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!

Sam Perry and his T-shirt are back

Per the Greenville News, Sam Perry will be back for the first game in the San Juan Shootout against PR-Mayaguez. Still the info is a bit sketchy for Mays. According to the State paper, he may play a little this week.

If I could find any information concerning the fighting Puerto Rico-Mayaguez team, I would provide a preview at this time. I will keep looking.

Until then,

Go Tigers.

James Mays only has a Hip Sprain

Things aren't as bad as they seem for James Mays, Clemson Tiger Basketball forward, who himself said he thought his hip was fractured; it turn out, he only has a hip sprain.

This is a solid piece of news for the Tigers. After watching them last night, I didn't think they would be able to hold off every opponent like they did the Boilermakers.

Last night, I think we saw just how integral James Mays is to the team. Not only is he a beast on offense, but he is a senior leader. So much so, I think you should watch this video of him. It is one of the best/most absurd videos you will ever see. Who decided to air such a piece?

Oh, in a side-note, t-shirt-wearing-anti-offense Sam Perry has been cleared to practice more.


Ban the woohoo!
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!

Clemson Basketball: 7-9, TampACC Tourney here we come

Watch the clocks because that makes it another win for the Tigers.

52% 3pt shooting.

KC Rivers with the start. Sam Perry, nothing.

20-9 Clemson to VT 20-9, not anymore. Maybe this will give the Tigers a much needed boost.

Looking back through the box score and knowing the endgame and end of game score, Clemson probably shouldn't have won. But, then again, they probably shouldn't have lost many of their games as well. Perhaps this is karma.

Regardless, we need one in the ACC tournament for a change and two for a lock.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: Survives the Miami Hurricane

Clemson Athletic Website

• Firstly, congratulations on a much needed victory last night. Senior VH should be proud of his ten points and his rescue of the victory, his own senior night, and hopefully the resuscitation of the team.
  
• Secondly, we are not out of the NCAA tournament of tournaments yet. But we could be shortly if we don't win at VT and at least one in the new, Fla-centric TampACC tournament. A loss in either situation means, hopefully, NIT. Of this, VH said, "I don't want to play another home game. It'd be nice to travel somewhere," referring to the NIT top seeded teams playing at home. Down with the NIT.
• Thirdly, Sam Perry only played three minutes. It seems his shirt did not get in the way while he was on the bench. Take a look at his line:

Sam Perry...   0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 3

The only non-zeroes correspond to the following: 2, fouls; 1, turnovers; 3, minutes played. Well, Mr. Energy, you should have listened to me. Just think of the mobility and free range of motion you could have without the shirt. Your line might look more respectable.

Keep this in mind, dear Tigers. Now get ready for VT and the TampACC tournament.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: NOOOO0000oooooo!!!

My heart hurts. My eyes hurt.

At some point, something has to be done. Some one please do it. What Clemson was once able to do, they have since lost that ability.


The pain of another ACC losing season.
The pain of a line like this:

S. Perry
25min
0-7 fgm-fga
1-2ftm-fta
1 off reb.
2 tot. reb.
2 assists
3 fouls
1 point

Humbly and reluctantly,
Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball fails to cross 66 point threshold against Duke

Again.
This time, however, the relative close score does not reflect the whole of the game. The Tigers nearly erased the 21 point deficit created by missing 13 straight shots and finishing the first half going 6-22, at 27.3%.

After a deep, wet tongue-lashing from Capt. OP and the good karma of having Ray Ray and Fahmarr appear at half-time, the Tigers were able to go on a scoring run and bring the score to 47-42 with about 10:14 minutes to go in the half.

Thoughts of winning the game, making the tournament, stopping the pain, or any of the aforementioned briefly re-appeared as the Tigers once again brought the scoring deficit to five points at 69-64, though scarcely six seconds were left. Then something happened after I turned off the television and the Tigers lost 71-66.

To Sam Perry,

You blocked three shots and had five rebounds, but only had three points. I must re-iterate the mistake you are making when you suit up with that elbow-length-sleeved shirt. While I don't wear athletic undershirts, again, many quality brands manufacture such garments. Large-box stores even carry off-brand versions of such. I really do think you should give it a try. Then, let me know what you think.

signed,
the-op.blogspot.com

Now, Clemson has three games left three chances, two away (BC, VT), one home, one tomorrow. And the line from the press brief concerning OP and his 20 win seasons will again appear. Please, please win.

Go Tigers!