Monday February 16, 2009

The Bad Loss

The Bad Loss
We were all hoping that the Florida State game would have been the bad loss of the year that every team has. We were wrong.

Sunday effort in Charlottesville was just pathetic. The defense stunk. The effort was poor. The turnovers were inexcusable. The loss was simply unthinkable.

Sunday Clemson got beat by a bad basketball team. There is no shame in losing to talented teams but that was not the case Sunday. Virginia has offered little resistance to the rest of the league.

These numbers tell the story:
*Clemson’s 21 turnovers were the most of any ACC game for the Tigers this season.

*9-26 three pointers looked an awful lot like many of Clemson’s trips to Charlottesville.

*The Cavs outscored Clemson in the paint 48-32.

*When you have 48 points in the paint, you probably have a high field goal percentage. Sunday the Cavaliers shot 53% from the field. Remember, UVA came into the game with the lowest field goal percentage in the ACC.

*Sammy Zeglinski looked like Jeff Lamp Sunday. He was 6-6 from the field including 3-3 from behind the arch. His 15 points were a huge pick up to a struggling offense.

*Mike Scott looked like Ralph Sampson with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

*Who is Jamil Tucker? He was the guy who had 11 points and four rebounds.

*Virginia’s bench outscored the Tigers bench 46-12.

Sure Clemson could have stolen that win with a put back from Rivers or Booker late and it would have changed the record and the standings. However, it would have changed what we think about the effort. The Tigers looked like they paid Virginia little respect.

For the second time in the past eight days, the Tigers have to now go back and play the what if game. Had Clemson just held on to the huge lead against FSU and just taken care of an inferior team in Virginia, the Tigers would have been tied for the lead in the ACC and would have a two game lead in the loss column with Duke, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest. Eight days later and Clemson two losses back to North Carolina and tied in the loss column with Duke, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Florida State.

This is still a season full of promise but Sunday took a mulligan away from the Tigers. No more slip ups now. There is no more room for error. Clemson can ill-afford another pathetic effort.

This team probably cannot catch North Carolina in the regular season but it can still finish second in the league. It can still grab one of the top four spots in the regular season and gain a bye in the first round of the ACC tournament.

If Clemson is to play to its full potential for the final six regular season games, the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament some of the following things must happen:
*The half court defense must improve. It starts with energy but it also includes better fundamentals.

*Obviously the offense has to go through Trevor Booker and his inside presence. However, other must step up.

*The Tigers must get better point guard play. Stitt is not a great shooter but he must be more aggressive and more productive with his penetration. He also has to stay out of foul trouble.

*The bench has to be more productive. Too often Jerai Grant gets in foul trouble. Potter’s confidence seems to come and go.

*The Tigers must play more consistently. Few times this season have we seen Clemson play two solid halves of basketball. We have seen one brilliant half several times but seldom have we seen two good halves or 40 consistent minutes of play.

Outside of the Tar Heels, the rest of the ACC went through the same thing Clemson went through last week. Duke lost twice. Wake got upset by NC State. Florida State lost to Wake Forest. Virginia Tech lost to Maryland. Boston College lost to Clemson.

North Carolina has won nine in a row but the next longest winning streak belongs to Maryland and NC State who have won two in a row.

With three weeks remaining on the ACC regular season, who knows how seeds 2-12 will shake out.

A Reminder
I wanted to remind everyone of a big event for me personally this weekend. I have the pleasure of being asked to give our testimonial this Saturday. I am honored to be the speaker at the First Baptist Church of Mauldin Men’s Ministry Weekend. The program is entitled, “Life Lessons - My amazement at what I have learned from a 16-year old.” It centers around what Ryan’s accident and taught us and I am extremely excited about the message. The event is Saturday, February 21st from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm. There is a steak dinner in Fellowship Hall starting at 6:00 pm. Tickets for the event are just $10 for adults & $5 for children under 12. To attend you need tickets in advance. For tickets, please contact FBC Mauldin at 864-288-7835 and ask for Paula Sloan. Ryan and I can’t wait to see you there so please call Paula in advance and thanks for your consideration.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Mrs. Kathleen Bowers, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Kaitlyn L, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Sandy Wright, Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, Ronnie Queen, Edward Putman, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Anna Rawl, Vinnie Brock.