More AP Poll Fodder

This link from this morning is another post by Jon Wilner San Jose AP Voter.
I haven't posted a response in any of the comments, but many Tiger Fans have.

Nice Work.

While Wilner, AP voter, believes otherwise, Jay Bilas has this to say about the Clemson in an epsn insider post from yesterday in which he defines toughness:

Clemson has a chance to be special this year -- the best Tigers team since Dale Davis and Elden Campbell won the ACC regular season in 1990. I like the way Clemson is playing.

Bilas also lists KC Rivers as one of his top 18 tough players.

Again, just for effect, here is Scott Van Pelt exclaiming:
How in the hell can you not have Clemson ranked?

And SVP is right. We might lose the next twenty games, but right now, based upon all the things San Jose voter thinks- in an objective numbers world- Clemson deserves to be ranked, if for nothing else other than to break San Jose AP Voter's double standard.

Per tomorrow's game against NCSU, here is the official press release.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: Bilas Wrap

John (Anderson, SC): If Clemson beats UNC tonight, will this convince all the critics that this team is for real and will be a legitimate threat in the NCAA Tourney?

Jay Bilas: How could Clemson get more attention? According to us talking heads, the Clemson press is better than Wooden's UCLA teams and Richardson's Forty Miniutes of Hell combined. Clemson is very good. They can beat anyone out there, including UNC. Clemson gets to play Carolina at home but not on the road, so the Tigers have a better shot at the ACC title. I like that team a lot.

How much does Bilas love Clemson? I don't know, but I am sure less than Duke.


Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: Bilas Respect

So here it is- the first reference I have found this season concerning the Tigers and the NCAA Tourney from the Bilas, or anywhere. But first, from the same column by Bilas, a subtle jab at the MVC with a certain pro- ACC/Clemson Slant:


Bilas:

First, Wichita State is accorded plenty of respect by knowledgeable observers and poll voters because of its performance last year, and has been given great credit for its wins against Syracuse and LSU on the road. Second, if Wichita State had lost to ORU and DePaul but beat Florida, USC and Boston College, I think the Shockers would be well-regarded, and well within the Top 25. Third, if Wichita State had won against Old Dominion, Appalachian State and Georgia and went on the road and won at Minnesota and at South Carolina, and were unbeaten, the Shockers would be ranked in the top 10, without question.

Well, that is what Clemson has done, yet the Tigers just made it into the poll this week. What Turgeon is pointing out, and what I have been pointing out for some time now, is the disparate treatment and perception of majors and mid-majors in the media. Note that I said media, and not the Selection Committee.

Heading into the weekend, the ACC is 112-29 in nonconference games, and six of the ACC's teams are ranked in the RPI top 20 (eight in the top 40). North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Clemson and a healthy Boston College look like NCAA Tournament teams heading into conference play. Of course, given the nature of college basketball, there are no locks this early, but it is clear that the ACC is having another solid year.

Full article link

I am not exactly sure what this means for our future, but we will see soon enough. (A definite, official, prognostication there.) I think Ga. St. could be lethal if we look past them today, though. We will be set up for a solid ACC season if we pull the win today.

Believe it.
Go Tigers.

The Bilastrator and the Clemson Tigers

I cannot read the tea leaves within this posting in the chatwrap. He seems concentrated on a few ACC teams, including his beloved Duke. Rightfully, he says he needs to see more from the Clemson Tigers. But a "breakdown." Really?

Also, notice the zing at the end of the Bilas post. Does he really think he is above such things as tournament prognostication this early? He shouldn't be criticizing the profession he has chosen overhyped, pre-season-ranking, and tournament-selections not precluded.

Incidentally, did anyone watch the duke game last night? Abyssmal. I don't know what else to say about Duke's performance. They won, but that is about it.

Here's the Clemson chat transcript:

J Rizz (Clemson, SC): You didn't mention Clemson in your talk of the ACC either. They are 11-0 and if you've seen them play, you know they look poised for a run in the ACC. Hmmm so now it's adding up -- maybe you aren't giving the ACC as much credit as you should?

SportsNation Jay Bilas: Good call. Clemson still needs to win many more games to be up with Duke, UNC, MD and BC. Actually, NO teams in the ACC are NCAA locks today. I just feel like UNC, Duke, Maryland, and BC will be there at the end. The rest are more likely to have breakdowns, but GT and Clemson are capable. A long way to go. Forgive me if I don't get too wrapped up in Tournament selection in December.

Clemson Basketball: Bilas Believes!

H.F. (Atlanta, GA): A Clemson basketball question! Does Olliver Purnell have the ability to get Clemson to the middle of the pack in the ACC (5-8th) on a consistent basis with an invite to the Big Dance every 2 or 3 years? Or is that too much to hope for? Thanks, would be fun to cheer for my own school instead of Duke or UNC every March.

Jay Bilas: Clemson needs to do it this year, first. Let's let them walk before asking them to run with the main pack in the ACC. I like KC Rivers, Cliff Hammonds and James Mays a lot. Clemson is good, but many people need to see them do it in the league before buying in. I believe they can this year. The league is solid, but there are a lot of wins out there for Clemson if they shoot free throws better and defend.


Well, sort of. He likes what we have, but knows of our freethrow woes. As for the defense concern, I am a bit confused about that one. If anything, we have been playing defense well.