Clemson Captures Big Win in Blacksburg, 86-82

The OP Stat of the Game: KC Rivers, 29 pts, 7-10 3PT
or, is it
Trevor Booker double-double- 21 pts, 13reb?
or, is it
David Potter's endgame?

Now, someone tell me what positive did Bobby Knight add to tonight's game? He so wanted VT to win so bad.

Is it because OP is such a good guy? Does Knight really hate the press that much? Whatever it is, Knight was having to eat his words at the end of the game.

Tonight looked pretty grim from the outset. The first half was ugly. KC Rivers kept us in the game with his three-point shot.

When we went to the half, I felt dejected. My stomach was had that UNC feeling. I probably cursed more than necessary.

But, just as OP has preached throughout the course of the year, the first minutes of each half determined the outcome of the game. After being down my nine at the half and then in the first two and a half minutes, VT extended the lead to 15, a significant shift occurred. We moved from a full court press to a half court press/trap.

The movement to the halfcourt game,coupled with the continued emphasis on getting Booker the ball, changed the rhythm of the game. With the inside/outside game working, we were able to erase a fifteen point deficit via a 20-1 run. We were able to slow down the game which force VT to get completely out of sync.

Booker rebounded, KC scored, and Potter came up big in the end. hitting a three, a two, his FTs, and just getting after it on defense. I guess he was trying to atone for the early first half fouls he gathered. Nice job and seven assists, DP.

Hopefully, this game gets us out of our offensive (defensive) funk. Well, except for Oglesby. Still, it was nice to see a passionate team again tonight. When we were down, we never stopped.

A big, big win for the Tigers tonight. This game places us squarely in the ACC mix- in a three-way tie for third with UNC and VT, behind Duke and Wake.

Now, we move on to a home game against Duke. But, not until next Tuesday. I almost (almost) with it were sooner. But it will be nice for Duke to get out their frustrations against Virginia after their last second loss to Wake last night.

Go Tigers!