Thursday February 25, 2010

Maryland Review; The Drive For Three

Maryland Review
What a difference 25 days make. On the last day of January Clemson beat Maryland in Littlejohn. It was an ugly game that saw Clemson win 62-53. The Tigers shot just 31% that night which was the lowest shooting percentage in a Clemson victory sense 1997.

The Tigers held Maryland to 53 points, 34.6 field goal shooting, 26 turnovers and 20 percent on three-point shooting in this game. It was the fewest points, most turnovers and lowest field goal percentage by Maryland this year. Maryland had shot .514 in ACC games on three-point shots entering the game but managed to go just 2-10 from three.

That January 31st game looked like the two teams had not practiced any offense and it looked like an exhibition game in late October.

Turn the clock forward 25 days and last night both offenses looked like well polished machines in last nights contest.

In January the teams combined for 115 points. Last night the two teams had 115 points with almost 13 minutes to go.

Last night the two teams combined for 19 three-pointers. Maryland shot 54 % from the field for the game. Both teams shot 50% from the field in the first half. Clemson had 48 first half points.

Was the offense that good for both squads or was the defense that bad? My guess is a little of both. The game looks different when both teams shoot the ball well and that was the case last night.

I still say I will take an ugly when over a pretty loss every day of the week but there were some positive things to come out of last night’s loss. First, three weeks ago many of us were not sure of Clemson’s half court offense could be productive. But for the second straight game I was impressed with the execution of the half court sets.

We also some more positives out of David Potter, Andre Young, Demontez Stitt, Trevor Booker and Milton Jennings on the offensive end.

Potter was 5-11 from the field including 3-7 from three. His 13 points in 26 minutes were a key to the half court success.

Booker had 13 points and 13 rebounds. But I was concerned that Trevor became a perimeter player and was not as effective in the second half. Perhaps the most concerning aspect of this game was Booker’s lack of presence in the second half.

Stitt had 15 points but a couple of key turnovers in the second half took away from the leading scorer’s night.

Andre Young got hit again from behind the three-point line. It was also nice to see Milton Jennings continue to grow up and play well. His confidence is growing with each game.

Devin Booker and Noel Johnson also played well in spurts in a tough environment.

I was disappointed to see Jerai Grant play only 10 minutes last night. He has been such a big key to the recent success but some of the fouls called on Grant last night were ridiculous. Someone please tell me how they called that fourth foul on Grant?

There were other positives from last night. The Tigers shot 80% from the free throw line and I thought they rebounded well and out rebounded the Terps 39-32.

Defense was another story, however. The Tigers forced only 10 turnovers. Also, Maryland shot 54% from the field and 62% from three.

The Drive For Three
So Clemson will enter the final eight days of the regular season with a 19-8 record and a 7-6 ACC mark. The Tigers are trying to advance to the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive season which has only happened once in school history.

Sunday Clemson visits Florida State where the Tigers have lost three of the last four. The Seminoles enter the game winning four of their five games with the only loss coming in Littlejohn. After s slow start, the Noles have won seven of their last ten ACC contests. FSU is 8-5 in the league so this will be a crucial game for their NCAA tournament hopes as well.

Senior night at Clemson will be next Tuesday night when the Tigers host Georgia Tech in another crucial matchup. The Yellow Jackets are currently 6-7 in the ACC but should be able to even their record with a win at home against Boston College Saturday. If Clemson loses in Tallahassee Sunday, both Tech and the Tigers will be 7-7 entering the key matchup.

Clemson’s final regular season game will be at Wake Forest where the Deacons are undefeated in ACC play. The Tigers have not won in Winston-Salem since 1990.

I have maintained that the Tigers can secure a third-straight NCAA tournament bid with an 8-8 record. Maryland’s Gary Williams sounded like he agreed after last night’s game when he said, “You can't tell me that a team like Clemson is not good enough to be in the NCAA tournament. It just seems like it is okay for other conferences to play great games between two good basketball teams with the loser has said they didn't their chances. I think Clemson will show down the stretch that they are a worthy basketball team."

Heading into last night’s games the ACC’s NCAA contenders RPIs were:
Duke 2
Wake Forest 20
Georgia Tech 30
Clemson 33
Maryland 34
Florida State 39
Virginia Tech 45

Virginia Tech lost by 20 at Boston College last night so their RPI will suffer. Florida State won by 10 in Chapel Hill on Wednesday so they will rise. And obviously Maryland will pass Clemson after their win last night.

Joe Lunardi, ESPN’s bracketologist, has seven ACC teams in the tournament and I agree that the above seven schools would be in if the tournament selection committee met today.

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, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), 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, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee.