11-01-2009, 10:51 AM
From today's J.C. Press:
Gritty Hubbard fitting in at ETSU
By By Kelly Hodge
Press Managing Sports Editor
khodge@johnsoncitypress.com
Printer-friendly version
Email Article
Tommy Hubbard is feeling comfortable these days. Not quite at home, mind you, but comfortable.
The gritty junior from Boston is healthy and trying to carve out his niche on the East Tennessee State basketball team. Off the court, he’s still learning to dial down the intensity.
“It’s definitely different here, more slow-paced,” Hubbard was saying Friday as the players milled around Memorial Center for media day. “Where I’m from, everything’s faster. I’m not sure I’ll ever adjust, but I’m getting better at it as the years go by.”
Hubbard has battled an assortment of injuries — elbow, ankle, knee, toe — in his first two seasons at ETSU. He appeared headed for a redshirt last season but decided in mid-February to try to help the Bucs make the NCAA tournament. He played the last nine games, and the Bucs won the Atlantic Sun Conference championship.
They ended up taking top-seeded Pittsburgh to the wire in the NCAAs, and Hubbard was out there doing the dirty work. He had seven rebounds in 22 minutes before fouling out of a very physical 10-point loss.
“I’ve said it many times,” said ETSU coach Murry Bartow. “There’s no way we would have done what we did at the end last year without Tommy.”
Hubbard’s calling card is defense. He can check one of the league’s best point guards, Ben Smith of Jacksonville, one night and a variety of big men the next.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Hubbard is a tough customer. He was a running back and linebacker in high school, and the football mindset continues to serve him well.
“He’s a hard-nosed guy,” said Mike Smith, the Bucs’ senior co-captain and another hard-nosed guy. “He helps us tremendously on the defensive end. I think he could be one of the top defenders in the country.”
Hubbard gladly plays the role of defensive stopper. But he doesn’t want to be a liability with the ball in his hands. He has averaged less than two points a game over his first two seasons, 39 games in all, with a high-arcing jump shot that raises eyebrows.
He spent much of the summer working on his game back home, particularly that jumper, often running with professional players.
“I played with some guys at the Boston Celtics facilities,” he said. “A lot of them play overseas, and they’ve been where I am now. I had some great workouts.”
Bartow likes Hubbard’s potential to develop over the next two seasons. There are few doubts about where he’ll shine.
“His offensive game is better than a year ago,” said Bartow, “but his real value is his defensive versatility. Tommy can guard the other team’s best player, one through four.”
Hubbard smiles a bit more easily on the court these days. Part of it is the confidence of being involved in that championship run. And part of it is being healthy as a new season approaches.
“I feel good and I’m just happy to have basketball in my life,” he said. “I’m glad to have a chance to show what I’m capable of doing. I definitely feel more confident right now.”
And what was the postseason experience last March worth?
“It was a wonderful experience, making the tournament and getting a little taste of it,” said Hubbard. “That’s big momentum for the program.”
If he can stay healthy, Hubbard will try to keep a good thing going. He’ll continue to play lockdown defense, score a few baskets and take the Southern hospitality as it comes. He likes the atmosphere in the Dome.
“We have great fans here; they love the game of basketball,” he said. “I appreciate that.”
Hubbard will, of course, continue to extol the virtues of his hometown, where the Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox have all hoisted championship banners in the last few years.
His teammates expect to hear plenty more of that.
“He’s always talking about how good Boston is,” said Smith, a native of tiny Vandalia, Mo. “We kind of ignore him.”
Gritty Hubbard fitting in at ETSU
By By Kelly Hodge
Press Managing Sports Editor
khodge@johnsoncitypress.com
Printer-friendly version
Email Article
Tommy Hubbard is feeling comfortable these days. Not quite at home, mind you, but comfortable.
The gritty junior from Boston is healthy and trying to carve out his niche on the East Tennessee State basketball team. Off the court, he’s still learning to dial down the intensity.
“It’s definitely different here, more slow-paced,” Hubbard was saying Friday as the players milled around Memorial Center for media day. “Where I’m from, everything’s faster. I’m not sure I’ll ever adjust, but I’m getting better at it as the years go by.”
Hubbard has battled an assortment of injuries — elbow, ankle, knee, toe — in his first two seasons at ETSU. He appeared headed for a redshirt last season but decided in mid-February to try to help the Bucs make the NCAA tournament. He played the last nine games, and the Bucs won the Atlantic Sun Conference championship.
They ended up taking top-seeded Pittsburgh to the wire in the NCAAs, and Hubbard was out there doing the dirty work. He had seven rebounds in 22 minutes before fouling out of a very physical 10-point loss.
“I’ve said it many times,” said ETSU coach Murry Bartow. “There’s no way we would have done what we did at the end last year without Tommy.”
Hubbard’s calling card is defense. He can check one of the league’s best point guards, Ben Smith of Jacksonville, one night and a variety of big men the next.
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Hubbard is a tough customer. He was a running back and linebacker in high school, and the football mindset continues to serve him well.
“He’s a hard-nosed guy,” said Mike Smith, the Bucs’ senior co-captain and another hard-nosed guy. “He helps us tremendously on the defensive end. I think he could be one of the top defenders in the country.”
Hubbard gladly plays the role of defensive stopper. But he doesn’t want to be a liability with the ball in his hands. He has averaged less than two points a game over his first two seasons, 39 games in all, with a high-arcing jump shot that raises eyebrows.
He spent much of the summer working on his game back home, particularly that jumper, often running with professional players.
“I played with some guys at the Boston Celtics facilities,” he said. “A lot of them play overseas, and they’ve been where I am now. I had some great workouts.”
Bartow likes Hubbard’s potential to develop over the next two seasons. There are few doubts about where he’ll shine.
“His offensive game is better than a year ago,” said Bartow, “but his real value is his defensive versatility. Tommy can guard the other team’s best player, one through four.”
Hubbard smiles a bit more easily on the court these days. Part of it is the confidence of being involved in that championship run. And part of it is being healthy as a new season approaches.
“I feel good and I’m just happy to have basketball in my life,” he said. “I’m glad to have a chance to show what I’m capable of doing. I definitely feel more confident right now.”
And what was the postseason experience last March worth?
“It was a wonderful experience, making the tournament and getting a little taste of it,” said Hubbard. “That’s big momentum for the program.”
If he can stay healthy, Hubbard will try to keep a good thing going. He’ll continue to play lockdown defense, score a few baskets and take the Southern hospitality as it comes. He likes the atmosphere in the Dome.
“We have great fans here; they love the game of basketball,” he said. “I appreciate that.”
Hubbard will, of course, continue to extol the virtues of his hometown, where the Celtics, Patriots and Red Sox have all hoisted championship banners in the last few years.
His teammates expect to hear plenty more of that.
“He’s always talking about how good Boston is,” said Smith, a native of tiny Vandalia, Mo. “We kind of ignore him.”