Lester Hudson is on every NBA draft board, he scores from most anywhere on the court in almost every way imaginable.
If the mean streets of Memphis couldn't scare him in his youth, Thompson-Boling Arena certainly won't intimidate him in his manhood.
Tennessee's young basketball team has a one-of-a-kind challenge on its hands tonight against the 24-year-old Hudson and UT Martin.
The Vols will put their 33-game homecourt win streak on the line when they tip off against the Skyhawks at 7 p.m. (TV: SportSouth). Approximately 2,000 tickets remain for the game.
Hudson, one of 50 preseason candidates for the Wooden Award, might be worth watching for the price of admission.
Hudson is a walking, talking Hoop Dream. He left Memphis' Central High School without a diploma, fell short of graduating from Southwest Tennessee Community College and needed financial aid to pay his way for a year at UT Martin before being placed on scholarship.
And yet, here he is, leading a resurgent mid-major team and on the brink of an NBA career.
"He's just a great player,'' Vols coach Bruce Pearl said. "He averaged 36 points against Memphis and Vanderbilt last year, so he has the green light, and then some.''
"Then some" would include the 6-foot-2 Hudson recording the first quadruple-double in NCAA history last season with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 steals in a 116-74 win over Division II Central Baptist College.
"I don't care who he did it against,'' UT point guard Bobby Maze said, "that's something amazing.''
Vols' freshman Scotty Hopson, one of many charged with trying to guard Hudson tonight, shook his head when asked if he'd seen film of Hudson.
"Yeah, I did, and he's something else,'' said Hopson, who was named SEC Freshman of the Week. "The way he can move ... he's crafty.''
Those who aren't up on their college basketball knowledge might be quick to dismiss UT-Martin as a threat, but Pearl knows better.
The Skyhawks are picked to finish second in the Ohio Valley Conference and have scored a 121-56 victory over Maryville (Missouri).
Pearl thinks so much of the Skyhawks - and so little of the Vols' 114-75 win over Chattanooga - that he altered his pregame preparation.
"We normally watch the (previous) game; we did not watch the Chattanooga game,'' Pearl said, "we went right into Martin.''
In addition to Hudson, the Skyhawks feature last season's OVC freshman of the year, Marquis Weddle.
"He hit four or more treys (3-point baskets) in eight games last year,'' Pearl said. "Obviously, those two guys (Weddle and Hudson) will be the focal point.
"Martin is more VMI-like; they will spread us out.''
Virginia Military Institute stunned Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Saturday night playing the same style the Skyhawks will use against the Vols.
But Pearl doesn't plan on slowing down the tempo; if anything, UT might go fast forward.
"We'll probably switch up five or six guys on (Hudson), and try to wear him down,'' Hopson said. "I'm excited to get to play against him. Anytime you can play against the best, you want to check him. He'll come at me, and I'll go at him.''
Pearl wasn't ready to announce a starting lineup, but he was ready to say the Vols will go 10-deep in the rotation.
Curious Vote: The Vols picked up 21 votes in the AP poll after their 114-75 win over Chattanooga, but lost six votes in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
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Comments » 33
beachvol1 writes:
Hudson is an unbelievable shooter....much better than Curry at Davidson and that is saying something....just doesn't have enough supporting cast....
bcbobcat82 writes:
COME ON HUDSON!!! MEET SOME REAL MEN!!
Colliervol writes:
Lester is the real deal. Very entertaining player.
1manningfan writes:
is the game on tuesday at 7:00 or tonight? thanks
tnqball writes:
We can preview the column that will be in the Sentinel tomorrow. The game is tomorrow.
PureOrange writes:
Hope our men come in with more passion than our Ladies did tonight. One player came in and destroyed them. Of course, our team was in the dressing room and some other gals came out on the floor in UT uniforms. Even Pat was absent. I do not believe I can take both teams not giving the effort or wanting to win.
newtonrail writes:
Butch, what does tyoe of performance mean? If you can be so picky, thought I would, even if you are possibly kidding.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
Be funny if UT Martin beat us wouldn't it? Looks like this guy is worth watching now doesn't it! Too bad about Virginia wasn't it.
tuckepk writes:
You thought .....? Like Moe said to Curly, every time you think, you weaken the nation.
richvol writes:
The reason UT dropped in the coaches poll is due to jealousy from the voting coaches like Stallings at Vandy and Calipari at Memphis.
They hate to play against his unconventional style and are tired of losing to him...kind of like the SEC football coaches would end up feeling about Mike Leach.
mattlock writes:
So what now, you cheer for the men to lose because you're unhappy about Fulmer leaving? nice. . .shows a lot of that class you've been talking about.
jasonn1970 writes:
I'm guessing we'll get to see Tabb check him for a little while tonight. And maybe see if he can be the backup point guard.
armyvol544 writes:
Smokey is the one that needs our help. He is behind. Go to http://www.capitalonebowl.com/vote/main and vote for him.
Volunatic writes:
A lot of folks, myself included, think of ALL UT athletes as "Vols", and root for them.
Volunatic writes:
Do you like Fulmer more than you like UT?
wagee12 writes:
From West Tennessee:
This guy at UTM is the real deal, word was he would have been a first round pick in NBA draft last year, but came back in order to try and get in among the lottery choices next spring. If you are in Knoxville, go see this guy, he is incredible!
THE_VOL writes:
Folks - it's UT-MARTIN for cripes sake!!! Okay so Hudson can put up some numbers. All that got them was a 16-15 record a year ago in a bad league with blowout losses to every major team they played - except Vandy of course. But I did say major didn't I?? This game is only about whether TN can display the discipline and maturity to stay focused and play well against a vastly inferior opponent. If they do it's a 30+ pt game. If they don't it's still a 20+ pt game. I'm willing to wager large that the Vols win by more than Hudson scores! Who's next???
98reax writes:
jh43, I'm not listening when you say Pat was not into the game. How dare you make such an intimation! You made the same ignorant statement on the women's board. Pat has coached a few teams and has been fairly successful, wouldn't you agree? So you have the audacity to THINK she was not totally into that game. What a chump you are to think Pat was not holding back the glare and the shouting in-your-face emotion she no doubt is displaying in practice today. I wish your arrogant self could be there on the receiving end of her admonitions today. You would surely change your tune as you change your tidy whities. Pat knows how she must handle these fragile freshmen. You have no clue.
Forgive my display of emotion but you might consider adding 'IMO' after such comments as you've made to be the truth of the matter. That's just wrong.
thatsMemphis writes:
Good luck with Lester Hudson, he is all that has been said and more. I watched him single-handedly beat a team of pro's in a charity event last spring. Dude can shoot!
volchiq writes:
Of course UT-Knoxville should win, but I think that it is pretty amazing that UT-Martin has a player that is this good.
ESPN did a story on UT-Martin a couple of years ago. UT-Martin had at that time (and still might for all I know) the smallest operational budget of any Division I school. I am pretty proud to say that I was a Skyhawk for 3 years until I had to transfer to complete my degree.
Go Skyhawks! Give them your best effort, keep it close enough to give you a little credibility, but ultimately you will have to bow down to your big brother Bruce Pearl! Go Vols!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Yeah, this may be like the games we had back in the day when LSU had Pistol Pete; he may have gotten 30+ but we still usually won by 20+. I'm looking forward to seeing him, though.
blitzshoot writes:
Leave the neighbors' house cat alone.
cobbwebb writes:
do all Gators wear those funny looking hairdos like calathes?
cobbwebb writes:
in all seriousness gatorzz, whats the scoop on jai lucas? where do you think he will end up transferring to?
TDTN writes:
Anybody know what channel the game is on on Comcast?
TDTN writes:
The game is supposed to be on sportssouth but there is a football game on now. Anybody know the channel number for comcast?
GahLee writes:
What a handful he has been..lol. He is a very good player, just to lazy ( or dumb ) to maintain good grades...oh well, I'm really liking this team. Was a little afraid at first to see what we would have, and how we would play, but as usual Pearl has his boys ready to go.
Colliervol writes:
Good player but UT (and especially Maze) made him work for everything he got. Ended up with 20 but it wasn't easy.
If Maze can do that to Hudson, he can do it to anybody. It will be interesting to see him go against that kid from Alabama (whose name slips my mind right now). Before his injury, he was top notch as well. Might have been the best point guard in the conference two years ago.
mbavol writes:
Are you talking about Ronald Steele? It seems like he has been hurt forever. I thought he had graduated. Maze does look impressive. Definitely makes you see why Pearl made the change at the end of last season. Guess he knew what the impact of real point play would have on this team. Funny how many people were laying into him on that decision.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
It REALLY pains me to agree with you on this, but I think they look kinda dippy, too. But WTF do I know; I'm just an old fogey stick-in-the-mud. I'm still not used to "shorts" that have now reached AT LEAST mid-calf level.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good post; I'm sure CBP has noticed many of the same things. No question they weren't quite as pumped against UTM as they were against UTC. Our own 3-pt shooting wasn't very good either.
drewgizzle writes:
I hate it when a team relies on one player to do all the scoring. That's not what a teams about!!
askUncleMaze writes:
I tried to tell yall a long time ago... Everyone thought CBP was CRAZY for going after B.MAZE. B.Maze is just getting warmed up... Sit back & relax and get your POPCORN ready....
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