Some hot offense in one game and clutch defense in another earned SEC freshman of the week honors for Tennessee’s Scotty Hopson.
Hopson learned Monday he was the SEC’s freshman honoree for the second time this season. The first was way back in November.
Hopson scored a career-high 21 points in a win over Mississippi State on Wednesday.
He got only seven points Sunday but had a critical blocked shot in UT’s 79-75 win at Florida.
The Gators had sliced a 16-point UT lead to 75-72 when Erving Walker got open to launch a 3-pointer with 37 seconds to play.
The 6-foot-7 Hopson lunged and got a finger on the ball to deflect the 5-7 Walker’s shot.
“He used every inch of that length,’’ UT coach Bruce Pearl said Monday.
“I was antsy when I saw Scotty lose sight of the guy who had just scored their last eight points. We were just fortunate he was able to recover.’’
LSU’s Marcus Thornton is SEC player of the week after averaging 27.5 points in wins over Florida and Kentucky.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
National Signing Day 2010
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 24
jakethevolguy writes:
Congrats, Scotty. I knew you had it in you. Now, let's take care of USC on Thursday. Go VOLS!!
huntined#565710 writes:
Scotty why not go after two in a row!!!!
crappieking writes:
Great job Scotty! Your coming around nicely Keep it up!!! I agree with VOLINCOCKCUNTRY. Huge block, probably game winner!!!
smashmouth98 writes:
nice to see Scotty playing well. We need to him to play well in order to win the SEC East. We need a big game against SC this week.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
OKEMO say
agree with huntined
go for two in a row , young scottie
hope a gamecock will try to "punk"
tyler smith, as one of gators tried to do...
fire 'em up
OKEMO hope vols are hungry for victory at scarolina
which team want victory worst?
OKEMO has spoken
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
If Scotty keeps improving, UT will keep winning.
Hate to put the pressure on, but Scotty has to have his "A" game Thurs. or we don't win.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
We need a great "team" effort to beat S. Car..
We're glad you chose Tennessee.
iowavol writes:
Nice work Scotty. Agree with earlier posts about the block being huge against the 3. Think team, play hard and focus. You guys do that and we will be okay.
volwalk writes:
Congrats, Scotty!! The shot you blocked was bigger than any three you made. You are definately coming along on the defensive side.
elizabethtonvol72 writes:
Great job Scotty! Proud to have you @ UT! Keep up the intensity on both ends of the court. Go for another SEC honor Thursday @ SC. We need this game badly!! GO VOLS!!!
bluetick writes:
Well deserved. I never miss the Fla UT game. It is always a great game. Hopson is going to be the next GREAT player at Tennessee.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Hopson got off his feet!!!!!!!!!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Dare we hope that Scotty really IS finally "getting it"? If he is, this team could still be headed for great things this season. Better late than never, I say!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
john! you're finally up. I think Hopson figured, "hey, what have I gotto lose? Might as well play." Everyone knew he had talent but maybe he didn't know. Now if we can get Maze up to potential, and Chism consistent and Smith, well he also needs to step it up Thursday. We do play best when everyone's involved...no one "carrying" the team. Solid D and efficient O. Sounds good anyway.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Shoot, buddy, I was up at 6:00AM this morning; I just spent some time on other articles before I got to this one. I also took the opportunity to fire off a nasty letter to the editor of my local newspaper about the crazily inconvenient and tardy way the local school system announces snow cancellations. My school-teacher wife provided me the ammunition but I wrote it to save her from possible retaliation by the authorities in question.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I'm very familiar with the problem.
holleyab writes:
He is a winner, bottom line.
Titan writes:
A few plays before the block, Scotty left his man wide open in the corner to try to get a steal. Brian Williams went to the corner too late and the shooter still made the shot. You could see Brian hollering at Scotty. Sorry - one barely blocked shot does not a good defender make. He should have been close enough to him not to have to lunge for the block.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
He did block the shot. It's a learning process...besides his wide eyed realization helped him jump higher.
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Also, I don't think Hopson was voted freshman of the week for that one blocked(partially) shot. It wasn't "player of the week" but "freshman of the week". He's not ready for NBA.
BigHouse_of_IceGulp writes:
None of them are NBA ready. Everybody come back next year to play with West and Hall. That would be fun!
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Can you imagine?
mocsandvolsfan writes:
I know I'm posting too much but you got me thinking about the possibilties next year with everyone back!!!
West/Maze/Tabb
Hopson/Tatum/Woolridge
Chism/Williams
Smith/Negedu
Prince/Hall
Experience(6thman)
Top Ten easily. lol
mocsandvolsfan writes:
Football is for young men who don't have any skills. The real atheletes are in basketball now get off this site helmut head! (just kidding)
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