Scotty Hopson's homecoming didn't go as planned Saturday in Rupp Arena.
The Tennessee freshman shooting guard from Hopkinsville, Ky., did his part for the Vols, but the team faltered around him in a 77-58 loss to Kentucky.
Hopson said when he signed with Tennessee he planned on playing for championships. But at 16-10 and 7-5 in the SEC, the Vols are in danger of not making the NCAA tournament for the first time in Bruce Pearl's four-year tenure as head coach.
UT plays host to Mississippi State - the team Hopson originally committed to - at 9 p.m. Wednesday in a game Pearl said the Vols must win to make the NCAA tournament.
Most all of Pearl's post-game comments Saturday were negative, but he did point out Hopson's fine play.
"I thought Scotty competed,'' Pearl said. "Scotty was one of those guys who did keep his poise. He certainly belonged out there.''
So Pearl kept Hopson out there, for 30 minutes, and Hopson led the team with 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting.
"Scotty's really growing as a player,'' Pearl said. "He's a terrific person and a terrific young man, and he works really hard.
"As he gets stronger, he's going to be special.''
But more than points and praise, Hopson wants victories.
"We were trying to execute, but guys had mental lapses and we really didn't know what to do,'' Hopson said, trying to explain the Vols' slow start. "Sometimes, guys will put their heads down and we don't have good body language.
"We've got to keep our heads up and stay motivated.''
Tough On Tyler: UT junior captain Tyler Smith was particularly glum after the game.
Smith was 1-for-11 for six points - his lowest output since Kentucky held him to five points last season.
"Tyler was really ready to play, and Tyler did not quit,'' Pearl said. "Obviously, he did not play effectively.
"Tyler shot so well in the pregame leading up to the game, but he was reluctant to pull the trigger.''
Smith was 0-for-4 from 3-point range while Wayne Chism was 1-for-7.
Pearl said it was in the gameplan for both to shoot the 3-ball.
"I felt like Tyler and Wayne each needed to make two or three 3s for us to have a chance to win,'' Pearl said.
Smith had at least five other opportunities to take an open 3-point shot, but he chose to jab-step, pump-fake, and drive to the basket.
Once Smith drove, the Wildcats swarmed him, as most opponents have this season.
Four Assists: Pearl was upset the Vols only had four assists, but a closer look at the numbers explains why.
Of the Vols' 20 baskets, 15 were second-chance points.
Tennessee played Kentucky even in the paint, as each team scored 32 points.
The Vols also forced 15 turnovers while committing 13.
Both teams scored 14 points from the free-throw line.
The difference? Shooting.
UT's only points outside the paint came on 3-pointers, where it was 4-for-24 (.167).
Kentucky, meanwhile, made 12 baskets outside of the paint and was 7-of -17 (.412) beyond the 3-point arc.
Worth Noting: Kentucky's reserves outscored Tennessee's 24-15, marking only the third time this season the Vols' bench has been outscored by the opposition.
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Comments » 34
MikeInTN writes:
We need guard play in the worst way!!!
TommyJack writes:
Is Daniel West in school?
gillblog writes:
Re: Chism's erratic play.
I wonder about this guy's health. Several times this year I have seen him standing at the foul line or on the sidelines breathing heavily when the previous plays have not been that strenuous and none of the other players on the court even look winded. I've read that he does have asthma and his nickname is 'wheezie' (sp?) so is there a physical cause for what we have observed about his on-again off-again production?
eleven99ers writes:
Recruit a shooter.
ect1983 writes:
Get a Life you pathetic maladjusted loser.
TommyJack writes:
ZZ and "friend" in regular gator attire.
http://ymswwc.com/2007/09/13/anatomy-...
VAvolfanRON writes:
Hey, jerks are at all schools....we just have the pleasure of having a couple of gator fans joining us.....remember, we have Gen Watermelon
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
Could someone at the Athletic Department please tell Chism he in NOT a friggin point guard.
VAvolfanRON writes:
while average BB players get a good education unlike the junior scholarship at Memphis State...(UM is Univ of Michagan)
lol
gillblog writes:
Reluctantly, and as a UT alum who loves his alma mater but suffers the misfortune of living in Memphis, I have to say that Memphis University and it's population is a rare bright spot in this otherwise backward and depressing city.
Nonetheless; I gather from the above responses that no one here knows about Wayne Chism's health as it relates to the consistancy of his performance?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Scotty will be great. He has all the tools. If anything, he just needs to work VERY hard in the offseason on his drives, his strength, and his shooting. In all honesty, he needs to skip the Rocky Top League and just practice.
As for Tyler...it is true, he is better as the 'glue' guy than as the featured creature. WE are really better with JP or Bobby drivng and setting up Tyler than we are with Tyler driving.
Still, we just can't shoot the rock. This sucks not to make the tourney. Even once and done is better than NOT making it.
VolunteerMan writes:
Half? More like 95%.
Let's get this ship righted and heading towards the tourney, boys.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
gatorzz...
you have a good sense of humor and it's appreciated. I think Florida will clean our clocks down there, the fandom will take out their hatred of Kiffin on men's bball team...and we are not very poised any more.
The confidence 'shell' has been cracked this year with the many close loses...games Jajuan and Chris used to win for us. You know how that goes, once it is gone, it's hard to get back.
Are you a Brave's fan?? Perfect example. The franchise has gone down to the point of where it was pre 1991...a loser mentality. That is what happens when the 'winner' shield is gone.
huntined#565710 writes:
GATORZZ, Calathes has sorta carried the Gators this year..We just don't seem to have that kind of player this year..He is their GO-TO GUY.. AND NOT SURE WE HAVE ONE
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
kentucky just shot and made yet another 3....MONEY!!!!!
huntined#565710 writes:
HODGE is from my area..Glad to see him get MOST WINS !!
huntined#565710 writes:
MELBOURNE
Stokes44yrs writes:
Derrick Rose got out of Memphis as fast as he could run.
Now seriously, Vols we gotta get it together! Coach P. I can understand why you wanted some early 3's, but we're not goona win on 3 pointers. Defense 1st. At least switch Prince out at point more with Maze to work it inside. I'm not saying take Maze out. Try screens and some nice picks for Prince or Bobby either one. Something besides passing around the top of the key. Bring Chism out for a screen or two. Let Hopson shoot off a screen or drive off a pick. L I'm no coach but I can see we need more movement on offense.
Any movement on defense would be an improvement for some players.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I don't follow it so closely any more. when I lived in the south, I had the games on the radio. I used to watch re-runs of the braves games while doing my college homework late at night.
The game has changed, it isn't as fun as it used to be. Sometimes I feel that way about college bball:
-while watching the UK game, I could not but help seeing the ATROCIOUS fouling going on inside. But, since it was at UK, no calls. A f'rinstance, the JP Prince walk; hell, he had the ball was plantedk, and a UK player bowled him over.
Yes, rubb sucks that way, but you'll see it all over. The game has gotten really ragged and out of hand, IMHO.
It's a shame, college bball and football have always been my favorites.
volnknox writes:
They just don't have it this year. I haven't been more frustrated at a team than I have with this one. They seem like they have the mentatlity (spelling ?) that every other team is just going to give them the game. Whats the deal with their offense consist of two players passing back and forth at the top of the key, its like their playing hot potatoe, " I don't want it, you take it"
KENVOL writes:
You forgot to say that Alcorn State will beat them also. This is a BAD TEAM. Hope for better next year. If not better next year start looking for a coach.
ETNTigerFan writes:
Vols have a tough stretch ahead too. Ya'll really need a true shooter. Kentucky did what teams will continue to do against Tennesse. Drop back and dare the Vols to beat them from three point range. I think a win over Florida and Alabama should get you guys in the tourney. SC could be tough in Columia.
Stokes44yrs writes:
We're through this year if we can't win out! NIT probably.
If we do win out we'd have to win a couple in the SEC tourney. I'd love to see this team decide to play.
Volumnus writes:
Does the name Skylar McBee ring a bell???
Volumnus writes:
It is the overiding symptom of "Staritus". He has had 4 role players setting him up all of his career. Now he expected to run the plays, and setup other players as part of a scheme. This is uncharted territory for he and some of the other players. The thought process is that if you get all blue chippers and mould them into a team then you are the best! But if they can't make the mental leap, have never had to play defense, and still can't check the ego at the door, then yes, they lose their focus. Tatum, Hopson and Negedu are all guilty of this. Blue Chippers are only as good as the blue collar players with them.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
But, Doc, didn't you see the part about all our points off offensive rebounds? Shooting three-pointers still causes the floor to be more spread out, making it easier to get offensive rebounds. If we are unwilling or unable to run an offense where we can get some better shots, our best chance seems to be just to chuck it up and then go get it, sad as that sounds(;-P)!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
That could very well be part of his problem. We may not see it all the time, but I have a feeling he cares deeply about playing well. He may be putting extra stress on himself to lead the team and that may very well aggravate his asthma, not that I am an expert on it. In any case, I would rather look for some cause like that than merely accusing him of having no heart like too many on here have. I admit I have been guilty of that on occasion myself.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Agree about Scotty's potential. I wish he would also add a pull-up jumper. He decides he is going all the way too far out, so he is gliding into his close-in shots and all too often into the defenders. Just one more dribble on those drives would slow him down enough to DECIDE when to go all the way and when to pull STRAIGHT up rather than drifting. He could be another Rip Hamilton if he would be just a BIT more deliberate with his moves. Hopefully, he will realize this as he matures. I just hope he learns it in time to help US.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
As a general rule, I don't like to criticize refs, but it seemed at times, and not just in the UK game, that the refs were looking for all the calls they COULD make against UT and for ways NOT to call stuff against UK. As a fan, I know I may be prejudiced, but as a former coach, it just looks like that to me sometimes. As I mentioned on an earlier thread, the way JP and Brian in particular react to calls probably hurts them with the refs; they don't really draw much sympathy when they cry ALL the time. Of course, right now I need to get my glasses changed, for real(;-P)!
Orangeblood13 writes:
have to say that I thought Hops would be better, but true that DW would have helped atleast us to be 2 deep at PG. Maze can't do much looks like to me. Start of the year, he was averaging 7 or 8 assists a game, but now he seems to want to pull up and not fill the lanes.
But the biggest difference is our press. That's defence. And no one wants to do that effectively. Florida game was to me the most complete game of the year and eveyone came ready to play.
Coach can fix em, but right now I think we are in trouble due to basketball IQ.
Don't look like recruiting is really going to help either, so kinda scary if BP doesn't chew some you know what.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Negedu is the LEAST guilty of this as any of them. He was very much a "late-bloomer" as far as national attention is concerned. What has he done or not done that makes you think him guilty of "staritus"? He is one of the few to bring the energy every time he is on the floor, which is not often and not for long enough, IMHO.
Stokes44yrs writes:
We hit our perimeter shots against Florida. We played ok defense. We won.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Agree. Woolridge is the kind of player they had in mind when freshmen were not eligible to play on the varsity. Good potential, but not nearly ready for "prime-time". Playing a full slate of freshman or JV games would have done him a world of good.
Volumnus writes:
You have a good point, perhaps the thing that makes me say that is his mindset with his lack of playing time. He drives or shoots when he should pass to an open man with a higher percentage shot. Lack of playing time on an ego ridden team will do that to a good player. I agree he has brought energy, he should play more, if he can be coached to make better decisions.
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