Clemson to bring the onions tonight against Maryland

Onions? Yes.

In the Bill Raftery manner, of course.

Tonight: 7:30pm, announced by Mike Patrick and Bill Rafferty
Watch: ESPN2
Listen: WCCP-FM
Follow: SCACCHoops

Maryland would like nothing more than to beat Clemson in Littlejohn, especially after last year, as TO hit the game winning shot, was named ACC Rookie of the week and Greivis Vasquez became the second most hated player on that court. Then there was the Scott Van Pelt-TO exchange. Oh, the memories of last year.

PS, I still love this girl.

Per tonight's game, Strelow of the The State seems to think the fates of Maryland and Gary Williams and Clemson and Oliver Purnell are inextricably interwoven. I don't know for sure. Hopefully, Maryland will lose tonight and win all of their other games, thus rendering any speculation about OP to Maryland a moot point.

Now, the Gary Williams Comedy Hour comes to Littlejohn.

GW- "Did Grievis make curfew last night?"
Other coach- "I think so."
GW- "Next time check again, because I think that girl wore him out last night; he looks tired and he's playing like sh*t."

Or something along those lines. It's hard to read his lips when he turns around to yell.
And Grievis, supposing he made curfew last night, will be the player to watch on Maryland. He is hot-headed and makes lazy, splashy passes. Hopefully, our press will be able to clamp down on him and the rest of the team.

The Terrapins are undersized compared to FSU, Wake, and even UVA. However, with their lack of height, they will be looking to exploit our lack of size on the perimeter and dribble through the press. Maryland will do whatever it takes. Remember the knock against GW has never been that he cannot coach- it is the recruiting that the Terp fans, alum, etc., are up in arms about. Maryland will be ready.

The Tigers will need a senior performance from KC Rivers in addition to solid defensive performances from Potter, Sykes, and Grant. We have to control the inside. If they pack it in like UVA, it is going to be another long game, especially if the Tigers are not hitting their outside shots. Our defense will have to flex its prowess and stay mobile. If the start beating the press, we have to adjust, mix-it-up, whatever. Should the press not be entirely effective, it doesn't have to be abandoned- just tweaked at times.

This is a big game for the Tigers to get back on track. Conversely, it is also a big game for the Terps to do the same and establish a stronger foothold in clustered middle of the ACC.

Go Tigers!

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!

So, the AP voter responds to Clemson fans, Scott Van Pelt responds to AP voter

If you haven't been paying attention, or didn't know of my, and the many Clemson fans disdain for the AP basketball voters, or maybe just one in particular, the asinine nature of many AP voters irks some in the national media as well. Scott Van Pelt from the WWL in particular, picked up on this thread during his show today.

Prior to being called out by Mr. Van Pelt, Wilner AP hack, posted a defense of his voting.

Now, here is Scott Van Pelt calling out Mr. AP Voter from San Jose for leaving Clemson off of his Ballot, and for a few other things as well. SVP invites him on the show to defend his voting record- of course, that didn't occur.

How in the hell can you not have Clemson ranked? - SVP mp3 sound byte.

Full SVP section concerning Wilner, AP hack, and Clemson. - SVP mp3 sound byte.

NCSU preview coming soon.

Enjoy!

Go Tigers!

Clemson love SVP-Style

This is in reference to our benchmark win against Duke-

So I met Oglesby in College Park:

we took a picture and that was poorly received by some of the Terps fan base.

If the team I grew up rooting for is done (thanks in large part to what the Tigers did that night) I am happy to pull for y'all.

I said last night on a tv show I sometimes host that your team was going to win this one. I thought you'd be too long and athletic. I get one right every once in a while.

I really enjoy the way your team plays and Oliver was on old Lefty coach.

Congrats on the win and I think if your team gets the lead tomorrow I think they will play with a different belief and confidence in themselves than they did the first two.

Enjoy this one...anytime you beat K, you have done something.