Hopkins scored 27 points and got 5 rebounds vs the 4th ranked team in the nation, but he wasn’t good enough for Cal.
Hopkins vs UCONN
- Thread starter zannmann
- Start date
Well, it would’ve helped if Cal would’ve allowed him to play his natural position here instead of trying to force him into the wrong spot.
How many 4s in the country are having a better season than Hopkins? Kid is averaging a near double double. Becoming a legit star.
How many 4s in the country are having a better season than Hopkins? Kid is averaging a near double double. Becoming a legit star.
Damn! The more this goes on the more pissed off I get! Cal fvcked up royally with Hopkins. Kid is a stud.
More proof that Cal is not that good of a coach.
While obviously I think cal blew it with Hopkins, some of the 1 on 1 moves he's doing to people this season are so confusing to me. He couldn't drive on anyone guarding him without turning it over last season, regardless of what position was guarding him.
Ouch! It was clear he had skills. Too bad he didn't survive Cal's break'em down, build'em back up, my way or the highway boot camp.
Hopkins didnt get this good overnight, he had it last year. Makes you wonder what our ten million dollar man was thinking or his abilty to judge talent and use it in the right manner. So that leads to the question what are we missing out on this year with our high IQ basketball coach.
Was never left in the game long enough to play comfortably. Very short leash with CCC which is typical. Cal plays his favorites and runs others off. Was very sad to see Bryce go.
The short leash thing really is the killer here. Does Cal's offense squeeze the most out of Hopkins? Probably not. But I think Hopkins would be fine IF he get the proper chance here.
Exactly. We're always looking for that guy that can get buckets when needed. Hopkins is built that way and if allowed to develop those skills could have been that guy for us.
He is using his quickness against 4s this year versus last year playing the perimeter with 3s on him.
And, aside from his ability to get buckets, it turns out that he’s also an elite rebounder averaging 9.3 boards per game this year.
He’s exactly the kind of skilled versatile 4 that we’ve been desperately needing and missing this year. But he didn’t get fair chance to show that last year, because Cal flat out refused to allow him to play the 4 spot.
A head scratcher for sure. I liked Hopkins. It’s possible Hopkins pushed the transfer more than Kentucky. Who knows.
Thiero. Ugonna.
That's because guys play tight under Cal especially if they know they aren't one of his favorites. I'm sure he has improved some as well but Cal has a way of tearing down some guys confidence. They know when they get in the game that Cal will pull them for certain types of mistakes. Part of the reason I have been so impressed with Thiero is he has played so well with the little minutes he has gotten he is just composed and plays his game. I honestly think Cal doesn't want to play him because it would be clear how much he offers to the team so he keeps him on the sidelines in order to play his guys. It also seems like the higher character guys have a harder time getting off the bench.
Good for the kid, Cal and staff sure dropped the ball on this one.
This is not the only time Cal dropped the ball. The list is long. Kids should realize if you go to Kentucky you will be in a grinder offense. There is no premium on scoring and you will be standing around quite a bit watching the point guard dribble.
Now if your goal is nothing but the NBA or some other pro team I guess you can live with Calipari's style. A lot of the players have over the past 10 years.
Now if your goal is nothing but the NBA or some other pro team I guess you can live with Calipari's style. A lot of the players have over the past 10 years.
Too bad the kid did not want to work at it at UK. Was never going to play over Brooks and Toppin his first year so the kid bolted. One of those kids that think they want to be the player with the ball predominately in their hands which is why he went to a school where he ended up...
It was similar with Charles Matthews who was really good at Michigan.
It’s hard to play with one eye one the scorers table seeing who’s coming in for you .
Hopkins fell down a lot. Very odd thing to do. I remember Julius Randle got called for not in-bounding the ball correctly. At least twice. Very odd .
Hopkins just had a problem adjusting to the speed of the game. And he didn’t want to play here and moved on.
But pick at the scab if it makes you feel better.
Hopkins just had a problem adjusting to the speed of the game. And he didn’t want to play here and moved on.
But pick at the scab if it makes you feel better.
begok must play HIS favorites--blmbrooks was his chosen luv child last season
Hopkins is proving how favorites get playing time, and others rot on the pines
rr
Hopkins is proving how favorites get playing time, and others rot on the pines
rr
There are several statements in this post that I’ll take issue with.
First, I’m not sure it’s even accurate to say his competition was Brooks and Toppin last year, because Cal refused to play him at the 4 and instead stubbornly insisted on playing him out of position at the 3.
Second, I’m not sure why it should’ve been presumed that he would “never play over Brooks and Toppin”, considering he’s now clearly proving that he’s better than both of those guys.
Third, what is your basis for claiming “he did not want to work at UK?” I’m guessin you have none. Looked like he busted his *** when he came in to me.
And it’s hard to blame him for wanting to leave given the way he was jerked around and lied to here. Remember when he had that great performance that saved us against LSU? At the press conference afterward, Cal explicitly said that he would have to play Bryce a lot more now. Well, that turned out to be a total lie, as Cal instead seemed to completely forget about him after that game and never gave him meaningful minutes again.
Would you wanna keep playing for a coach who handled you like that?
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His favorite last year didn't have to play at all!!
Cal refuses to adapt or change in scheme or on using players properly
Last year Sharpe and Hopkins were both big lies by CCC!!
Let's also remember, that when you rely heavily on the 1AD model, there's going to be transfers, and you're not always going to bat 1.000 on picking the right guys.
No one here was sad to see Hopkins go, as I recall.. as we figured "Well we have Toppin, and Collins is looking great!".. turns out, maybe Hopkins was better than both. Usually, the right guy transfers and both parties are better for it. In this scenario, it looks like a miss on Cal's part. But it's not like everyone who transfers goes on to be substantially better.
No one here was sad to see Hopkins go, as I recall.. as we figured "Well we have Toppin, and Collins is looking great!".. turns out, maybe Hopkins was better than both. Usually, the right guy transfers and both parties are better for it. In this scenario, it looks like a miss on Cal's part. But it's not like everyone who transfers goes on to be substantially better.
Hmmm...do you think Calipari told him to leave? or do you think Hopkins didn't want to play here? for Calipari?
And Cal once again chose to listen to the WRONG player’s people. He should have told the Sharpe crew to hit the road and done WAAAAAAYYYY MORE to keep Bryce Hopkins!!Last year Sharpe and Hopkins were both big lies by CCC!!
This is one of now many times that Cal has BOWED DOWN to the wrong kid! Watching Hopkins play this year just PROVES Cal has lost it!! That kid is going to end up being a 1st team All-American!!!
Well, we have been hearing the past week that it’s increasingly harder to play here.
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First Charles Matthews, then Juzang and Brooks and Hopkins and all of them lived up to their billing SOMEWHERE else, wonder why?
Another example,of many, that Calipari is a dumb ***. When Kentucky does win, they do it in spite of the deficiencies of their overpaid , blow bag coach.
Also Kyle Wiltjer. He became an All American at Gonzaga.
Idk if Brooks is really any better at Washington.. 6 more points, but on 10 more minutes and his shooting percentage dropped.
Not sure about Matthews.. he did play better at Michigan. But I don't know if he fits with a Kentucky team that has more high end talent than your average big10 team.
Either way, it's easy to remember the great players that transferred, while forgetting the guys like Khalil Whitney.
One thing for sure they can all say is there is LESS pressure which allows you to perform.
But Kahlil Whitney didn’t transfer anywhere. He came here as a mega-hyped 5 star recruit, was an awful disappointment here …and then basically just disappeared. I don’t see how he’s relevant to that guy’s point.
He started his last year at UK. If he hadn't if quit on the team maybe he helps UK win it all in 2013-2014.
Yeah there were a few threads and clear disappointment . From the thread when he left, link below.
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