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Replies: 36
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Campus Hero [14000]
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Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 1:32 PM
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Here for one year in 74-75. What if he played maybe one or more years of bkball here instead of going pro? Maybe could have won the ACC?. Also what if he didn't become hooked on drugs. Maybe would have been one of the NBA all time greats, and maybe we would have become more of an elite program. See video links include highlight vs #20 Penn in Littlejohn in 1974:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WjS55aoTTRo
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dQZsEq8tMOA
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Campus Hero [14000]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 1:39 PM
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From what I understand Moses Malone was that close to being a Clemson Tiger. Can you imagine Skip, Moses and Tree almost on the same team?
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Clemson Conqueror [11253]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:09 PM
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Tates Locke wrote a chapter in his book about the recruitment of Malone. Those were some wild times in the world of recruiting.
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Game Day Hero [4170]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 1:57 PM
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I played against Tree at the Rec Center - quite the experience
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110%er [6938]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:17 PM
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So sad, I didn't know about his drug problem. I guess there's a lot we didn't know back then because we didn't have the internet to get at least some news. I do remember seeing him play at Clemson. And gosh but Tree was so much fun to watch!
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Campus Hero [14000]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:24 PM
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Also remember that Lefty Drisel was this close to being the HC at Clemson when still at Davidson before he ended up Maryland. We probably would have had a real good program then.
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All-TigerNet [5916]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:36 PM
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The Adm must have been smarter BB wise and more interested in competing with the best. Now a days it’s stay out of trundle and try to
finish in the middle of the pack if you can
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All-Time Great [97737]
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Back in late 50’s & early 80’s I was a basket fan freak for Clemson..
Nov 12, 2021, 3:17 PM
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as well as Furman (attended there 1 semester at night school) in the early to mid 60’s..and Yes our administration seemed to be supporting BB then.
Not to say other CU administrations haven’t since then b/c they’ve torn up & redesigned poor ole LJ many times..with fewer seats, better sight line views, modern concessions in bright hallways, more rest rooms, lounge areas & locker rooms for players & opponents, etc..
but the bottom line is that excitement for Clemson BB ebbs & flows like a tide. Football is the tiger that wags the tail and always will.
For me the excitement was in ole Fike with metal & wood bleachers, low lighting, high temps, sweat, loud screaming just feet from the players, Frank Howard in attendance to police us, people falling off the upper bleachers from excitement, great visiting team players who made you & the Clemson players want to excel & jack up the effort & noise levels so to take down a #1 UNC or Duke which we did several times.
Saying, Fike was Sort of like Duke’s Cameron indoor BB Arena which was The Helll Hole every team feared.
Maybe Less is More (facility wise) but of course you need players that are very good & high-end competitors and have the attitude of fighting every play, as our football defensive teams do year after year..
plus that team mentality comes from the Coach which may answer our current problem a bit since BB might be too nice & not fiery enough ..something I didn’t see with Bobby Roberts, Tates Locke or that coach that left for Texas years ago and is from Hickory.
GoTiGERs!
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Clemson Sports Icon [55504]
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Re: Back in late 50’s & early 80’s I was a basket fan freak for Clemson..
Nov 12, 2021, 3:54 PM
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Awe yeah LBB never dissapoints.
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Varsity [130]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:46 PM
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I watched Skip play and he was much better than Phil Ford and others. It sucks that the ABA allowed underclassmen to be drafted. They ruined Skip's and many others careers. Skip with Tree and Stan Rome for a couple of more years would have produced championships.
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TigerNet Elite [74541]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:52 PM
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It was just enough to ruin his amateur status as the team went broke not long after he joined
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110%er [3717]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 13, 2021, 6:45 PM
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$40,000 signing bonus was all he saw.
Mac at Mac's Drive In had $1 bill Moses Malone tipped him on his menu board!
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Gridiron Giant [16011]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 7:20 PM
[ in reply to Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise... ] |
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There was another Freshman, Colon Abraham, that wasn't too shabby either. Between Rollins, Wise, Rome, and Abraham, (1 so and 3 fr) they averaged about 48 points per game.
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Clemson Sports Icon [55504]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 2:56 PM
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Wow, talk about a walk down memory lane. Them was some good times. So so sad about Skip... How many greats have succumb to the evil addiction.
Always liked Stan the Man.
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Solid Orange [1308]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 3:45 PM
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Saw them beat Maryland in Littlejohn. Place was packed. Skip Tree and Stan Rome.
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CU Guru [1511]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 14, 2021, 1:31 AM
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Stan Rome was fast. His favorite play was to outrun everyone after a made basket to our goal for a layup. I saw him do it many times. He couldn’t be caught!
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Legend [6785]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 3:45 PM
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We hosted uncheat towards the end of the season, and phil ford had already been running the 4-corners. Skip out played ford, and when we had the lead late the game, we went to the 4 corners and Skip ran it to perfection. Little John was rocking and uncheat couldn't defend their own creation.
A sad outcome for Skip, but a true what could have been.
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Heisman Winner [80818]
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Yes, I too was at that game. It is among my fondest Clemson
Nov 12, 2021, 4:00 PM
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memories. Skip Wise was such a great ball handler, the Tarholes had to work for awhile to physically get to him enough to foul him once we went into our version of the infamous "4-Corners".
The Fire Marshals looked the other way that night, because people were "seated" on the aisle steps EVERYWHERE in Littlejohn for that game.
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Orange Immortal [62183]
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Skip Wise was BETTER than UNC legend Phil Ford.
Nov 12, 2021, 4:06 PM
[ in reply to Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise... ] |
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And a whole bunch of other future NBA stars he played against. At least until drugs ruined his life. That's a fact. It's hard now to imagine Clemson having a basketball player of that caliber.
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Orange Blooded [2312]
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Asst Coach [886]
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Orange Immortal [62183]
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Skip Wise had Jordan level talent and potential - he was
Nov 12, 2021, 4:01 PM
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really that good. Clemson has not had a player close to his level since. He beat out Phil Ford, who went on to be Rookie Of The Year in the NBA, and several other future NBA players for 1st team All-ACC as a true freshman (the first true freshman to be named 1st team).
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Gridiron Giant [15319]
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Re: Skip Wise had Jordan level talent and potential - he was
Nov 12, 2021, 5:21 PM
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Yep. Skip was really, really good. I too remember the UNC game. I was sitting close to the action. I could see Skip taunting Phil Ford, daring him to steal the ball while dribbling it high.
It’s a shame Skip Wise left after one year to play for the Baltimore Claw which went bust.
I have no doubt had he stayed in college he would have been a great NBA player.
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Clemson Conqueror [11253]
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Re: Skip Wise had Jordan level talent and potential - he was
Nov 12, 2021, 5:55 PM
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Yes he had that high dribble that reminded me of Oscar Robertson. That UNC game was the best Clemson basketball game I’ve ever seen.
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Solid Orange [1308]
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Re: Skip Wise had Jordan level talent and potential - he was
Nov 12, 2021, 6:37 PM
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Yep that high dribble almost looked like he was traveling. Had a great spin move also
Lucky enough to be in school his year and watch him in person
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Game Day Hero [4283]
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While skip was very good - Billy Williams was the best I saw
Nov 12, 2021, 8:07 PM
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As far as guard play Billy.
But also Bobby Conrad as point guard.
Lots of inside guys. None in the past 12 years though. Wonder why? Hint, BB cannot recruit or develop inside guys.
Larry nance
Elden Campbell
Dale Davis
Tree Rollins
Forwards
Stan Rome
Colin Abraham
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Campus Hero [14000]
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Re: While skip was very good - Billy Williams was the best I saw
Nov 14, 2021, 12:49 AM
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He has one now in PJ Hall that he has helped develop that might be the start.
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Game Day Hero [4283]
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Re: While skip was very good - Billy Williams was the best I saw
Nov 14, 2021, 8:19 AM
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Agree on hall having great potential. Now, what if Prosper had not left (still don’t know why) and we had 2 guys to rebound, pass and kick out.
Name a good team with a single inside guy.
BB plays small ball and a single big (even if forcing your best player in years to play it in Sims). I guess they see that and don’t feel they will develop. Robertin, jemison, prosper, etc.
The last time we had a true inside game? We made it to the sweet 16. No coincidence in my opinion.
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Gridiron Giant [16011]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 8:09 PM
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Skip Wise and 1974 - 1975 Basketball Team Trivia:
What model cars did Tree Rollins, Skip Wise, Stan Rome and Colon Abraham drive? What town (where) was the dealership for the cars?
What is the connection between Skip Wise, the Ace of spades, and gold?
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Clemson Conqueror [11253]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 8:30 PM
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Tree drove a Monte Carlo. The other guys probably did also.
I don’t know the answer to the other question, but I do know that his nickname on the team was Honeydip. Honeydip Skip.
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Gridiron Giant [16011]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 12, 2021, 9:01 PM
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Yes and the 4 cars were all the same and all had a dealer sticker from Winnsboro, SC.
One of Skips front teeth (his right) was gold with the Ace of Spades in the center.
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Gridiron Giant [15319]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 13, 2021, 4:58 PM
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I agree Monte Carlo for 3 of them. I thought Skip drove a Mercury Capri?
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Dynasty Maker [3119]
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Best ever at Clemson
Nov 13, 2021, 5:44 PM
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Next to David Thompson, best college player I ever saw. Could take over a game. Fearless. Smooth. Deadly shot.
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Walk-On [122]
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Re: Best ever at Clemson
Nov 13, 2021, 6:30 PM
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The reason we had Wise, Rome, Rollins and Abraham was simple. We bought them all. I remember going to a basketball function at Martins Creek and seeing 4 new Monte Carlos side by side in the parking lot. The reason Skip Wise left after 1 year is he had no leadership or advice from our head coach who was too busy chasing cheer leeders to GAF about his players. Skip was not knowledgeable enough to know that he was not ready for professional basketball and the Baltimore franchise he signed with only wanted him so they could fill the seats. A tragic story that the former Clemson HC was largely responsible for.
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Gridiron Giant [16011]
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Gridiron Giant [15319]
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Re: Best ever at Clemson
Nov 14, 2021, 8:15 AM
[ in reply to Re: Best ever at Clemson ] |
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No doubt Locke was cheating like hell. It was completely obvious what was going on. However, Phil Ford was tooling around N. Myrtle one summer in a new convertible Caddy that his mother, a domestic, bought Phil.Sure. Dean Smith was a much smarter car buyer.
Yep, Tates was out of control.
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Tiger Spirit [9941]
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Re: Maybe greatest ever talent in bkball- Skip Wise...
Nov 14, 2021, 7:07 PM
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Skip Wise could control a game by himself and with his shot that came from almost behind his head, he was awesome. For many, many years he was the only true Freshman 1st Team All ACC. What a sad story Skip was.
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