Hop has been working with the big men in practice for seven weeks. You can see their rapport during the time outs. I'm impressed with Fab's new sense of confidence. He is growing as a player very quickly.
In 7 weeks Fab has lost 35 pounds and found a summers worth of playing time with the Brazilian National Team. Hop is a magician! Seriously though, Hop may have given Fab some newfound energy but no way did he entirely account for this 180 degree turnaround.
I'm referring to the change in confidence, not the weight loss or technique. It started with the weird haircut and the attitude in the Stanford game. There is a power of positive thinking thing going on. Christmas had the haircut and the attitude on display against Depaul. But the game is still too fast for him and he gets called for fouls the refs anticipate he'll be committing. Keita does everything right but gets beat up because of his physique. Fab is a different person in his mind, not only his body. Perhaps the intensity that Hop brings to his work is just a sideline or coincidence to the miracle of Fab's improving, toughening mental game--but I think Hop is doing a hell of a job, stepping in and making a difference. He has filled a void and then some.
