Wednesday, December 19

Clemson in the San Juan Shootout

Key notes about each of Clemson's opponents in the upcoming event.

Game 1-
PRM:(Baloncesto!)
The PR-Mayaguez Tarzáns, or Bulldogs. Apparently they like, and/or, are capable and possibly good at playing volleyball, or voleibol. PRM is an agricultural school established in 1911 and is the 2nd largest school in the PR system. Done.

This might be a good game to ease James Mays and Sam Perry back into the lineup. Perry is listed as probable and Mays as questionable. The game should be short on drama and big on getting our chemistry in order with the return of our seniors.

Game 2-
DePaul:
Their website is atrocious, much like their basketball team this year. I couldn't get the links to work, the menu kept rolling out behind the ads. It seems the once powerful Blue Demons can get their game to work either. Currently, this year's squad is 2-5, a 54-53 demonizing of the Purple wildcats of Northwestern and a 85-70 thrashing of the TX-Corpus Christi Fighting Islanders.
Things are looking bleak for DePaul, the Chicago Tribune reports a 'dark cloud' abouve DePaul.

Assuming OP uses game one as a tune-up, this game should be an easy win. However, DePaul should not be immediately shrugged aside as we look forward to 8-0 Ole Miss. Think about the other upsets that have occurred thus far. Mind-boggling. So, if everything goes our way, we should be playing Ole Miss after winning against PRM and DePaul.

Game 3-
Ole Miss
This is a statement game for both teams. Ole Miss is looking to legitimize itself and its record, as most of their wins have been against sub-par competition, with their win against New Mexico being their biggest to this point. Ole Miss is a team with a similar agenda as the Tigers; win, prove, win, tournament.
Andy Kennedy was the 2007 SEC coach of the year and he knows what he is doing. This game will be one of our biggest, especially if we want to prove ourselves. The game is at a neutral site and but a few fans, except the die-hard baloncestos and family of Puerto-Riqueno Ole Miss Rebel David Huerto, will be in attendance.
Here is the scouting report from the Ole Miss site:

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Clemson is one of 14 unbeaten teams in the country with an 8-0 record. The Tigers are No. 15 in both national polls this week. Clemson is scoring 79.9 points per game and holding opponents to just 63.0 points. The Tigers are shooting .448 from the field and .412 from the 3-point line, while they also rank among the nation’s top 15 in both steals and blocked shots. K.C. Rivers leads four Tigers in double figure scoring with 15.9 ppg. James Mays, a preseason All-America pick who is listed as questionable with a sprained hip, put up 14.8 ppg through five games.

OLE MISS-CLEMSON SERIES
The Rebels dropped an 89-68 decision to the Tigers in last year’s second round of the NIT with Tiger center Trevor Booker scoring a career-high 21. Clemson went on to play in the championship game. The Tigers hold a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series with Ole Miss winning 53-49 in the first round of the NIT at Clemson on March 12, 1982 and the Tigers prevailing in ‘65 and ‘74.

Additionally, like Miss St., Ole Miss has a preseason All-SEC player, Drew Curtis, also last weeks' SEC player of the week. The Rebels are averaging 89.9 ppg. and allowing 71.4 ppg., while the Tigers are scoring 79.9 ppg and holding opponents to 63.0 ppg. Offense v. Defense. The same as in everygame- but this time, two extremes will be colliding. Whichever team plays their style of ball and forces the other to try to conform, will surely win. It should be the Tigers, but it could get ugly down in San Juan. But, we have a few days before we have to worry about Ole Miss.

Enjoy the tropical Carribean climate and the Baloncesto.

Ole Tigres!

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