ACC Basketball Teams as Car Companies: Teams 7-12

Here is the rest of my teams as car companies review/revision for the remainder of the alphabet.

Miami- Mitsubishi.
Mitsubishi is all over the place. They make decent cars that few people buy because they charge too much. They are the sole provider of rear projection- old school- large screen TVs. They are all of these things and simultaneously none of them. They are a conglomerate of independents working as a unit under the tri-diamond umbrella of the name. They operate much the same way under The U at times. This year they don't have the steady scoring and leadership of Jack McClinton. They will, instead, be lead by James Dews. Miami seems to still be selling the brand of 1990s football that brought Miami into the national media spotlight. They play decent basketball, have some decent players, but can't break through. It might be difficult this year as well; they were picked to finish 10th by the ACC Media writers.

North Carolina State University- Jaguar.
Jaguar, I think, was once a luxury car brand. They have a proud heritage that extends back to 1922. But last year, they were sold by Ford to Tata Motor Company, an Indian company. They have retained some of their essential British-ness, but little else other than the name still exists. NC State has long played the step-child to UNC in basketball, and really most other things as well. And while they haven't sold themselves to the enemy, that might have to be an option soon. The fan base seems to have a chip on their shoulder, but the players, at least under Sidney Lowe, lack this conviction. The athletic department hired Sidney Lowe in an attempt to bring NCSU back to its Valvano glory days and their national championship. That has not happened. It will not until NC State atones for its Sendek sins and admits it was wrong. The athletic department and even the fanbase is too stubborn to do that.

University of North Carolina- BMW.
BMW is the more sensible German car choice, at least when compared to a Mercedes. Their prices are much more reasonable and their cars have been consistently reliable, less a few hiccups - see the BMW redesign controversy-along the way. UNC is the same- think the Doherty era. This year, however, UNC will be reloading after their national championship run, but are still picked by the ACC media to finish first (tied with Duke) in the ACC. What UNC lost is more than most teams will ever have and what they have now is more than most as well. While UNC loses Hansborough, Lawson, Ellington, and Green, they have Thompson, Ginyard, Davis, Zeller and then the freshmen: Henson, McDonald, and the Wear twins, plus wild card Larry Drew II. It looks like another successful season in Chapel Hill.

Virginia- Dodge.
Ok Dodge, you need to stop making everything except trucks. I mean it. Everything else you make is sub-par- not in a good, golfing way. You have a niche; exploit it, carve it out, get comfortable. Virginia, I suggest you do the same. Find someone/something which you value, be it character, talent, or whatever and stick to it. The Cavaliers need to find an identity- fast. And though last year's ACC ROY Sylven Landesberg is returning with a new coach, Tony Bennet, who loves the glacially-paced offensive attack. And while it might not sell in the ACC just yet, at least UVA is looking. Hopefully they find the focus and identity they have been looking for since, oh, I don't know, Ralph Sampson.

Virginia Tech- Jeep.
Jeep is sort of in a class all its own. When they have tried to adapt to the times with smaller, less powerful vehicles, they have often failed. When they have stuck to what they do well, they have been successful. Much is the same with Virginia Tech. Seth Greenberg has found a strong guard in Malcolm Delaney and a powerful forward with Jeff Allen. With the departure of AD Vassallo, and little else in between Delaney and Allen, if someone else doesn't step up to fill the rest of the slots, VT could be on the outside looking in in March.

Wake Forest- Volkswagen.
I guess Volkswagen, why not? VW's have been around, they are associated with hippies and tie-dye, Wake Forest has that lame black and yellow tie-dye logo, ergo, VW. Beyond that, Volkswagen has tried to position itself as the people's car/wagon/whatever, but then put out the $90,000 Phaeton. Which one is it? The sleek VW that wants to be the Mac of the car world or their bubbly heritage driven by middle-aged women? Wake Forest, to me, is in much the same place with their identity. While they have a much stronger product than NCSU, as far as the "big four," German cars or NC-ACC teams, are concerned, they are usually a distant third, or sometimes fourth. Wake has had some strong years, but have also had some flame-outs. This year, the Deacons could be ready for a breakout with the return of Al-Farouq Aminu and Ish Smith. Additionally, they bring in a strong recruiting class lead by Ari Stewart. With this nucleus and Chas MacFarland, they could have what it takes to make a run in the Sweet 16.

Tigers lose at home to Va. Tech

The OP Stat of the Game: Demontez Stitt, 14 points, 5 assists, 1 TO, 2 blk, 2 stl

Clemson Dejection: An Ode (from the Greenville News)

With the loss, the Tigers fall to 8-5 in the ACC. No longer are the Tigers in possession of second place, but are now in a tie for 3rd with FSU- who, wouldn't you know, they play next in Tallahassee. then comes the in-between game against UVA, and then the away game conclusion against Wake.

The standings as of the end of last night:

School	Conf.	Pct.	Overall	Pct.
North Carolina	10-3	.769	24-3	.889
Duke	9-4	.692	23-5	.821
Clemson	8-5	.615	22-5	.815
Florida State	8-5	.615	21-7	.750
Wake Forest	7-5	.583	20-5	.800
Boston College	8-6	.571	20-9	.690
Virginia Tech	7-6	.538	17-10	.630
Maryland	6-7	.462	17-10	.630
NC State	5-7	.417	15-10	.600
Miami	5-8	.385	16-10	.615
Virginia	3-9	.250	9-14	.391
Georgia Tech	1-12	.077	10-16	.385

Last night, save the first two minutes of the game, the Tigers looked drowsy, sluggish, lethargic. It was like the opening of the game took all of their in-game energy away. Yet, the Tigers were always in the game, within striking distance. Never once, however, did someone give us that extra boost we needed.

Booker looked to be the catalyst in the first half, but he couldn't get it to fall in the second half. KC played fairly efficiently, but didn't take the team on his shoulders, opting instead to play as a team player, rather than as a senior leader. Sykes was all but absent. Potter couldn't stay out of foul trouble. To be fair, the officials were calling some weak fouls- on both sides. However, this is the ACC, with ACC officials, the Tigers should be used to inconsistent, cheap foul calls. Maybe they were trying to keep the game in check- who knows.

TO tried to take the game over, as he tied the game with two threes and a FT. Still, it wasn't enough. The Tigers couldn't break through, as evidence in the last play of the game- TO gets the ball on the left side, but passes on the shot, passing to Stitt who vainly attempts to draw a foul. I don't know if it was a mistake, or miscommunication, but it was ugly.

Turnovers killed us last night. Vassallo killed us last night. Delaney killed us last night. We were unable to control the ball with 16 turnovers and 12 VT steals. The Hokies easily dribbled around, through, and over the press. Nothing we did really stopped them.

Again, when we came so close to attaining the goal moving up the ACC leaderboard, we slipped.

But now, we move on

Read what others have to say about last nights' game:

Tigers Stumble- Greenville News
Clemson edged by Virginia Tech in Heartbreak, 80-77- Clemson Tigers official recap
Tigers slip up, slide down standings- The State
Delaney helps Va. Tech upset Clemson, end losing streak- CBS Sports
Tigers throw away another opportunity: Virginia Tech 80, Clemson 77- Charleston.net
Gamestats: SCACCHoops

Go Tigers!

Clemson 86-82 against VT, in pictures

I didn't even think to mention the alternate purple uniforms we wore last night. It was, I am sure, to distinguish us from the hokie-stone orange and maroon.

KC Rivers found his shot tonight. Maybe it was wrapped up in the purple jersey, tied with the purple laces.
(from the Greenville News)

Oh, I failed to mention one of the best lines from last night's commentary. Musberger discussing some VT heroics said, "As the coach would say, that took onions!" "Onions." Bobby Knight, already red-faced, turned even more so as he acquiesced to Musberger's musings.

The Tigers needed some onions as well.

Here is the proof:

Ref- "Are you sure you should be shooting those three-point shots?"
DP- "I know. I know. But listen. I am about to go off here. I've got the purple jersey on. My ballin' DP tat is covered. And frankly, I find this discussion laughable."
Ref- "Just know, you have been duly warned."
DP- "The fifteen train is about to leave the station."

And in case you missed it, it will be returning shortly:

I told you ref. I just had to get used to the sleeves and the purple jersey. (from The Greenville News)

Sucks to your blackout VT. Your originality knows no bounds and your creativity is limitless.

(from the Greenville News)

Go Tigers!

Tigers re-enter top 25 poll after big win in College Park

Yes. Only a singular poll, as USA Today/Espn have us listed as #26.

But then again how much can we expect from the USA Today with such jumbled, seemingly contradictory analysis as this from the article: Trio of teams leaps into field after wild weekend

"Virginia Tech also climbs into position for a bid despite not even playing over the weekend. But like much of the bubble, there's plenty of teams stacked into a small box, and the Hokies need to keep pace in the ACC if they're to stick around for the Dance."

Clemson Bubble Analysis: IN
"Clemson is in the best position of almost any bubble team ... if they're even still on the bubble..."

Maryland Bubble Analysis: IN
"The Terps are still in the field, but they continue to play with fire. Losing big lead to Clemson can't affect their performance at Virginia next weekend, but someone might pass them on the bubble by then."

Miami: IN
"Canes have won five of their last six and have seen their overall RPI number rise considerably during the stretch. They're in good shape, but just can't slip up with BC and Florida State coming up this week."

Virginia Tech: IN
"As other teams fall, Hokies capitalize and climb in the field despite not playing since our last update. Need to beat Wake and could really use matchup with Clemson to close the season. But one step at a time."

So, even if we lose to VT, we will have still beaten 2/3 of the field teams from this analysis and are on a bubble and VT is supposed not. Hmm.?

Oh well,
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!