Hop

[LA_Mustang]

Everyone wants to pile on him when its going bad.....well, look at these numbers in the last two games (average): 29pts, FG- 61% (19-31), 3 FG- 62% (13-21), FT- 100% (7-7), rebounds- 6.5, assist- 4.5, steals- 3, TOs- .5

I don’t care who you’re playing those are terrific numbers. I’m the most pleased about how well he’s shooting the ball and the lack of TOs. If he can shoot 45% from the field, 40% from threes and keep his assist to turnover ratio around 2-2.5:1, we should be in good shape. As I posted earlier, the WAC is wide open and we have the talent to compete. Maybe these guys just needed a few games to get comfortable with each other and Coach Tubbs.

BTW, I thought Castro was very good last night.

Let's beat Rice in H-town!

[Hoop Fan]

I guess its to be expected, but its funny how the people who whine and moan when he has a bad night don't say a thing when he has a great night. Its hard to shoot 8-11 from 3 point range by yourself in a gym, forget the opponent. 8 three pointers made was an SMU and Moody Coliseum record. I thought Chris Herren from Fresno had more a few years ago, but i guess not. Great back to back games by Hop.

Roberts and Big Ike cant get their shots to fall. Both look good shooting, so they will eventually fall, just have to keep shooting and gain confidence. Kind of like Hopkins the first few games of the season. I like the way Killen handles himself, very under control and smart. Not sure he will ever be a starter with Willingham coming next year, but I like him as a backup and team player.

[Pony_Fan]

When he does this, it obviously helps everybody. Very good night by Hopkins. Let's just hope he continues his ball control and good shooting. I think in WAC play the opponents will definitely key on him. I like Tubb's quotes in the paper about TO's and Assists.

As for piling up on him, he completely stunk until the last 2 games.

[Hoop Fan]

He did stink it up the first few games, but he had alot of good games in his two previous seasons here that earned him more benefit of the doubt than some people give him. I'm not saying it was you, but how about someone checking his career stats before making blanket statements like he can't shoot from 3 range or that he doesnt make free throws? How about observing his jump shot and seeing his form is good, misses are close and he's just a hot streak away from great results? And your right, the other teams will key on him in the WAC, but most teams already key on him. Ok State did, everybody does. Then, when no one else steps up, Hopkins starts forcing things to try to keep us in the game which usually backfires for him and the team. I said this before, but its a good example. John Lucas was Clark Kent at Baylor. He goes to Ok State and becomes Superman. Its pretty simple why. The talent Ok State has MAKES a point guard better. Its a fallacy to think its only the point guard who makes everybody else better all the time. Some of the other guys on this team need to step up and help Hopkins. If they do, he will do his share and more most nights. He usually has in his two plus years here.

[LA_Mustang]

Right you are, HF. I will not sit here and make excuses for Hop because he has struggled at times at SMU but some of the criticism has been unfair.

Again, the problem is that Hop is the only true scorer on this team and when you’re under 6 foot, like Hop, you're forced into bad looking shots and turnovers during a game, especially against good teams. Like HF said (great analogy by the way), if he was playing with the same talent as Lucas at Okie St he wouldn’t have to force shots and he could be more of a true point. If Lucas was in Hop's situation he would be forcing things and turning the ball over just like Hop. In pure talent, Hop vs Lucas is debatable. In being in a situation to succeed, no doubt it's Lucas.

The best thing we can hope for is that Roberts and Pearson continue to develop their offensive game and along with Castro, Simpson and Isham they can take some of the pressure of Hop in terms of scoring. If a couple of those guys step up, we have a shot at the WAC.

BTW, I loved these two quotes in today’s paper:

Tubbs- “I’m not looking at Bryan shooting the basketball now, my biggest concern right now is running the basketball team. I’m more impressed with Bryan having four assists and no turnovers than him scoring 32 points.”

Hop– “My game has changed since I came from Lincoln, I was more of a scorer at Lincoln, where I did it inside. High school was all dunks and showtime. Now I have to learn to run a team.”

I think Coach Tubbs is getting his message across.

[Corso]

.... Its hard to shoot 8-11 from 3 point range by yourself in a gym, forget the opponent ....

Hop was outrageous last night. There are guys who can't make 8 of 11 free throws, let alone 8 of 11 3-pointers with guys running at you (OK, on half of them). That was an amazing shooting display. He looked like a right-handed Todd Alexander out there.

.... I like the way Killen handles himself, very under control and smart. Not sure he will ever be a starter with Willingham coming next year, but I like him as a backup and team player.

Agreed - I think he's substantially better than I thought he'd be when he was signed. He might not be a pure shooter, but he looks like he has very good mechanics on his jumper, and he plays with more poise than most freshmen do. Seems to understand team/positional defense, and he can man up on a guy pretty tight. He's been very impressive.

[Corso]

And if Hop's not the next Pony of the Week, something's seriously wrong!

[jtstang]

There are guys who can't make 8 of 11 free throws...

I just wish they weren't all on our team.

[jtstang]

But hey, a win's a win....

[BrianTinBigD]

I am willing to eat a little crow. However, I will wait until after the Rice and Tulsa games are done. Then I can have it with Black Eyed Peas if necessary.

[Hoop Fan]

I'm not serving any crow. Hopkins is not perfect, and just because he had a few good games doesn't mean he will stay hot after the break at Rice. I will say this, everytime the guy hoists a jump shot I expect that it has a very good chance to go in, that was the case during his slump too. I can't say that about very many SMU players in recent years, maybe Stephen Woods and Jay Poerner. In fact, there is really no one else on the roster right now that when they take a shot I expect them to drain it (other than a Castro flip layup against smaller defenders). That says alot about this team and why Hopkins forces things at times and why we play some ugly games on the road.

[Charleston Pony]

bottom linein the whole BHop discussion is that a point guard should make everyone around him better...and a point guard looks great when he has great players around him. A big part of BHop's problems (aside from injuries) is that he is our best player and doesn't have quite the supporting cast we'd all like him to have.

I do agree with coach Tubbs' comment that it's great to see the 4 assists: 1 turnover. Now that's the kind of ratio I like to see from the PG. I'd love to see BHop score only 15-20 ppg instead of 32 and dish out 10 assists against only 1-2 turnovers. When that happens, we will all be talking about how much better Simpson, Castro, Isham, Pearson & Roberts are playing.

[jtstang]

bottom linein the whole BHop discussion is that a point guard should make everyone around him better...and a point guard looks great when he has great players around him. A big part of BHop's problems (aside from injuries) is that he is our best player and doesn't have quite the supporting cast we'd all like him to have.

I do agree with coach Tubbs' comment that it's great to see the 4 assists: 1 turnover. Now that's the kind of ratio I like to see from the PG. I'd love to see BHop score only 15-20 ppg instead of 32 and dish out 10 assists against only 1-2 turnovers. When that happens, we will all be talking about how much better Simpson, Castro, Isham, Pearson & Roberts are playing.

You nailed it. Where's a Butch Moore when you need him? I actually feel a little sorry for Hopkins--many have called him a bust, but it is precisely for the reasons you mention taht he has not excelled as a point guard. Point guards, with very few exceptions, aren't supposed to carry the team.

[StangEsq]

You can't call it a streak until he does it against good competition... and Baylor and Pine Bluff can hardly be classified as that.

It's encourging, but you can't say he's out of the slump until he's making plays against some quality defenders.

[LA_Mustang]

StangEsq, you just don’t get it. If you were a head coach playing against SMU what would your #1 priority be? Very simple, stop Bryan Hopkins.....do that and you win. It’s not like Hop is 6’9” and can get under the basket and demand the ball, he’s a 6’0” point guard who is this team’s only true scorer. It’s ridiculous and very unfair for anyone to say- let’s see him do something against better competition. Come on, we’re not playing against high school coaches here. We’re talking about the likes of Eddie Sutton and Bob Knight. You think those coaching legends had any trouble coming up with a game plan to stop our one true scorer, who’s a 6’0” PG?? And you don’t think Willis Wilson is preparing his guys for us the same way?? So after we lose to Rice by 20 and Hop shoots 4-15 FG and has 6 TOs, you can come on here and say how bad he is and how we wasted two scholarships on him.

Bottom line, we are VERY lucky Bryan chose to come to SMU but until someone else steps up, he and this team will continue to struggle against the better teams.