Monday December 22, 2008

Another Step

Another Step
I am amazed at the progress Clemson basketball continues to make under Oliver Purnell. Last night was another great example of another big step. Here are some of my thoughts on the 19-point victory:

*For just the second time in 10 years Clemson went on the road in the ACC and won a game by double digits. The other time was last season when the Tigers went to Virginia and won by 31. Therefore, last night was the second largest margin in Clemson’s last 83 road ACC games.

*Last night marked the first time Miami had lost an ACC opener.

*Miami is a good team and all three of its losses this season have come at the hands of top 25 teams but last night was the largest margin of the year.

*In the first nine minutes of the game, Miami built a 21-9 lead. In the final 31 minutes of the contest Clemson outscored the Hurricanes 82-51.

*The Tigers shot 62.2% from the field in the second half.

*Clemson shot 72.2% from the free throw line.

*K.C. Rivers has taken over the leadership role for the Tigers. I was concerned this season because I thought Clemson would greatly miss Cliff Hammonds’ leadership. However, Rivers has stepped up and it is clear who the leader of this year’s group is. Rivers has showed us mental and physical toughness. The senior was 10-15 from the field including 4-8 from behind the arch. Rivers hit 28 points in 37 minutes.

*Demontez Stitt continues to improve and he was a big key last night. Stitt and his teammates did a terrific job on Jack McClinton. The sophomore added five points and three steals but it was the way he led the break that impressed me. I was also encouraged once again the way Stitt handled the half-court offense.

*How about the effort Jerai Grant turned in? In 17 minutes Grant was 4-6 from the field for nine points. He had five rebounds, two assists a steal and two blocks. I thought one of the big keys in the contest was the first few minutes Grant gave the team after Trevor Booker got his fourth foul. Clemson was up by 10 with 8:54 remaining in the game and the Hurricanes finally had hope because Booker headed to the bench. The Canes had a chance with the Clemson big man in trouble. However, Grant came in and helped put Miami away in the next two and a half minutes. He had a block, two offensive rebounds, an assist and five crucial points. When Booker came back in the Tigers had stretched their lead to 14 points and the game was under control again.

*Booker was held to eight points but he had 16 rebounds and controlled the paint.

*Speaking of paint, Clemson outscored the Canes 46-30 in the paint.

*The Tigers forced 22 turnovers including 16 in the first half and outscored Miami 28-17 in points after turnovers.

*I was impressed with Oglesby and his resolve in the second half. After being shutout in the first half, Oglesby did something he has had a hard time doing. He regrouped and showed out in the second half with 17 points in the second stanza.

*I had a call from Peggy this morning on my radio show and she made a great point. Peggy said that she was impressed by Purnell and his staff because of the way they have developed Raymond Sykes. This is a player that has gotten better each year. As a freshman he averaged one point and one rebound. He doubled that number as a sophomore and doubled it again last season. This year Sykes has made his biggest jump. As a senior Sykes is averaging nine points and five and a half rebounds per contest. He has improved his body and is now a threat in some areas.

*The rest of this team finds ways to make positive contributions also. David Potter is a terrific free throw shooter and played good defense again last night. Tanner Smith does a bunch of little things well and showed up again in Coral Gables. Andre Young’s quickness was as factor on both ends of the court again in his first ACC game.

*Miami is a solid team that did not play well last night. McClinton going 1-4 from three-point land last night was big. Also the Hurricanes were just 12-27 from the free throw line.

Clemson now takes a break for the Christmas holiday and will come back with a game at arch-rival South Carolina January 30. The Gamecocks should come into the game with a 9-1 record. Home games with East Carolina (8-2) and Alabama (6-3) end the non-conference portion of the schedule.

I know I should not look too far ahead, but hey, I am a fan and unrealistic expectations is what we do best. So here we go--the Tigers should be favored in the next three games. At 12-0 Clemson could enter the real ACC season at 15-0 and 1-0 in the conference.

Is it OK that I am dreaming of a 16-0 Clemson team hosting a top ten Wake Forest squad in Littlejohn on January 17th?

Can I dream of a 4-4 ACC road record? Can I start thinking about a 6-2 ACC home record? Is that unrealistic? If Clemson wins the last three non-conference games and goes 4-4 on the road and 6-2 at home in the conference, that adds up to 24-6 and 10-6 in the league. Can I dream of another top four finish in the ACC and another first round bye in the ACC tournament?

I fully expect bumps in the road. I know Clemson will lose a game or two it is not supposed to. I can see some upsets on the horizon. But after watching the Tigers execute last night, a man can dream can’t he?

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