Former Cougar Hopson finds home in Moscow
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PULLMAN – Mac Hopson knows why he had to transfer. He just doesn't know why he had to transfer.
"I decided to leave, pretty much, because I thought that was the best thing for me," said Hopson, who is the University of Idaho's leading scorer this year after sitting out last season following his transfer from Washington State.
"I didn't think Washington State was the place I wanted to finish my college career at," he continued. "Playing 8 minutes, 10 minutes a game toward the end of the season, I thought I was better than that."
So Hopson, a junior, understands why Idaho is a better fit for his abilities. But he doesn't know why it didn't work out at WSU, his first major college stop after playing his freshman year at North Idaho College.
"I can't tell you, I still don't know what happened there," Hopson said this week. "Coach Tony (Bennett) all of a sudden took me out of the rotation and my minutes just went down from there.
"I didn't play for like eight games and I really don't know what happened. I still don't know what happened. I still wish I knew."
Two years ago, in Tony Bennett's first season as Washington State's head coach, Hopson started seven games early in the year. But as the season wore on, he not only wasn't starting, his played only occasionally.
Down the stretch of the Cougars' 26-8 season that ended in the NCAA Tournament's second round, Hopson sightings were rare. There was a stretch of seven consecutive Pac-10 games when he never left the bench, though he hit a big shot in a 58-54 win late in the season at Oregon State. He finished the season averaging 4.2 points and 2 assists.
"I always thought I could contribute," Hopson said, "maybe (help) get further in the NCAA Tournament, maybe win a couple more games."
Bennett, for his part, understands and understood Hopson's decision to leave.
"Mac, he was a nice addition and he was part of a successful team," he said. "As a coach, that's one of the hardest things, to not be able to give every kid what they want in terms of playing time. You have to look those kids in the eye ... they all want to play so bad."
Hopson was no exception. After starting WSU's first six games in 2006, he came off the bench against Portland, then started against Utah, the Cougars lone nonconference loss of the season.
The next game was against 18th-ranked Gonzaga, and Hopson did not play. His minutes went to Taylor Rochestie, just starting to round into form from a knee injury. After that 77-67 upset, Hopson didn't start again.
"Sometimes what you lose sight of is we finished second in the Pac-10 that year and were a basket away from going to a Sweet 16," Bennett said. "Mac was an important part of that, though he didn't get all the minutes he wanted. I'm sure a lot of kids have been frustrated for not getting what they want.
"His desire was to really play, be a central guy and really play a lot. When he didn't get that, he thought it was his best option to go. And he's certainly getting that (at Idaho)."
Whatever happened in the past, Hopson is enjoying the present. He leads the 5-5 (going into UI's game against Texas Southern on Saturday) Vandals in scoring (17.3 points per game), assists (58) and steals (14) and is second in rebounding (4.9 per game). He also leads in minutes played and ...
"The ball is in his hands all the time," said first-year head coach Don Verlin. "He's our point guard and he has the ball a lot in hands, in the break, running the offense and he's done a good job handling that."
Despite all Hobson's statistics, Verlin needs even more from him if the Vandals are going to be able to experience even a taste of the success their neighbors from 8 miles to the west have gone through recently.
"The No. 1 thing I need him to bring, night in and night out, is leadership," Verlin said. "That's a work in progress for Mac. It's something he hasn't had to do a lot in his career and that's what we need from him. He's done a pretty good job."
Hopson transferred to Idaho, where his father Phil starred, expecting to play for coach George Pfeifer. At WSU, Hopson's best game was against Pfeifer's Vandals, a 14-point effort that featured a perfect shooting night (five field goals and one free throw). But after an 8-21 record last year while Hopson was redshirting, Pfeifer was let go. Verlin, an Utah State assistant, was brought in.
"I'm glad they made the adjustment because V, he's a good coach," Hopson said, using the players' nickname for Verlin. "I like playing for him and I'll play my heart out for him.
"It was a good change. Coach V is a good coach. ... I'm just honored I could play for him his first year. I've got kind of a thing for playing for coaches their first year."
Hopson, who has played for four head coaches in his four years in college, was at NIC in coach Jared Phay's second year, at WSU for Bennett's first, at Idaho for Pfeifer's second and now Verlin's first.
"I don't know what it is, I seem to play for new coaches," Hopson said.
Hopson knows what he'll get out of WSU. He remains friends with many of the Cougars, including senior Daven Harmeling.
"I felt he was a really good team guy, he was always very unselfish, and he could really get it going offensively" said Harmeling, who added they still talk occasionally. "I think it will be a little weird (playing against him). We want to play hard against him, but it will be a little different because we want Mac to do well this year, but not against us particularly."
The first time "against us" is tonight.
"I can't wait to play," Hopson said. "It's my old school, you know? I just want my team to play well. I want to play well. I want to win. I want to win every game but there's a little more mustard on the game because it's WSU."
That's something everyone can understand.
• That's it for today. Check back tomorrow morning for links and then in the evening before the game. We'll have our usual stuff. Till then …