Toppin on facing Hopkins
- Thread starter akaukswoosh
- Start date
Toppin is our best or 2nd best defender…maybe Wallace is better. But Oscar and Reeves are not close to Toppin and Livingston is sort of in the middle IMO
I think our biggest issue is how we defend as a team is not good many games. How we switch , how we play like and roll , do we dig back on penetrations and recover to three point line, etc.
So Toppin iso should be fine on hopkins but putting him in picks and switches is where we break down (and good offensive teams stress defense that way)
I think our biggest issue is how we defend as a team is not good many games. How we switch , how we play like and roll , do we dig back on penetrations and recover to three point line, etc.
So Toppin iso should be fine on hopkins but putting him in picks and switches is where we break down (and good offensive teams stress defense that way)
You've got to be kidding? Toppin is worse than Oscar on defense. Toppin couldn't beat out Brooks because of his defense. And Brooks couldn't guard either. Hopkins couldn't beat out Brooks or Toppin.
As far as guarding his man Oscar and Toppin are about equal. But Oscar does get defensive rebounds every game.
Reves can't guard. Livingston guards like a freshman. Wallace is our only defender and he's hurt.
You are living in a fantasy world where Toppin is worse than Oscar
Toppin should be one of our best defenders but he isn't. It's all emotional/mental issues he battles. Plus he lacks toughness. This will be a tough matchup. Livingston will be out better bet on defense
At least Oscar's issues are because of physical limitations. Definitely not the case for toppin
At least Oscar's issues are because of physical limitations. Definitely not the case for toppin
Oscar needs to get the elbows going early and often
Coach should have used the cupcakes to develop UGO so when they get to the rim they get rejected. Same with developing Thiero.
Thiero might be our next best defender after Wallace. Gambles a bit too much though.
Toppin has a bit of Poythress in him. Absolutely all of the physical gifts, but never seem to be able to match it with the mental intensity.
He asked to come out of the game in the home loss to Vandy bill. He asked to come out. Because he was being coached/criticized/things weren’t going well
Now he’s our Captain and best defender??? This is not reality.
Now he’s our Captain and best defender??? This is not reality.
He's not but if he has a double-double scoring and rebounding, we win. I'll take that.
Yep. As long as he doesn’t disappear and pout and plays solid and within himself and we should be good.
I agree with this, but, Thiero doesn’t get enough time to qualify, IMO. Toppin isn’t a good defensive player, although, he has all the ingredients to be a lockdown type guy. But, he IS our 2nd best defensive player by default. At least, among the guys who actually see the floor. UGO would be in the discussion, too, if he ever played. After Wallace, we just don’t have much defense. Which is another reason that it’s maddening to me that we rarely play zone defenses. Just another example of trying to fit square pegs into round holes instead of adapting your philosophy to fit the players’ strengths/weaknesses.
Absolutely a travesty that Cal didn't bring this big kid along.
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When Toppin wants to he can defend. He neutralized Black in the game at Arkansas. Black killed us in the game at Rupp, but Toppin made life hard for him in the second matchup
I'd give Wallace the edge on Jacob due to his uncanny instincts and ability to read and anticipate plays. He would be an absolutely GREAT defender if he had a little more quickness, struggles a bit against the quick guys.
Jacob is just missing a little bit of Wallaces toughness and physicality to be great himself. But his natural athletic ability helps him recover quickly when beat.
He probably is. I was just talking starters. But Thiero is a good defender.
No it doesn't. He cannot guard. He will get the occasional highlight block from off the ball. But he cannot guard. He might have the ability to recover but if he does he doesn't use it. You can drive right past him, if he doesn't grab then all the man has to do is jump stop and pump fake, Toppin goes flying by. Toppin is the lowest BBIQ guy on a low BBIQ team.
OUtside of Wallace who is then? Sit back and wait for this well thought out response.
Name a PF that ate us up offensively?
Vandy - Wright had 18...solid game
Arkansa - Black had 14 and a terrible shooting game
Tennessee - Niakamoua had 6 pts
Texas AM - Coleman isa big kid and had 10 pts/6 boards
Miss st - DJ Jeffries 3pts
Alabama -Clowney had 8 pts
About the only game Toppin was torched was UCLA and Vazquez lit it up and to a degree the Vandy game the Wright kid gave him fits.
When we struggle defensively....it's Oscar can't guard pick and rolls, Oscar gets scored on due to not a shot block threat or it's fast gaurds we can't stay in front of. None of which are Toppin mainly.
Now we needed to play a ton more zone but that is on Mr Genius...Calipari.
So you honestly are going to argue
Oscar
Reeves
Livingston
Frederick
Are all better defenders? Seriously.
The rest of team hardly matters as they don't play.
It’s crazy to think us winning this game depends mainly on stopping a guy that Cow didn’t think was good enough to play.
Gotta laugh about it lol
Gotta laugh about it lol
It doesn't matter who guards Hopkins, they'll foul in in about 5 minutes. UK might as well just not guard Hopkins at all.
This is where a guy like Livingston could really thrive in that Liggins role ... become the lock-down, star defender with those natural, God-given athleticism and length. Plus, we need more from Toppin on offense. But I suspect Toppin will guard Hopkins.
Yeah he is a big dude ok. Glad he finally got into shape.
Likewise our forwards should be able to get Hopkins into foul trouble.
Toppin been getting killed all year on defense. Please tell us what he’s done defensively that impresses you.
We just need to play solid defense to kill some shot clock and hope they don't hit dagger threes from 30 ft like Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt got us like four or five times were we played really really good defense, we were solid, and they still hit shots.
As I've been predicted in other threads I believe the reffs will blow the whistle for us and we'll have a nice lead at halftime.
If Bryce Hopkins gets two fouls they're done
Vanderbilt got us like four or five times were we played really really good defense, we were solid, and they still hit shots.
As I've been predicted in other threads I believe the reffs will blow the whistle for us and we'll have a nice lead at halftime.
If Bryce Hopkins gets two fouls they're done
