Clemson hoops.net: Clemson Basketball

Up next for Clemson, WVU

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:38:00 +0000

After dismantling the Blazers, well all except their three point shooting, the Tigers were rewarded with a late night flight to Tampa.

In Tampa, the Tigers will take on Bob "Huggy Bear" Huggins and his West Virginia ~~Mountaineers~~- err whatever this mascot is:

You cannot argue with the man's sense of style. It is impeccable.

Clemson has experience in the stylings of the "Huggy Bear" as they played against Huggins, back in his formative training track suit days of Cincinnati. The Tigers lead by point guard Ed Scott and the Shyatt, defeated the Bearcats 58-51 December 2002 in Anderson while Littlejohn was being renovated. This was a long time ago. Two Coaches ago. And miles and miles of fashion ago.

Oh, well, maybe not.

Huggy still sports the tracksuit.

Clemson also has experience playing against WVU, to whom they lost in the NIT finals. That was a coach ago for both schools.

If you are looking forward to what outfit Huggins will be wearing tomorrow in Tampa, here is the link to get your tickets. I am betting on a tracksuit, but hoping for the pimpsuit.

About last night's game. If you watched it, you saw a dominating inside performance by the Jerai Grant and the Tigers. Jerai finished with a career high 22 pts. However, despite the 18 pt. win, they could not stop the outside shooting of the UAB Blazers.

UAB finished 18-48 shooting, but of the 18 made baskets, 12 were 3pts. and the rest of the points came from FTs.

The Tigers did not let the barrage of 3s stop them. Every time UAB tried to start a run, the Tigers would clamp down on defense. They played tough man-to-man defense and came away with 10 stls, coupled with UABs 19 TOs.

Though I was fearful of a UNC-like collapse, I was glad not to see it.

Looking back, it was a mismatch. Clemson played like they wanted to win. UAB didn't let that deter them through the early lead, but didn't really adjust. It was obvious that Brownell had the Tigers prepared for what they were going to face.

Let's hope he can do the same against another high-caliber coach including his fashion sense.

Here are some links about last night's game:

Game time in 24 hrs.

Clemson brings it to the NCAA with a 12.5 seed

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:08:00 +0000

After the predictable overtime loss to UNC, Clemson was rewarded with a 12.5 seed, while the team to which they lost was given a 2 seed. I say predictable because this was UNC after all. And, the conference wouldn't let Clemson stop the sale of tickets for the final round of the ACC tournament with the possibility of a Duke-UNC rematch would they? Of course not. Duke-UNC is the reason the ACC was awarded such a TV contract in the first place. If the ACC can't live up to promise of Duke-UNC tri-annual clause in the TV contract, then the conract is probably null.

I am sure this make Brad Brownell and the Tigers happy.

While it is one thing to get into the tournament, it is another to play a "play-in" game. This nomenclature implies that they are not actually in the tournament. Calling it the "First Four" doesn't help either.

Make these games part of the tournament, or don't. Call the rest of the field the Bye-round if you must, but to call the teams who have to play an extra game play-ins is insulting not just to the teams, but also to the meaningfulness of the tournament itself.

Clemson is set up for failure. They have a 9pm game Tuesday in Dayton, OH. Then, should they win, they have to get on a plane to Tampa, FL, for a 12:15, or whatever, game against WVU on Thursday.

Oh, and in case you didn't know, Clemson is playing tomorrow on TV.
The game will be on TruTV. Yes, this is apparently a television channel.

But, beyond that, what is up with the 12.5 seed. Really?

According to some places, Clemson is a 4.5 favorite.
To others with the science of computers, it is a toss-up.

Now, we are off to Dayton.

This is Brownell's old stomping ground, via Wright State.

I don't know exactly what this means for the team, but I am hoping for a win.

Clemson Throttles 70-47

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:09:00 +0000

From ClemsonTigers.com

The VT win at Littlejohn seems so long ago.

Today, it was all about winning- sheen style.

Nope BC. Today, it was you who got pants-ed (from the ESPN)

After the early win by UNC with no time left, most of the decidedly Carolina, of the northern variety, crowd left. It was a much more intimate crowd. As much as it could have been with thousands of people.

Nonetheless, Clemson did not let the empty seats bother them. They came out strong. BC never really was in the game. Trapani did what he could, but just like when Stitt kept a lock on Smith in Cameron, he kept it even tighter on the other All-ACC guard, Reggie Jackson, who the Tigers held to 11 points.

Trapani, the hardest working man in the biz according to some finished with 20 points. Nice work Trap-ster.

But let's talk about the Tigers.

The game seemed slow in spots.

But, the Tigers were methodical. they attacked the basket. They hit outside shots. They played defense.

Of course, Brownell was working the team throughout.

From Orangeandwhite.com

While Stitt played well throughout, what about Zavier Anderson? Blocked shot, check; assist, check; steal, check; seven points, five rebounds. I wonder if other teams just feel really bad when a walk-on, or former walk-on, or whatever has this kind of line?

Overall, it was a complete team effort. Even Bobo got into the action today.

But tomorrow it will take even more. UNC has had the Tigers' number this season- and well really, forever.

If not for the Buckner dunk, I don't even know if Clemson would have ever beaten UNC in the state of North Carolina- because we all know the Chapel Hill record, 0- forever.

Tomorrow, the Tigers are going to have to regroup. This win, was just that- a win. It helped them in term of their NCAA bid prospects, but a win vs. UNC would help even more.

Brownell knows how to win. He has won conference tournaments at both of his previous head coaching stops. And while I don't know if the Tigers are ready to win the entire ACC tournament, why not try? The Tarheels are lead by freshmen. If Clemson can use their senior leadership, it could get interesting tomorrow and on into Sunday.

A win vs. UNC would be a guaranteed NCAA berth. A strong showing would solidify a berth. A blowout loss, which has not happened all season, firstly would be unacceptable, but also might hurt the Tigers too much with the other conference's upsets and various twists and turns.

Here is a collection of links to keep your interest high and help you carry on into tomorrow:

Photo Galleries:

Go Tigers.

Clemson Basketball, it all comes down to the final game

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:47:00 +0000

So I watched the ESPN recap just now of last night's game against Duke after being at the game last night in the Rat's nest, the belly of the whale, or whatever.
Even the the title of the link, "Duke Cruises past Clemson" seems misleading. Duke did no cruising, not even of any kind.

It was a hard-fought game. It was an ugly game. It was a game the Tigers could have- might even should have- won.

There were many bad calls on the Tigers. Many.

But, there were also many bad shots by the Tigers. Many. If they could have hit some of the easy around the basket types of put backs, lay-ups and the like, the game would have been even closer. This is one game in which the final score is not indicative of the type of game it was in Cameron last night.

It was hot- literally, and figuratively. Coach K was throwing chairs, cursing refs. Stitt was jawing at Smith. It looked like Stitt was about to lose his cool at one point even. He was, after all, playing with strep throat legs. It showed at times. His follow throughs were short. His energy level seemed low.

But then, the fire turned on. They were playing, and pushing all cylinder. It was toughness. Stitt played with a drive, that if he and the rest of the team could muster throughout, then the our overall record might be different. It was refreshing to see such fire. He played hard and tough. The entire team played tough.

They really had no business winning or even competing in Cameron on senior night. Still Clemson with just 9 scholarship players took the defending champions nearly to the wire. And that has been the story all season. If the team could just keep that intensity and fire burning, then they would not just be competing with Duke, UNC, whoever, but would have actually beaten them- even if it was on their senior night.

Not until the late 1st half, to the mid-2nd half did the Tigers have enough energy. Their tanks seems nearly empty for much of the game as well, as a long scoring drought kept Clemson from ever being able to successfully overcome the 8 point mountain.

But now, all of that is in the past.

The eked out win over Miami, the sluggish Wake home win, the amateur-hour officiating at Duke, the ugly loss at NCSU- over.

It is now down to one game for ACCT seeding. With a win, the Tigers can claim 4th in the ACC and a first round bye. They can be anywhere between 4 and 7, similar to the logjam last year.

Here are the scenarios:

The Tigers will be the No. 4 seed with a win
The Tigers will be the No. 5 seed with a loss AND a Boston College loss AND a Maryland loss
The Tigers will be the No. 6 seed with a loss AND a Boston College loss AND a Maryland win
The Tigers will be the No. 6 seed with a loss AND a Boston College win AND a Maryland loss
The Tigers will be the No. 7 seed with a loss AND a Boston College win AND a Maryland win

Check the possible fates of the rest of the ACC here

There has been a steep learning curve for the Tigers this year.

They have played with only NINE scholarship players, an ex- walk-on, and a football player. This is a solid, all around team performance this year.

Let's hope the season isn't over just quite yet.

Go Tigers.

Tigers fall to 6-6

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Maybe it was the full-moon effect.
Yeah, I'll take that.

Otherwise, there is no other explanation for the debacle in Raleigh last night.

The biggest difference between the NCSU game and the UNC game comes down to a few words.
Clemson played like they could win against UNC- less the opening minutes.
Clemson played like they should win against NCSU- they even seemed to expect it.

The loss, as painful as it was to watch, might be more damaging to the Tigers' NCAAT hopes than it was to my eyes.
Rebounding was poor (38 to their 46), shooting was poor (0-8 2nd half 3pt), energy level was poor.

I think that was the most disheartening thing about the game last night, the lack of energy and performance. I know Sidney Lowe blazer-red is not Carolina Blue, but every game is a must win, especially if they want(ed) to make it to the NCAAT.

The Tigers just didn't seem to have it in them last night. CJ Leslie did work on the defense all night long. The Tigers began attacking him, but they didn't follow through. When the Tigers made big defensive stops at the end of the game, they could not convert the points. It was ugly.

I am not saying the Tigers didn't want to win, nor am I questioning their desire. I just wonder if they came in over-confident.

This was a huge letdown. The game against UNC gave some hope that the Tigers can perform on a higher level, but the NCSU game showed that they can play down to the level of the opponent as well.

Jerai Grant had a much stronger performance than his, well, his absence against John Henson, but he still could not handle the inside like he needed to do. It is unacceptable that the starting forward/center only has 5 reb, the same number as the shooting guard who is literally a foot shorter than him.

And why, as much as it sort of pains me to say this, is Milton Jennings not starting.

Milton Jennings, Bright Spot (News and Observer)

While he is not playing super, he is definitely playing stronger than D. Booker at this point. He is starting to find the game and can keep up with the speed and pace much better than he did last year, or even earlier this year. In fact, Milton had a near double-double (10pts, 9reb) in just 20 minutes of action. Whereas, Booker had 4pts and 4reb in 27 minutes. What is the +/- on Jennings? the past few games?

I'm just out there playing Milton Ball; no one else wants to join coach. (News and Observer)

NCSU on the other hand, had career performances from Javi Gonzalez and CJ Leslie. The rest of their team played just strong enough to overcome the lowly shooting Tigers.

Sidney Lowe telling a Lorenzo Brown to get in his blazer. (News and Observer)

There is still hope for an NCAA tournament berth, but that hope is fading. If the Tigers cannot secure a marquee win before Selection Sunday, regardless of their record between now and then, they will be NIT-bound.

Time to run the table.

Clemson deflates against UNC, loses 64-62

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 17:30:00 +0000

From the beginning of the UNC game, it looked like a loss. The Tigers were not playing with the necessary fire. The only thing that saved them is that for their lack of fire and motivation, the Tar heels seemed to be suffering lag from the emotional letdown loss at Cameron against Duke.

Nonetheless, from the outset, the Tigers looked lazy. They weren't hitting their shots and they were settling for them when they did shoot the ball. UNC's lack of early shot-making ability was the only reason the Tigers weren't down by more early.

UNC's big guys took it to our interior. Booker and Grant were complete non-factors. If Grant's two games against UNC were taken out of his season averages, his averages would be higher, maybe even significantly. It must be hard playing against five players on the other team who are built stunningly similar to you. In fact, Grant and his build suit this year's Tar Heels lineup quite well.

Jerai Grant: 6-8; 230
Justin Knox: 6-9; 240
John Henson: 6-10; 210
Reggie Bullock: 6-7; 190
Harrison Barnes: 6-8; 210
Tyler Zeller: 7-0; 250

Here is the recap robot, tigerpawball, to recap what happened during the game.
This game's iteration features some supple, lucid prose. Here are a few excerpts:

You can't dwell on every loss, especially losses to conference teams, even if they are North Carolina. The Tigers have fallen to 17-8. With our record falling to 6-5 in the ACC, we move into 5th place. Our record against RPI Top 50 teams (North Carolina #14) falls to 2-4.

Our next game features NC State on the road on February 17th. The Tigers should have a competitive, but favorable game with them.

I especially love the last line, "a competitive, but favorable game with them." I don't even know what to make of this. The Statsheet needs to stick to statistics, because the "writing" is painful.

Back to the game, while there are no moral victories in a finite season, this game at least proved that the Tigers can play with the Tar Heels at the end of the game. Still if they could string together two second half performances from much of the team, the record would be much improved.

And what about Uncle Milton? Milton Jennings had his strongest statistical performance of the season: 15 pts, 12 reb. But, he shot 6-14 fg and 2-7 3 pt. Tanner Smith, as much as people love to chide him, had a very solid game. He shot 50% and had 7reb, only 1 TO.

Truthfully, Milton Jennings was the only forward who showed up Saturday; and as such, any criticism of his game is unnecessary because he was doing work for three people. Heck, even Bobo had a better game than our starting forwards.

It was a game of what-if's and looking back as, what-could-have-beens.

Again, the Tigers do not have time for this. They need to stay focused on and within each game. If they do this, they still, with some help from around the league and the country to return to the NCAAT. However, without this UNC game in the win column, the Tigers are still lacking a key, signature win.

Up next is NCSU. Remember, they were up by 19 on the Tigers before a huge comeback win. This time the game is in Raleigh. A similar slow start could doom the Tigers.

Let's hope for better.

Clemson defends homecourt against BC; wins 77-69

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:53:00 +0000

The Tigers looked ready against BC. BC was up to the challenge. In what was a game of streaks, the Tigers were able to clampdown in Littlejohn for the win.

Both seniors, Stitt and Grant, lead the team in a workman-like fashion. Each player endured a minor injury, and each played through it. That is until Grant was on the sideline for the endgame action.

Nonetheless, this is solid leadership from the guys who need to be doing such. While Jerai Grant had 17pts, he only had 5reb. Stitt had as many rebounds as Grant. In fact, BC finished with 7 more rebounds than the Tigers. Offensively, though, BC relied- rightfully- on Trapani and Jackson, 22pts and 27pts, respectively.

Clemson spread the scoring around with four players in double-digits: Smith 11, Grant 17, Stitt 16, and Young 15. This is how Clemson needs to win games, as a team. And now, they are playing like a team.

If Devin Booker can string together two halves, or even 1.5 good halves, coupled with something more than a solid cameo from Jennings, the Tigers could really be dangerous.

The win over BC moves the Tigers into sole possession of 4th place in the ACC- which is good for the ACCT- but a lot of work is yet to be done. Brownell has a solid record over the 10 games in the ACC so far; however, some difficult games lie ahead. Here is a random thought about Clemson from D1scourse.com
Brownell's ACC 10 game record is as good as any during the OP-era.

2004: 2-8
2005: 2-8
2006: 3-7
2007: 5-5
2008: 6-4
2009: 6-4
2010: 5-5
2011: 6-4

While I don't know what that means, it is an interesting observation nonetheless. But we all know what looking too far ahead can do to a team- remember 17-0?

Of the next six games remaining in the ACC season, the Tigers have three home and three away- home vs UNC, Wake, and VT; away vs NCSU, Miami, and Duke.

This stretch of games is as crucial as any thus far this season.

While FSU, BC, VT, and even MD are getting some national attention as the non-Duke/UNC ACC teams that might get invites to the NCAAT, Clemson is not even being mentioned, despite beating two of those teams and losing by two to another (MD).

Should the Tigers come away win the games they are supposed to win they should have at least three wins, which leaves VT, UNC, and Duke- and two of these games are at Littlejohn.

Brownell has an opportunity to finish above .500 in the ACC and give Clemson a realistic shot at the NCAAT. However, the wildcard games might turnout to be NCSU and Miami- both away games. If Clemson cannot (continue? - they only have one away ACC win vs. GT, two wins total, the other was CofC) win on the road, then all of this speculation is unnecessary.

Every game, it seems is pivotal and crucial. I was glad to see the Tigers weren't looking too far ahead to the UNC showdown on Saturday.

Time to keep it moving forward.

Clemson blows chance against the Wahoos; move to 4-4 in ACC Play

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:37:00 +0000

After the 13 pt first half, little else could be done to save the win for the Tigers last night.

The best thing to take away from this game is, again, the team's resilience. Despite only scoring 13 pts in the first half, they won the 2nd half 29-20 and put themselves in the unlikely position of having a chance to win the game. Instead I found myself wanting to gouge out my eyes.

This is fact.

Andre Young scored as many points in the game, as did the entire team in the first half. Simply, the Tigers did not execute. They shot abysmally. Their defense was porous and they looked lost on the court offensively.

I have no real explanation for the performance beyond that. The team couldn't shoot the ball well, but not only that, they weren't getting in position to have a chance to shoot the ball well.

In a game that was a must win, as much as is every game, last night's performance was pathetic. They reverted to standing around and trying to let the game come to them, when they need to take it for themselves.

This should have been a win, tough, easy, or otherwise. Now, the game against GT becomes even more important. If Clemson cannot finish out close games, they will not make the NCAAT. If they lose to teams like UVA, GT, and Wake- even in away games, they will not make the NCAAT.

Now the Tigers will limp into Atlanta with little more than an purr after rolling over for the Cavaliers. In what could have been season-changing game, the Tigers failed to qualify and now will try to do it again on the road against GT.

The Tigers are 4-4. This was the only game of the first half of the season I did not predict correctly.

Clemson runs FSU out of Tigertown

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:47:00 +0000

After the comeback win against NC State, I didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if the FSU game would be an adrenaline/momentum letdown, or another close game and a tough home loss.

What I did not expect was the Tigers' complete thrashing of the Seminoles.

The game was never close. The defense of the Tigers kept them in the game after the early barrage of shots stopped falling toward the end of the first half. Clemson, despite not hitting a single field goal in the final 12-ish minutes of the first half, went into halftime up by 9.

FSU never got any closer.
From then on it was

Jerai Dunk-a-thon (clemsontigers.com)

Dunk after Dunk and Shot after shot

Everything went the Tigers' way. Jerai Grant finished with 14pts, 8reb, 2blk; Stitt with 12pts, 6ast, 4stl.

No one person on the team had such a dominating, game-changing performance. Grant was solid, as wer Stitt, Young, and Booker.

What made the difference in this game, I think, and has been making the difference this season is the team's ability to play as a team. This is, of course, predicated on Brownell's style of coaching, playing, and play-calling.

Of the game, Brownell had this to say, "I think we showed maturity and growth as a team being able to weather a couple of offensive lulls of our own to stick to it for forty minutes of outstanding defense."

Defensively, Clemson played tight and kept FSU reeling throughout. While the team didn't play the OP-cumulative-press, they played tough defensively, even tougher than one of the statistically best defensive teams in the ACC.

And while the ACC as a whole might be in a down year, this is a prime year for the Tigers to continue to build and improve. They have been doing so incrementally. Right now, the Tigers are in a logjam at 4-3 in the ACC. They can finish no worse than 4-4 in the first half of the ACC, with an away game at UVA coming up on Wednesday, followed by an an away game at GT.

The rest of the season could turn ugly, though, if the Tigers cannot secure an away game win somewhere.
Of the 9 games remaining, the Tigers have 4 home games and 5 away games.
Of the home wins, Brad Brownell said, "We've had a good home week," Brownell said. "But we've got a lot more to do before we're significant."

8-8 will not get the Tigers in the NCAAT this year, not with the ACC in its current state of affairs. Even Duke, the ACC's brightest hope, at least on the national stage, failed a test yesterday against a middling Big East Team in St. John's.

Some of the games might look easy on the face of it, but remember, the Tigers were down 19 to NCSU. Any game can go either way at any point. If the Tigers can control those crucial moments, then they can begin to look forward a bit.

Until then, Go Tigers.

Narcisse work

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:05:00 +0000

Narcisse images and videos from the following:
The News and Observer
Orange and White
Clemson Tigers.com

Clemson Tigers move to 3-3 in ACC play with big comeback win

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:23:00 +0000

Last night looked like a career/season resuscitation for Sidney Lowe and NCSU heading into the end of the 1st half.

By the end of the night, it might have been the exact opposite. Lowe's coaching seat is definitely on fire and the wolfpack is going nowhere fast.

That having been said, the comeback win for the Tigers might have been a confidence and season-saving win. The Tigers came out flat, falling behind by 19. But by the end, they were able to pronounce last night's win as the biggest home ACC comeback in Clemson history. This was a win the Tigers needed. They came up just short in College Park, but were able to clamp down and interrupt NCSU's flow and control of the game. If they can adjust to the early game miscues, then they might be able to win more frequently.

All of Clemson's losses have been heart-wrenching, or at least difficult. We have the-come-from-behind-only-to-fall-short-against-MD, the-cut-the-lead-to-two-with-two-minutes-left-and-lose-by-ten-to-UNC, and the-ahead-for-most-of-the-game-only-to-lose-the-game-in-the-end-against-FSU. Hopefully, this come-from-behind-win will give the Tigers that necessary spark of confidence they need. Maybe it was just the short time turnaround?

Brownell is pumped.

Sidney Lowe explained Clemson's comeback this way:

“They don’t have a clear cut superstar, but they know how to play hard. This isn’t a young team; they have plenty of guys that have been here before. They know what type of effort they needed to give to get back in the ballgame. It showed a lot of character and a lot of toughness. They did whatever they had to do to win the game. I saw one guy body-block Scott Wood. They did what they had to do to get back in the game. When you’re down like that, you do whatever you have to do, and they did it.”

So, my man Mr. Sidney Lowe does not leave room for any blame for the NCSU loss. In fact, he says he saw a body-block and the Clemson did what they had to do.

Missing in this explanation is what NC State and inherently Lowe didn't do. The Raleigh media knows the inevitable is about to happen to Lowe, "Hope for a big basketball season probably is all but gone at N.C. State after Tuesday's collapse at Clemson." Maybe Lowe will react like Roy Williams when his coaching is questioned-

One thing Lowe did, that was not as curious as his pulling of a player at the end of a game a few weeks ago, but nonetheless, nearly as absurd, was support the Tigers with his Orange an Purple Tie.

Sidney Lowe, Clemson fan. (N&O)

Here is the look of the rest of the NC State coaching staff:

I don't know who the second row guy is, but he is loosening his tie.

Everyone else is watching their jobs disappear. (N&O)

You can watch highlights and see pictures of the game here, from the official Clemson site.

This was a big win. It was bigger than the 10 points suggests. It was bigger than the opponent. It will hopefully be a big win for the team in terms of confidence, especially with FSU coming to town on Saturday.

The FSU game will be a barometer for how much confidence the team actually has and if they can keep the strong play coming. If the Tigers can win at home against FSU and UVA, they will be 5-3 going into the 2nd half of the ACC schedule- a big improvement from the early learning the curve this year's team faced at the beginning of the season.

Last night's win was a big, goggle-sized win.

Now it is time to move forward.

Go Tigers!

Tigers go streaking through Chapel Hill

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 15:06:00 +0000

I guess I thought if I ignored it long enough, it would go away.

0-55. That is unfathomable, except it is real.

Here is a breakdown from a UNC perspective

Read all about some of the things that have happened over the history of Clemson's abysmal Chapel Hill performances over at Block-C. Here are some highlights: 7 popes, 48 states, 15 presidents, the births of Paul Newman, Sammy Davis Jr, and Queen Elizabeth II.

The essence of the game is this: the basketball gods hate Clemson. I don't know the root of this; I need to find out. The pain is real and it is not just in Chapel Hill:

1. Sweet 16 2OT loss to a Minnesota team of which most of their players were ineligible; the next year, a 5-12 upset to W. Michigan.
2. TO's elbows the head of Michigan player, gets ejected, Clemson loses.
3. Start the season 17-0, do not make NCAA tournament.
4. After 17-0, make the NIT finals lose to WV- Tigers have never won a national tournament, lost in NIT final twice.

This is just recent history. The team, no matter the players or coaches, has something, including themselves, standing in the way of peak performances when they mean the most.

But for now, it is off to Maryland. This will not be an easy task. Maryland fans are notoriously, well Maryland fans, they make games difficult, regardless of how good their team is. So, there is that. And then there is Gary Williams.

On the Clemson side, Tanner Smith is out with a sprained knee, a much better outcome than what it looked like at the time. A relatively quick turnaround after the long break could help the Tigers, but they are still playing with a thin lineup. Brownell has been getting decent play out of some of the bench players and the seniors- until the UNC game. If Stitt and Grant return to form and we get decent guard play from Stanton, Anderson, and continued strong play from Jennings, the Tigers should have a chance in this game.

It will be a close game. Hopefully the players don't let Maryland fans intimidate them; their hostility is their intimidation, rather than the sheer magnitude of the game and history when playing at UNC, or Duke.

Again, this is a winnable game for the Tigers. It might also be a turning point- down a man, coming off a humiliating loss- how the team responds will demonstrate their character and resilience. Let's hope they answer the call. My early season prediction was an L, as this is an away game. If the Tigers can take/steal a win, it would skew my season predictions- on the W side, which is fine by me.

Go Tigers!

Some pre- Clemson-UNC statistics

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:28:00 +0000

Here are some statistics concerning the development of this year's team.
From Early- to middle- to current.

Notice the improvement in 3 of 4 categories. The single category with a dip in the numbers is rebounds per game. Some of this dip can be explained, as it is a function of shooting more accurately. The more shots go in, the less rebounds come off. But still, this is a bit unnerving. Especially when this information is compared to UNC's:

The Tarheels average nearly 8.5 more rebounds per game than the Tigers. And while some of their high average can be attributed to their low field goal percentage, not all of it. UNC is using rebounds to control the ball. Clemson is not being aggressive enough on the defensive boards.

You can simulate the game here to see what the outcome might be.

Read all sorts of statistics and hypothetical statistics at

SCACCHoops.com

Until tonight,

Go Tigers.

Clemson looks to break "the streak" tomorrow night.

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 21:34:00 +0000

The Tigers are coming off a big win against GT- that was last Wednesday.
The Tarheels are coming off a big loss to GT- that was yesterday.

While the Tigers, this year's incarnation, or any ever, have never won in Chapel Hill (0-54), they are playing on a hot streak of their own. Since Duke's loss, Clemson now has the longest active winning streak in the ACC at eight games

But, that was last week. Literally, last ~~Tuesday~~ Wednesday since the Tigers took GT to task in Littlejohn. Last night, GT did the same to UNC.

So, what does this mean? Probably nothing.

Based upon potential, reputation, and those types of things, UNC is the better of these two teams. Based upon actually playing as a team, Clemson wins- twice and maybe more. And this is the heart of how and why Clemson currently has an eight game winning streak going into Chapel Hill.

Yes, Grant is playing well.
Yes, Stitt is playing well.
Yes, Young is playing well.

But, the rest of the team is playing as a team. Whether or not this is the result of Brownell's motion offense system, or just allowing the team to play a little, I don't know.

However, the players seem to have found their places on the court.

And this is the most heartening, and exciting thing about this season thus far.

UNC and Ol' Roy will be looking to answer critics tomorrow, and for the rest of the season, and well, forever. In retrospect, I think most people outside of Chapel Hill believe that the apotheosis of Harrison Barnes as a preseason All-American as a freshman was unfounded. In Chapel Hill, they are waiting for him to turn the corner, just like last year's entire team.

I have no idea what is going on in with the UNC team in Chapel Hill. They have more talent than most any team anywhere- even with the loss many of the pieces from last year. They have skilled players and position players. What they don't have, it seems is the necessary chemistry or character. Some say it is the coaching staff's fault not recruiting the proper positions, but they aren't new at this. That is a tired argument.

And it is difficult to say the game has passed Roy by, as he won a national championship just two years ago.

So, there it is. An incomplete analysis of the current situation at UNC.
How will this affect the outcome of the game? Well, probably not very much.

As much as I want Clemson to win, it is going to be difficult.
If the Tigers couldn't win when UNC was 8-20. Yes, they had Shyatt- who later won two National Championships at Florida, but even still.

Or that they didn't win in 2005, falling 68-66.

I don't even feel like going further down the list.

I predicted an L earlier, but I am optimistically, pessimistic about this game. So, it will probably be a heartbreakingly close loss.

But, I'll still hope for a win.

Go Tigers.

Clemson ACC player ratings and ACC predictions

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:40:00 +0000

Right now, the team is a work in-progress with a few decent wins, no bad losses, and a long ACC season ahead of them. At 11-4, the Tigers have a decent record, not too gaudy, not to disparaging. Clemson probably should have beaten SC and with a little more discipline could have beaten Old Dominion. The Michigan loss was ugly from the beginning and the FSU was a huge disappointment, as the Tigers lead for much of the game.

And while the Dabo Swinney’s respective firings of Billy Napier and Andre Powell were expected moves following the conclusion of the seemingly never ending football season, one unexpected move off was his approval of Deandre “Nuke” Hopkins joining the basketball team. Hopkins will be looking to fill the void left by the departure of guards Noel Johnson and Donte Hill.

Here is how I rate/grade the players at this point moving into the ACC season, 11-4, 0-1. See original ratings here.

G: 5
Under 6 feet
Andre Young- B +
Shooting the ball well for the most part and looking to drive to the basket more.
31.8 min, 10.7 ppg
Corey Stanton- C
Not playing as well as he was earlier in the season, maybe the excitement has waned.
14.1min, 2.9 ppg
Zavier Anderson- B -
Has statistically tripled his ppg and has held up well in a both starting and bench roles.
10.8 min, 1.8 ppg
Over 6 feet
Demontez Stitt- B +
Playing well despite missing time with an injury, playing senior level basketball.
30.3 min, 13.3 ppg
Tanner Smith- C
Still underachieving as a junior, tough, but inconsistent
31.8 min, 8.6 ppg
Deandre Hopkins- ?
Gifted athlete, hopefully the spark the Tigers need for the ACC season.
?
F: 3
Bryan Narcisse- C
Still plays with energy, but you never know which Narcisse will show up at gametime.
9.9 min, 2.7 ppg
Milton Jennings- C -
Improved, but looks uncomfortable on offense and isn’t playing consistently, or with intensity.
21.2 min, 8.9 ppg
Jonah Baize- INC
Still on the team.
4.5 min , 0.0ppg
F/C: 2
Devin Booker- D -
Shows potential, still looks lost and isn’t playing with the necessary toughness.
22.6 min, 8.0 ppg
Jerai Grant- B+
Looks comfortable, plays with fire and is making a baskets at a high percentage, 63.9%
24.9 mins, 12.1 ppg
C: 1
Catalin Baicu- F
I guess this isn’t the year.
4.8 min, 1.5 ppg

While many players have stepped up their games: Grant, Anderson, Stitt, and Young, several are still middling: Smith, Jennings, Stanton, Narcisse, and some have actually devolved or failed to improve: Booker, Bobo, and Baize (The curse of the B’s?).

Nonetheless, the Tigers will need to continue to improve both individually and as a team if they expect to finish above .500 in the ACC.

So here is what I think will happen throughout the course of this season. Some of these games are optimistic wins. However, I tried to be realistic about the Tigers chances this season. I think the team will improve throughout the course of the season as they continue to grow and learn Brownell’s motion offense.

My Hopeful Evaluation:

@ FSU L This happened.
Miami W Hopeful. Of Miami’s four losses, three have been to ranked teams.
GT W GT has looked downright awful at times; luckily, Hewitt is buyout protected
@UNC L I wish this were the year, but...
@MD L If this were a home game, I think the Tigers would win.
NCSU W Hopeful. This could be a season defining game.
FSU W The first game showed the Tigers can play tough as well.
@UVA W Hopeful; UVA can be dangerous, but has lost some consistency.

Halfway 5-3 Again this is hopeful, but a winning first half could do wonders for the

team’s confidence.

@GT W Unless GT turns it around.
BC W BC is playing strong right now with several quality wins.
UNC L Unless the wheels fall off in Chapel Hill- again.
@NCSU L NCSU is a tough road game and the Pack will be improved
@Miami L Tigers could steal this game after UM’s ACCCT practice at UNCG.
WF W The Deacons are painful to watch.
@Duke L Cameron Indoor; even an with an extra six second for the Tigers.
VT W The Hokies always play tough; Greenberg is, well, who he is. An L would place the Tigers at 8-8.

2nd Half 4-4 A solid performance from a much tougher 2nd half of the season

Total: 9-7 I don’t know if this would be enough to get the Tigers into the NCAAT, but it, at least,

wouldn’t hurt them. The fairly weak non-conference schedule along with GT and Wake

bringing down the ACC this year might hurt the Tiger’s chances more than anything.

Go Tigers.

This season is happening- Clemson loses to FSU 75-69

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:23:00 +0000

Holy Stitt!

The Tigers' already thin guard rotation might have just become even thinner. Clemson's leading scorer at 13.8ppg this season might not be leading for the next two weeks.

Demontez Stitt might be out, “I think something loose is irritating it. I’ve been trying to play through the discomfort, had it drained a couple times in the past couple weeks. The inflammation keeps coming back, and I think it’s under the kneecap. We can’t get it drained.” HT orangeandwhite.

I wonder what the now ex-Tigers are thinking about their playing time and eligibility?

So, the moving screen not called by the refs further injured our senior point guard. This season, without sarcasm, snarkiness, or any other similar adjective, draining my optimism.

The Tigers looked good at times, hitting their outside shots and getting some inside play, but at others, they still looked in disarray. The interior was weak- this coupled with the impending and current apparently systematic winnowing of the guards will make for some serious struggles this season. What the Tigers could not do is stop FSU. When the Tigers were controlling the game, Hamilton's squad lead by Dulky dropping Dulkys stepped it up and the Tigers could not respond.

I want to see a statistic of the following: Clemson made baskets vs. turnovers after a called timeout. Right now it seems more turnovers come after TOs than points.

I want to be optimistic. But it is hard and getting more difficult by the day.

Hopefully this next stretch of games will let this year's iteration of the Tigers to gel and to find their place on the team and on the court.
a

12/17/2010 7:00:00 PM	Clemson	Savannah State		Tickets	Live Stats
12/19/2010 5:00:00 PM	Clemson	UNCG	FSSO	Tickets	Live Stats
12/22/2010 7:00:00 PM	College of Charleston	Clemson	FSS
12/27/2010 7:00:00 PM	Clemson	Delaware State		Tickets	Live Stats
12/29/2010 7:00:00 PM	Clemson	East Carolina		Tickets	Live Stats
1/2/2011 4:00:00 PM	Clemson	Citadel		Tickets	Live Stats

The upcoming game at CofC will be a difficult test, but some of the other games, even with the loss of Stitt should (underscored and emphasized) be winnable.

Go Tigers!

Clemson loses to USC 64-60 in a "rivalry" and a Tiger alum is arrested

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 23:19:00 +0000

So this is what it is looking like this year- abysmal:

This is it. There are 346, or something like that, teams currently playing division basketball and we are not even in the top 50% of them.

This is what is looks like in action:

Jennings does what Jennings does.

This is Clemson Basketball. The growing pains are affecting everyone: players, fans, media perception, and anyone else who might care about Clemson Basketball.

Ron Morris of The State entitle his article Horn's program is further along (left out than what)

He asserts made such sweeping generalizations as, "So, while senior Clemson point guard Demontez Stitt occasionally looked like he was unsure of what Brownell wanted, Ellington approached the biggest play of the game as if he knew precisely what Horn wanted."

"As if," is the key phrase here. They both hit 5 shots during the course of the game. Ellington happened to hit 3 3pt shots. That is is difference.

The Tigers had to struggle to get back into the game.

Here is how Brownell assessed the situation (WMA Audio File via Tigernet):

"We ran two actions and I think both guys were going to be wide-open. Demontez [Stitt] threw the one backwards to Milton [Jennings] at the top of the key and threw it at his ankles when he was wide-open. Then Tanner [Smith] threw the one to Andre [Young] when he really wasn't quite looking, and that's what I'm talking about. They're not quite familiar with some of those things, and we don't execute as well as we need to. Both guys were going to be wide-open, and we don't get a shot on either possession. That's a killer in a possession game.”

"And that is what I'm talking about" Brad Brownell

So, the Tigers get a week to prepare for ACC play against FSU and then a few games that should help pad our record before the beginning of the year.

Elsewhere in Clemson Basketball news, DWDHS- D.W. Daniel High Basketball coach, Barnes/Shyatt era Tiger, Tony Christie from Hartford, Connecticut was arrested today on suspicion of doing things that are not very good, assault on a student at DWD- a female.

So that is that. A less than satisfactory weekend for the Tigers ends with an alumni in close proximity being arrested. Maybe it is a stretch to make a connection between the two, maybe some grand generalizations can be made by others, but either way, if things don't right themselves soon, this is going to be a long season.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball- And then there were Two

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 16:38:00 +0000

Last year's freshman class was one of the most heralded in Clemson basketball history.
Now, only 50% of that lofty recruiting class remains, as Noel Johnson has decided to leave the program
This news comes after Donte Hill announced that he would transfer earlier this year.

Right now, the recruits are falling like dominoes.

If you do not see Brad Brownell everywhere on the recruiting trail, then he is not doing his job. I don't know if the implementation of his offensive scheme is leading to the loss of players, or if it is the coaching change. "His" recruit, Stanton performed well against Michigan, and is a nice addition to the team. Though Johnson might have an effort/energy issue, as he has not seemed fully committed on the court this season, I really don't know what I think about Stanton playing over others who were already in place. It seems Stanton, for better or worse, is receiving some preferential treatment over the others.

Of course growing pains will accompany a coaching change, but right now we have NINE scholarship players, two walk-ons.

Here is the breakdown by position:

G: 5

Under 6 feet

Andre Young- quick, playing well: 32.7 mins, 10.1 ppg

Corey Stanton- fitting in nicely: 13.4mins, 3.4 ppg

Zavier Anderson- allows Young to rest: 3.6mins, 0.4 ppg

Over 6 feet

Demontez Stitt- Starting to step up as a senior: 30.3 mins, 13.3 ppg

Tanner Smith- underachieving as a junior: 31.3mins, 8.4 ppg

F: 3

Bryan Narcisse- Mr. Energy not seeing as much playing time: 7.3 mins, 1.7 ppg

Milton Jennings- Starting to look comfortable this year: 21.7 mins, 9.9 ppg

Jonah Baize- Walk-on: 2 mins, 0.0ppg

F/C: 2

Devin Booker- Shows potential, looks lost sometimes: 24.4 mins, 8.4 ppg

Jerai Grant- Looks improved, needs to step it up: 22.3 mins, 9.1 ppg

C: 1

Catalin Baicu- I thought this was supposed to be the year: 5.4 mins, 2.8 ppg

Here is a nice visual breakdown of each player's performance via SCACCHoops

This season was going to be one of transition and flux, but now it will be even more so. Hopefully, other players will step up and perform. Otherwise, the grind of the ACC Season will be even longer.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball falls in first test vs. Michigan 69-61

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 15:02:00 +0000

And really, the game was not as close as the score might look. The Tigers fell behind early and spent most of their time anemically trying to claw their way back into the game.

Brownell said Milton Jennings hasn't been playing as well of late, but his replacement- Tanner Smith was abysmal last night. It was painful. He fouled a guy shooting a three, then threw up a horrid shot.

Brownell had this to say of the Milt/Tanner, "Milton (Jennings) wasn’t as good as he’s been of late. And he could have played defense a little better. So we had to start playing guys like Tanner (Smith) and Noel (Johnson) to force something and try to overcome it. We are not going to play that way very much, but Michigan was packing it in defensively"

The key to that quote is "We are not going to play that way very much." God, I hope not. It was ugly. It looked like an OP offense, minus the dorking around for 20-25 seconds then missing a contested shot. This was just plain missing bad shots. The game plan seemed to lack a bit.

While Clemson is still learning the motion offense, Michigan was running it with aplomb. It helped that their team was hitting their shots. It didn't help that the Tigers were afraid to go inside, even with the defense "packing it in defensively."

Now the team get a brief break before a tough road game against the gamecocks, followed by an early ACC match up against FSU.

It is time to start figuring things out Tigers. It will not get any easier. This could/should have been a tough win. Instead, it is a tough, though deserved, loss.

You can read more about the game, the stats, etc, here:

SCACCHoops
ESPN-
notice that at the end of the basketball article, it is no longer about basketball, but rather about Kyle Parker and the presentation of the CWS rings. Nice work ESPN- stay focused!
Tigernet

Clemson Basketball ACC-Big Ten vs. Michigan tomorrow night

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 03:22:00 +0000

What: Clemson Tigers v. Michigan (You know what's up.)
When: 9:00pm
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: WCCP-FM

I am fresh off a west coast trip and am ready for some basketball.
Tomorrow, the Tigers look to get a meaning(less) revenge win against the team T. Oglesby elbowed in the NCAA tournament.

Now, the Clemson looks to keep up its winning- less the loss in the Virgin Islands.
Here is what the "experts" from ESPN have to say:

MICHIGAN AT CLEMSON (ESPN2, 9 ET)

Bilas: Clemson -- The Tigers are at home, and Michigan hasn't won away from home.
Brennan: Clemson -- Michigan might not be as bad as we thought, but it is not good enough to beat a capable Clemson team, whose only loss was a one-point neutral-court defeat to ODU.
Fraschilla: Clemson -- Early returns about new coach Brad Brownell are positive.
Gottlieb: Michigan -- Searching for an upset here, the 1-3-1 proves tough to tame. The Wolverines appear a bit better than expected, though they will suffer in conference.
Katz: Clemson -- The Tigers, regardless of coach, are too tough at home against similar-level teams.
Leung: Clemson -- Tigers coach Brad Brownell is fitting right in and has enough weapons to win this one.
Lunardi: Clemson -- The Wolverines are a long way from being able to win at Littlejohn.
O’Neil: Clemson -- The Wolverines have done little to prove they're over what ailed them last season.
Williams: Clemson -- After losses to both Syracuse and UTEP, I don't see the Wolverines bouncing back at Littlejohn Coliseum.

So, as you can see, Clemson will clearly lose this game. Well, let's not wish that upon the team, but it certainly seems that way- at least for the past number of years (The OP Era), but hopefully, Brownell has the Tigers out of that mentality.

It is nice to see these national analysts provide a little love for the Tigers.

Ken Pomeroy at kenpom.com has Clemson at 86% chance of winning tomorrow night.

Nonetheless, all I can think about is TO's elbow and subsequent selfish, possibly forced move to Europe. I don't know that he is performing all that well right now, but at least he is getting paid to play basketball.

And if you can't get excited for this ACC-big ten challenge game and basketball season in general,

Check this out via the official site: Littlejohn- and other athletic sites- panorama video with the Tiger Band.

Go Tigers.

Clemson Tigers Defeat Wofford 78-70

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0000

I understand that Wofford is a good team, but last night's 78-70 win was much closer than I, or most who follow Clemson Basketball would have liked.

Wofford is talented enough to beat some good teams. They could have won last night. However, the resilience the team showed in not allowing that to happen was impressive. They saved the ACC from even more ridicule. With GT's loss to Kennesaw St and Wake's loss to Stetson and narrow escape against Hampton, it seems the bottom of the ACC is low and the top is high. This might alleviate some of the standard middling logjam that occurs yearly, unless those teams get their act together.

Per last night's game, our offense is starting to take shape, but the defense, at least in the two previous games is taking a back seat. The conscientiously improved FT% will keep us in close games, if we continue. But, when the senior leader point guard has but TWO assists in three games (pre-season included) something is awry. Yes, the three guard lineup opens up options, lanes, etc, but two assists, three turnovers, and seven fouls in two games for the senior leader is definitely underwhelming. Just as was the crowd.

If Jerai dunks on a dude from Wofford and no one is there to see it, does it really count? (Image via Tigernet)

Actual caption from Tigernet: "Jerai Grant brings the crowd to its feet with a big dunk."

Also from Tigernet, voice of Clemson Tiger fans, a .wma post game interview with BRIAN Brownell. Nice scoop tigernet.

Here's an early statistic, but how much difference has a year made for Milton Jennings? Look at this.

If nothing else, this has to help his confidence. Milt apparently just did not fit into OP's system. Let's hope this progress continues.

Now it is on off to the US Virgin Islands for the Paradise Jam, where the Tigers open against the Long Beach State, though they call themselves "The Beach" 49ers. How quaint.

The season is go.

Go Tigers!

The Clemson Basketball SoCon tour Continues vs. Wofford

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:24:00 +0000

When: Tonight, 7:00pm

Where: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC

Watch: Tigercast

Listen: WCCP-FM

Follow: Gametracker

Tonight could get interesting, as the Wofford Terriers come to town. These same Woffordeers appeared as a #13 seed in the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history, nearly defeating #4 seed Wisconsin; though they ended up losing 53-49 in the waning seconds. Wofford is experiencing an upswing and the benefits of basketball league parity- and the painful Big Ten lack of scoring acumen, out side of Michigan State.

It hurts my eyes just to think of it.

While Wofford is not a traditionally strong non-conference opponent, it will be a good early test for this year's iteration of the Tigers. They have yet to be tested, beyond what they get from the coaching staff and their fellow players.

At least one player they face tonight should give the Tigers some trouble, Noah Dahlman. As an inside player, he will get challenged by Grant and Booker. Conversely, his presence will hopefully allow us to see how our sophomores and post players react to a challenge.

The guard play should allow us to free up some space down low for Grant and/or Booker. Stitt will likely be looking to improve upon his fairly disappointing season opening performance. Young will be Young and hopefully Smith will be Smith.

Should Milt Jennings continue to elevate his play to the level as he began to do so in the previous game, this game could get out of hand. Or, if someone doesn't step up early, it could be a tight finish. While I fully expect the Tigers to win, I am hoping for an enjoyable game.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Tigers win 87-64 in season opener

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 13:41:00 +0000

Devin Booker looked a bit like his older brother last night, as he finished with 16 points, a career high.

It's the Big 31, not the 35 for the Tigers this year (from goupstate.com)

But what might has been more surprising was the nearly 60% shooting in the new offense. The scoring load was spread, as Tanner Smith had 12, Andre Young had 10 pts despite leaving for a while with a thigh injury, and hopefully reflective of what is to come, Milton Jennings added 12.

What was disappointing was Stitt's quick fouls. He finished with 4 PF and just 7 pts in 12 minutes. Is this his new senior leadership? Maybe he was overexcited or being overzealous on defense in going for the steal. Or, I don't know if he or the refs were rusty after having had some time away from a full speed game. Nonetheless, his continued development and leadership will be paramount if this year's team is going to be successful.

Bobo looks clueless at most times, but he is still supposedly going to be a key component in this year's rotations, as is evidence here

Tanner Smith has returned. His fire, spark, and confidence seemed to be back. He lead the team in transition, but not however in FT%. It seemed a bit like the OP era from the FT line, as the Tigers shot an abysmal 54%.

Tanner lead the team in fire and fashion, notice the mohawk- reminiscent of Booker's mohawk below.

As an opener, the game was a positive. The team seemed prepared and focused, though not yet a finished product. It is still a team in philosophical transition.

Until the SoCon tour of teams continues on Monday night.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: Let the Brownell Begin

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 22:44:00 +0000

When: Tonight, 8:00pm

Where: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC

Watch: Tigercast

Listen: WCCP-FM

Follow: Gametracker

Tonight it is on.

Western Carolina comes to Littlejohn for an 8:00 tip-off.

You know, I sort of feel sorry for Western Carolina. Not because they are coming to Littlejohn, not because for their next game they travel to Chicago to play ex-Clemson coach OP and the DePaulers, not because they have to play the Ohio State Buckeyes, but because they are the only directional Carolina team with the adjectival (-ern) suffix in their name, unlike the other Carolinas: South, East, and even North.

True, Western Carolina is just a university and not an entire state named after another state, like West Virginia, who, by the way, has my deepest sympathy for not having enough historical moxie to develop an original state name.

But, I digress.

The season begins.

The WCU Catamounts play in the Southern Conference against several common Clemson opponents: UNCG, Charleston, Wofford, and the Citadel. And while WCU has not been to the NCAA tournament since 1996, they play in a tough, competitive league. And besides, it is not like the Tigers have been tearing it up in the NCAA the past three year themselves.

The Catamounts are coming off a 22-11 season, finishing 11-7 in the SoCon- which means they only lost to 4 non-conference opponents last year: Texas, Clemson, Kent State, and Marshall and even beat Louisville in Louisville. This is a real team.

And yet, it is, hopefully, the beginning of something good.

While I don't think all of the questions marks for the season will be answered, especially as Brownell as continuously referred to wanting- though I am not sure if he used the word needing- more time to prepare.

Clemson Basketball has arrived to save us from the doldrums of another mediocre football season.

Go Tigers!

Brownell Previews Clemson Basketball vs. Western Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (clemsonhoops.net) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Video from Tigernet

This is some interesting stuff from Coach Brownell. He is definitely a different personality than OP. Hopefully, the players can adjust to his system and his intellectual basketball approach.

Here is the audio of the press conference- wma file.

Go Tigers!