love for Hopson" either. There is not one NBA scout/executive/coach that would agree with you.
 
Last edited:
#362
#362
whocaresgobobcats said:
How about you be disappointed in the ranking system instead of the kid the represented the university the right why while improving each year and ultimately finishing as 16 ppg scorer.
Click to expand...

Hopson was a 5 star recruit and ranked the 5th best high school player at Rivals. He averaged 12 points for his career and went undrafted. Yes, he was very disappointing. Sorry if you want to blame the scouts but he never met his potential at UT.
 
#363
#363
MrVol said:
Hopson was a 5 star recruit and ranked the 5th best high school player at Rivals. He averaged 12 points for his career and went undrafted. Yes, he was very disappointing. Sorry if you want to blame the scouts but he never met his potential at UT.
Click to expand...

It was stated Brian darden was the next tony Dorsett.....he barely played here.....maybe they were just wrong
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#365
#365
cncchris33 said:
Forgive me if I don't put much stock in a career number comparison of a guy who played four years (Higgins), & one who played three years (Hopson).

Higgins had a fine career and was a model student-athlete, short of failing a math class that prevented him from playing in the tourney as a senior, likely costing Green his job following a 1st rd loss to UNCC.

Calling him a better player than Hopson is ludicrous though. It has nothing to do with "love for Hopson" either. There is not one NBA scout/executive/coach that would agree with you.
Click to expand...

Cost Buzz a tourney appearance and probably his job. I think Higgins was ineligible for the SECT and then would have been for the NCAAT. We were on the bubble and the committee took that into consideration. I actually had a class with Jon. While he wasn't a great coach, if Buzz had different results for about 5 close games, he would have remained our coach for another year or two. Two against Louisville and two against UK and maybe one against UF. He had late leads against Louisville and UK and couldn't close the deal. It really defined his tenure.
 
Last edited:
#366
#366
VolGee4 said:
Cost Buzz a tourney appearance and probably his job. I think Higgins was ineligible for the SECT and then would have been for the NCAAT. We were on the bubble and the committee took that into consideration. I actually had a class with Jon. While he wasn't a great coach, if Buzz had different results for about 5 close games, he would have remained our coach for another year or two. Two against Louisville and two against UK and maybe one against UF. He had late leads against Louisville and UK and couldn't close the deal. It really defined his tenure.
Click to expand...

That's right. Got the years mixed up. Edited now. That Louisville series was good. Wish we played them more often.
 
Last edited:
#367
#367
cncchris33 said:
Forgive me if I don't put much stock in a career number comparison of a guy who played four years (Higgins), & one who played three years (Hopson).

Higgins had a fine career and was a model student-athlete, short of failing a math class that prevented him from playing in the tourney as a senior.

Calling him a better player than Hopson is ludicrous though. It has nothing to do with "love for Hopson" either. There is not one NBA scout/executive/coach that would agree with you.
Click to expand...

Higgins was a much better shooter, passer, and ball handler. He also hustled on defense a ton. I don't care if Hopson scored 30 a game, his defense was sub-par to piss-pour most games. He never developed his ball handling, and he failed to show up at big moments a lot of times. Argue all you want but Hopson was expected to be a great player, and he ended up just being pretty good. Had he showed more effort defensively and learned to handle the ball better he might be playing in the D-League or NBA. No one has once said he can't score, I just say he couldn't score a lot of times in big moments. He also was not a very good FT shooter for a 2 guard. McRae and Hopson are the same player really, but one big difference is McRae knows he has learn to handle the ball better and make better decisions in pressure situations if he wants to go to NBA. He'll return his senior year and put up 17-18 PPG, and if he improves his ball handling and passing skills he'll get his shot in the NBA next summer. Hopson elected to work on his game overseas; that fine, but the problem is Israel isn't France or Spain. It'll be a lot harder for him to move up the ranks of NBA teams when he doesn't play great competition overseas.
 
#368
#368
I'll also say once again that I have nothing against Hopson. If he makes it in the league I'll be cheering for a VOL just like I do for CJ and Harris. I just wish a lot of you guys would see Hopson isn't NBA ready. Some people, even though you are entitled to your opinion, have really unrealistic views on Hopson's success here. The hype carried Hopson at UT, but his talent and stats don't scream NBA material.
 
#372
#372
keckjm said:
Higgins was a much better shooter, passer, and ball handler. He also hustled on defense a ton. I don't care if Hopson scored 30 a game, his defense was sub-par to piss-pour most games. He never developed his ball handling, and he failed to show up at big moments a lot of times. Argue all you want but Hopson was expected to be a great player, and he ended up just being pretty good. Had he showed more effort defensively and learned to handle the ball better he might be playing in the D-League or NBA. No one has once said he can't score, I just say he couldn't score a lot of times in big moments. He also was not a very good FT shooter for a 2 guard. McRae and Hopson are the same player really, but one big difference is McRae knows he has learn to handle the ball better and make better decisions in pressure situations if he wants to go to NBA. He'll return his senior year and put up 17-18 PPG, and if he improves his ball handling and passing skills he'll get his shot in the NBA next summer. Hopson elected to work on his game overseas; that fine, but the problem is Israel isn't France or Spain. It'll be a lot harder for him to move up the ranks of NBA teams when he doesn't play great competition overseas.
Click to expand...

You need to make up your mind what you're arguing. I'm not arguing whether Hopson underachieved or not. I'm arguing that he was/is a better player than Higgins (which I can't believe is even an argument). You keep harping on the fact that Hopson left too early, he underachieved, he plays in a lousy foreign league, there are umpteen number of recent Tennessee players better than him, etc. In the same breath, you claim to have no personal beef with Hopson, yet you don't miss a chance to run over the guy.

I'll say it again, and its the last time I'll say it. No NBA scout/exec/coach would agree with your belief that John Higgins is a better, more talented player than Scotty Hopson.

We'll just have to agree to disagree.
 
#373
#373
keckjm said:
I'll also say once again that I have nothing against Hopson. If he makes it in the league I'll be cheering for a VOL just like I do for CJ and Harris. I just wish a lot of you guys would see Hopson isn't NBA ready. Some people, even though you are entitled to your opinion, have really unrealistic views on Hopson's success here. The hype carried Hopson at UT, but his talent and stats don't scream NBA material.
Click to expand...

You are arguing with yourself.....no one has stated he was ready for the nba
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#375
#375
There's some real hate for Scotty in this thread. Scotty was one of the most frustrating kids to ever play here I know. He used to drive me nuts too. However, those of you acting like this kid couldn't play and was a complete bust are mistaken. He was absolutely unstoppable at times during his jr year. The Pitt game and Vandy at home come to mind. He played like a lottery pick for stretches. Y'all need to quit bashing the kid.

The ONLY thing that kept him out of the nba was his handle. Him supposedly having a bad interview had zero to do with him not getting drafted. There are certified loons in the nba with lower ceilings than Hopson.

Personally, I hope he improves his handle and makes a roster.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top