Clemson Tigers take on Furman

When: 4:00 pm
Where: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC
Watch: Only in-person
Listen: WCCP-FM
Follow: Gametracker, SCACCHoops

The semester's over. The purple paladins of Furman are in town. The Littlejohn crowd might be sparse. It might look a bit purple today in Littlejohn, with the empty seats and the visitors.

Nonetheless, today's game is the beginning of a tune-up stretch for the Tigers before the opening of ACC play at Duke on January 3rd. And while there are some trap games- at East Carolina, 10-1 Western Carolina, who beat Louisville in Louisville and Bradley at Bradley, and the dangerous College of Charleston- the Tigers should win all of these games.

After the performance against Illinois, every game, every possession needs to be played like it is the last second. If not, this is going to be a long disappointing season.

Today's game against Furman will hopefully continue the strong play of the guards and give some practice to the interior players.

Booker, while he had a career-high assist game, and showed he is an adept passer last game against USC, needs to be more assertive around the basket. Just having the ball in Booker's hand is a step in the right offensive direction.

Defensively, the Tigers have shown different looks playing some three quarter and half court traps along with man-to-man zones, and peppered with the OP press. However, the team looks porous at times, or else every coach has figured out how to maneuver around, over, or through or defense.

Yes the season is young, but it won't be for much longer. It is time to step of defensively, psychologically, and physically.

Go Tigers!

Tigers 91- Paladins 46

Ten highlights from lastnight:

1. Winning
2. Seeing the freshman in action
3. Playing team-ball throughout.
4. Reaching 1/17th of our win-loss record from the beginning of last year
5. Sharing the scoring love- even with walk-ons.
   
6. Sam Perry attempting to score as a first thought, rather than a desperation thought.
7. Ponying up for ACC Select and being able to hear Pete Yanity of the air remarks such as, "Wow, that was refreshing- just the bubbly jolt of caffeine I needed." And, [In reference to either a fan or referee, I am not sure], "It was great to see Dick Van Dyke again. Do you think he knows we call him Dick Van Dyke?"
8. Lurking under the radar, ranked 26th and 28th in the respective polls, publicly.
9. Reading box scores and hoping to find articles related to Clemson Basketball on the interweb.
10. Oliver Purnell.

Go Tigers!

2007 IS GO!!

It has been 215-216 days since the OP last posted. Tonight, it begins again. The Tigers are looking to defeat the 0-1 Furman Paladins and open their season 1-0.

I think even if I could watch the game tonight, I wouldn't. I am just too nervous. This year it is time too see just how integral Vernon "Porn-stache" Hamilton was in operating our offense. Surely my worst dreams would come true if he were the cog holding the Clemson machine together.

In just eight short minutes the new-look Tigers with freshman 3-point bomber Terrence Oglesby, wild-card Mr. Basketball NC Demontez Stitt, and legacy Jerai Grant will join the familiar faces of James Mays, KC Rivers, David Potter, Trevor Booker, "Tiny Wine" Sykes, and Julius Powell in welcoming the Paladins to Littlejohn.

It will be a long season and one that will not garner much respect until we reach the ACC portion of our season.

Tigers, it is time to finish what you started.

OP is GO!

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