Lithuania Anyone?

[OldPony]

I will keep posting my BS as you put it until he shows something. You can tell what his TO/assist ratio is from a box score and you can tell shooting percentage, steals and some other things. A 40 in vertical doesn't show up unless you use it to do something. Being the best high school player in the world dosn't show up in college games or stats. It is the opinion of a lot of people-sportswriters included- that he will be great. Before I put someone in that category though, I would like to see it. I was excited as hell about him signing with SMU and continue to have hope.
I accept that he was hurt last year. Are you saying that he still is ? Many a great potential has been ended with injuries and I hope that isn't the case here. No one wants to see BHop succeed more than I do.
I wish I could see BHop play to see what you guys see but the only opportunities I have is when they are on TV which isn't much. He was hurt last year so when I did see him he wasn't able to perform at a very high level. I listen to most every game and follow the Ponies as closely as anyone can from long distance. I heard Q putting the team on his back last year with solid help from Simpson and I think they were the stars of the team last year. I guess I just can't be the type of fan that wants to see some proof of players abilities and be universally admired by the posters here. As much as that hurts, I'll get through it.

[Hoop Fan]

OP, I don't know if he is still injured or what but the Hopkins I saw against on Sat still doesn't have the speed and explosion that I saw in high school. If it frustrates you to have a high school star who is not performing up to the hype as a freshman or soph, maybe its better if you just assume he will never get over his injuries so then you wont be disappointed. I don't know if he will ever be the same or not at this point, but he is still a pretty good player. He and Simpson are our go to guys.

[LA_Mustang]

OP, I understand your frustration. It just seems to me that you have been really unreasonable with your expectations from Hop to this point. Unfortunately, with his size and the type of game he plays he has to be near 100% to have the impact that all of his hype would suggest. His major strengths are defensive quickness, the ability to blow by people with the ball, and major hops, all of which were and likely still are being affected by injuries. Last year his TOs were so high and shooting % so low because he was trying to do the things he could pull of when healthy but couldn’t with the injuries.

I don’t know Bryan personally so I really have no way of knowing if he is fully recovered. Either way, I know enough about basketball and his game that at 100% he is the class of the WAC, along with Snyder of Nevada. Only time will tell if and when he fully recovers, and if that times comes I seriously doubt there has ever been a more exciting and talented player to play for SMU.

[OldPony]

Hoop & LA- I guess it is just the frustration that is bothering me and i hope the guy gets back to 100%. It seems to me though that if he isn't 100% then we may need to change who our go-to guys are. Isham has always impressed me with his athleic abilities and shooting. Maybe our game ought to be for BHop to try to get the ball into Simpson and screen for Isham to help get him open. The in-out game only works when the outside shooters can make the three. We may have to do a better job screening for Miller for this team to go anywhere. BHop must stay relatively healthy because we don't have a lot of strength at point otherwise. I would love to see him get well.

[braginator]

Maybe we can try and get both Hopkins' on the court at the same time. Ryan or whatever the other one's name is deserves more than one second per game (that's about what he averaged last year). Two Hopkins' on one floor may confuse our opponents, and maybe they will focus their defense on the wrong one, but that probably won't happen... :no:

<small>[ 11-12-2003, 11:09 AM: Message edited by: braginator ]</small>

[OldPony]

I like the idea of confusing people but who should have sat on the bench more to give Ryan more time? Q? BHop? Isham? I, personally, would like to see all of our bench push for starting jobs and, therefore, get more time. It appears that we have an excellent batlle from the big guys this year and some depth there for a change- now if we can get the little guys to push the starters.

[KnuckleStang]

Wouldn't confuse anybody, but I'd like to see ole Aitkenhead in there some more.

[braginator]

I was joking. We all know there is no place for the other Hopkins out there on the floor. :p

[ponyboy]

Bryan Hopkins is the most talented player to suit up for SMU. Better than Sasser. Better than Quinton Ross. Better than Ira Terrell. Better than Jim Krebs. You'll see.

[ponyboy]

Ever.

[Stallion]

that maybe true but he ain't in the Top 50 players right now and for you to suggest he is perhaps the greatest player is silly and shows a lack of understanding that this once a basketball powerhouse.

[StangEsq]

Originally posted by ponyboy:
Ever.

Better than Koncak?

[Pony_Fan]

Hit the brakes there PonyBoy. All hype, no game. Yes, I did see him in HS and he was greatness but whether he is hurt or whatever he better produce this year which to me is the all around game (assists/defense) and not scoring...making everyone else better.

<small>[ 11-12-2003, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: Pony_Fan ]</small>