Wednesday February 27, 2008

The Biggest Game Since....

The Biggest Game in….
Since Thursday of last week I have claimed tonight’s game against Miami as the biggest game in Littlejohn in a long time. Here are the points on which I base that argument:

1-Like four other teams in the ACC (Virginia Tech, Maryland, Miami and Wake Forest), Clemson is trying to get the third or fourth seed in the ACC tournament. Each of the top four seeds receives a bye in the first round in the league’s tournament that is set to start in Charlotte two weeks from tomorrow.

2- Clemson is currently 7-5 in league play. A win tonight improves the record to 8-5 while a loss means the record falls to 7-6. To me there is a huge difference in 8-5 and 7-6.

3- The Tigers are coming off of a loss at Florida State so this game is even bigger now. Clemson’s next two games are on the road at Maryland and at Georgia Tech and the Tigers have not played well on the road in the ACC in the past. If Clemson drops tonight’s game, it could easily lose the next two road games. I would hate to come into the season finale with a four-game losing streak and a 7-8 ACC mark.

4- A win tonight would give Clemson 20 wins, another rarity in Tiger basketball.

5- Clemson needs to regain its momentum because Sunday the Tigers travel to Maryland for senior night in College Park. It should be an emotional night for the Terps who would be fighting for their NCAA lives.

6-Tonight’s game is against one of the teams Clemson is competing with for one of the final two spots in the ACC’s top four. Tonight’s game is actually a two-game swing in the standings between the two clubs.

7-The Tigers lost to Miami in Coral Gables earlier this year and if they lose tonight, Miami would have the tie-breaker if the two teams tie in the standings at the end of the regular season in the ACC.

8-Tonight’s game features two of the top teams in the latest RPI rankings. Earlier this week Clemson was 23rd and Miami was 24th. A win against a top 50 RPI school really helps you in the eyes of the NCAA tournament committee.

9-This is one of the season’s last ten games that the committee will be looking for when selecting teams and seeds for the NCAA tournament. Clemson does not want to falter coming down the stretch like last season.

10- Of the five teams competing for the two spots in the ACC’s top four, Clemson has the most difficult schedule.

Clemson is 7-6 with the rest of the schedule of Miami, at Maryland, at Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech is 8-6 with only two conference games left. The Hokies have Wake Forest and at Clemson.

Maryland is 7-6 with remaining games at Wake Forest, Clemson and at Virginia.

Miami is 6-6 and after tonight’s game at Clemson the Canes have Virginia, Boston College and are at Florida State.

Wake Forest is 6-6 but still has Maryland, at Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and NC State.

None of the five teams have any games remaining with Duke or North Carolina. Clemson, Miami and Wake Forest have four games left while Maryland has three and Virginia Tech has only two.

Of the five schools fighting for the last two spots in the top four of the conference, Clemson plays three of the other four, Maryland, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech play two of the other four. Tonight’s game is the last against the other four for Miami.

Therefore, in my opinion Miami has the easiest road to one of the top four spots in terms of difficulty of remaining schedule. Wake Forest and Maryland are probably next. Virginia Tech only has two games left and has eight days off. Clemson has to play three of the other four but two of the three are at home.

Only Duke has a fewer home conference losses this season as the Blue Devils are undefeated in conference play in Cameron. Clemson, North Carolina and Wake Forest have dropped only one conference game at home so far.

Because Clemson has a slight lead on the other four, the Tigers control their own destiny. If they just hold serve at home in the two remaining home games Clemson would finish at 9-7 and 21-8 overall. I feel those marks are good enough for a first round bye in the ACC tournament and an NCAA tournament bid.

I hope I have made a good case for the importance of tonight’s game but have held my strongest card. The biggest reason tonight’s game is bigger than big is the perception of the program. Clemson needs to make it to the NCAA tournament to continue to advance the program. Oliver Purnell has advanced his program each year here in Tigertown and he admits the next step is an NCAA tournament bid. Clemson needs to get to the Big Dance in order keep the program moving forward. It is the natural next step and one that is within reach. A win tonight would not wrap up an NCAA tournament bid but it would give the Tigers more wiggle room in case of a slip up coming down the stretch.

On my radio show this morning Clemson assistant coach Shaka Smart made a great point to the fans about the importance of their energy tonight. Smart says that the players can sense it when the crowd is into the game and the earlier the fans get there and get into the game the better. He says our crowd is one of the best in the league and it could make a big difference tonight. The plea was for loud early and often tonight and we can all help this team continue in its dream.

It starts tonight with the biggest game in Littlejohn since…..

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