Wednesday March 18, 2009

What Will Happen First?

Which Will Happen First?
Oliver Purnell has Clemson basketball celebrating feats previously unseen in the program’s history. Yesterday we chronicled the fact that the Tigers ended the season ranked in the Associated Press poll in consecutive seasons for the first time in school history.

In a blog a couple of days ago, we had a reader ask a very intriguing question: What will happen first: A-Clemson going to Final Four for the first time. B-Clemson winning the ACC basketball tournament for the first time. C-Clemson beating North Carolina in Chapel Hill for the first time.

Under Purnell, previously unthinkable are now OK to ponder. It’s OK to buy lottery tickets now. It’s OK to think about dating Cameron Diaz. Under Purnell, the previously impossible is now at least conceivable.

So let’s examine the three scenarios. In the 2008-09 basketball season, the Tigers have only one more chance at the impossible because they failed to win again in Chapel Hill and were ousted in the first round of the ACC tournament. So a Final Four appearance is the last chance for this season but I would not hold my breath for this one.

In my opinion, a Final Four berth is the most difficult for Clemson and really any program to achieve. Under the current conditions teams have to win four NCAA tournament games to advance to the Final Four site. Granted one or two of those wins might not be as difficult as winning a couple of games in the ACC tournament or winning in Chapel Hill. However, I think most Final Four teams would have to beat two very good basketball teams to make it to the Final Four. I know we have seen UNC-Charlotte and George Mason in the Final Four but those years are so few and far between.

A team going to the Final Four should be favored in at least their first game. If things go right for a Clemson team in the immediate future though, it will take a couple of upsets. The highest Clemson has ever entered the NCAA tournament was a four-seed.

I love Coach Purnell and love the direction of the program but a Final Four appearance in my lifetime may be a huge stretch.

Will Clemson ever win an ACC tournament on the hard wood? I think this is a good possibility in my lifetime. Granted, I need to start exercising more and dieting in order to take better care of myself if I want to see it. In my first 41 years it has not happened and in the 56 years of the league the Tigers have only played for the title twice. However, one of those times was last year and my feeling is that this will happen again in the not too distant future.

Clemson has come into the ACC tournament as the top-seed and maybe the favorite before. If you are a top four seed in this ACC you get a first round bye and have to only win three times in three days. There are scenarios where the Tigers would be heavy favorites in a quarterfinal game and would have to beat only two good teams to win an ACC title. The talent level is getting better and the program is building to the point where an ACC title is not Mission Impossible. Instead, it is OK to dream this dream.

Will Clemson ever win in Chapel Hill?

To win the ACC tournament you have to beat at least two good foes. The same can be said for beating North Carolina in Chapel Hill—the Tar Heels and the officials. Just kidding.

I might be the only person in Tiger Nation that does not think this is a major deal. If Clemson makes it to a Final Four then my life would change. My wardrobe would change. My car would change. I would own twenty Final Four t-shirts. My car would be covered in Final Four reminders.

If Clemson ever wins the ACC Tournament I might wear my official championship hat until I could not stand the smell anymore.

But if the Tigers beat UNC in Chapel Hill do we print t-shirts? Bumper stickers?

On a serious note, I think it will be easier to beat UNC in Chapel Hill than winning the ACC tournament or making it to a Final Four. Beating the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill would only take one hot player on one night. Winning an ACC title or making it to the Final Four takes more.

I know it may sound like trying to win the lottery but there is a better chance of UNC going cold on one night in Chapel Hill than two teams having off nights in the ACC or the NCAA tournaments.

Pressure
Clemson is not a pressure job and Oliver Purnell is one of the most popular coaches in school history in any sport. However, as he continues to raise the bar for Clemson roundball, expectations will continue to rise. Purnell has never won an NCAA tournament game and there is no pressure this season but there will come a point in time where the pressure to win an NCAA tournament game will become greater.

A Clemson win would be nice but a loss is not devastating….yet. If the Tigers lose Thursaday there will be more pressure on the coach the next time he reaches the tourney.

One final note—If Clemson plays well tomorrow they will win and their “B” game will probably be good enough. Michigan has struggled away from home this season. The Wolverines were 3-8 on the road but 3-2 on neutral site games. They did beat UCLA on a natural site. Their other two wins were against Oakland and Iowa. Michigan played very at home but I would be surprised if they play well away from home Thursday.

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, 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, Jean-Pierre Bailey, Kaitlyn L, Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naemi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, Vahid Tizfahm,Vincent Lee.