Clemson Basketball: Welcome Freshmen!

Before acknowledging the freshmen, here is an article reminding everyone of Trevor's offseason accomplishments: Trevor Booker brought home Bronze in the World university games.

Now, onto next year:

Here is the audio from the press conference with OP welcoming this year's incoming class.

One of the best things in the introductory interview with OP is his response to a question concerning the transition and preparation of the freshmen for the ACC. OP immediately moves to the importance of the academic transition. Of course, playing time was the next question.

Again, OP states there is one starter- Trevor Booker. And the freshmen can/will be in the starting competition mix.

In case you you don't know, the class composed of Milton Jennings, Donte Hill, Devin Booker, and Noel Johnson is highly rated. Maybe the best ever, per OP.

Now, to the Article Round Up!
The State: Tigers' future steps to the floor
CBSSports Johnson turns to Clemson after Floyd leaves USC
CUTigers- Donte Hill: Under the Radar: Donte Hill Interview Audio
Greenville News: Clemson basketball coach Oliver Purnell introduces 'Fab Four'

Just because I'm bored.

Also, and more importantly, in terms of the larger picture and scope of this world, Oliver and Vicky Purnell announced their second annual Coaches vs. Cancer Fundraiser.

Here is the link to the official Tigerfest 2009 site.
Here is a link to Oliver Purnell announcing Tigerfest 2009.

Also, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge times have been solidified:

Clemson vs. Illinois in Littlejohn, Wednesday, December 2, 7:15pm, ESPN. Other teams are apparently playing as well.

So with this announcement combined with the 76 Classic preseason tournament, the schedule is starting to come together, as least the early part.
Go Tigers!

Oliver Purnell Discusses Maryland Victory

Jerai Grant Dunks x 3 - from the Greenville News

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: It's that time of year again.

What many people may look toward during the basketball season is now what many are trying to forget even before this basketball season starts. It seems our football team has not lived up to their potential and preseason hype. And so we all turn our attention to the consistent improvement of Oliver Purnell and the Men's basketball team.

And while last year's performance is being downplayed by the Tigers, as KC said, "Last year is last year." With three solid seniors not back from last year's team- Of course, Uncle Cliff, James Mays, and his fellow energy brother Sam "Sleeves" Perry will be missed- this year is going to be a challenge.

However, Oliver Purnell is carefully optimistic. The Tiger Men's Basketball team under Purnell has improved each year he has been coach, last year achieving a 24-10 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Though those bright hopes, were dashed by the Fighting Villanovans in the first round of the NCAA tournament, this year Purnell expects just as much and even more of the team.

"We want to make this year no exception," Purnell said. "What that means is being above the second- or third-best team in the ACC. And what that means is not just participating in the national tournament, but going deep in the national tournament with a chance to win it."
This year, our out-of-conference schedule is a bit more difficult and will hopefully help us prepare for the endgame in March.

Senior KC Rivers will be leading the charge this year with all other, non-senior key players returning: TO- Terrence "Thor" Oglesby, Raymond"Tiny Wine" Sykes, Demontez Stitt, David Potter, Jerai Grant, oh, and big Book, Trevor Booker in center. The addition of Big Ups "Bobo" Catalin Baicu also in the center, speedy Andre Young at point, and "Big Smoove" Bryan Narcisse and Tanner "The Gentle Ginger" Smith on the wing should help shore up some of the void left by the departing seniors. I'm getting excited just listing the players names. Replacing Cliff Hammonds, however, and not necessarily in terms of statistics, but of heart, dedication, and determination, will probably be the most difficult concern for this year's team.

It's time to get ready and time to get going. Read more about this year's team below:

Greenville News
Anderson Independent, 2
Charleston Post and Courier
The State
Spartanburg Herald-Journal

Next Friday, 10/17, practice officially begins and it will be time to "Rock the John" with festivities starting at 8:00 pm.

Go Tigers!

Tigers Twenty point comeback video

Oliver Purnell Interview: from 850 the Buzz

This interview comes from last week's show with David Glenn on 850 the buzz in Raleigh




And now for contrast, here's an interview with (4-3)NC State Coach Sidney Lowe from today's David Glenn show.

Clemson Basketball: Timekeeper guy needs to be fired.

From our seats, this image is right before things got bad.

This youtube video is when it got bad.

Never mind the added time at the end. The clock did not move when Vernon Hamilton took his shot. As I was at the game, I can assure you VH had the ball longer than .6 seconds. I hope to god OP files a formal complaint with the ACC officials/timekeepers/whoever for that. Yes, Duke would have still had an opportunity to shoot their final shot, but not 4.4 seconds.

Yes, I was in the belly of the whale, the death star. And I hated it.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball: Video Highlights from Shoeless Works

The File is large, 27MB in wmv format, but worth it. The video covers FSU, GT, NCSU, MD, UNC, and BC. So, you get the good and the bad.

The video is also available from Youtube.

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball- Gametrack This!

If you need to Gametrack, then do it.
If you need to use the interweb to listen, do so at wccpfm .

C-L-E-M-S-O-O-O-O-N!!!
Go Tigers.

Clemson Basketball: OP on Cold Pizza Video

If you missed it, click here, or the picture above to watch OP's appearance on ESPN's Cold Pizza. As always, OP presents a positive image of Clemson. I want to invite him over for dinner.

alternate video link

Go Tigers!

Clemson Basketball vs. UNC: Preview Links

• Positive or Negative, inside or out, here is a video of Clemson students waiting for tickets for the UNC game tomorrow night.
• A preview of tomorrow's game: Clemson vs. UNC via, inside carolina.
• Link to UNC messageboard discussing the possibilities and ramifications of UNC losing to Clemson.
• Pro-Clemson Article from the New York Sun.

Go Tigers!

Thanks to the Tigernet: OP on Rome

Audio via youtube. I found the link in the Tigernet forum. Somehow, I forgot it was Friday.

OP!

Go Tigers!

OP on Jim Rome, Thursday

I missed it but you might not have. Hour one, segment three. If you have a password/account, and download the audio, I'd like to hear it. Thanks in advance.

Sorry, it was yesterday, not today.

OP taking it Coast to Coast, for the Clones.

Go Tigers.

Clemson Basketball: Photos

Click the link above for the images. They are a bit State-centric, but they nice nonetheless. My favorite is either the one with Booker posting up or the one with OP making subs with more players than State has on its roster.

Thanks to the Chatham Journal , the local paper of Chatham County, NC.

Clemson Basketball :Podcast from the Insider

Andy Katz on Andy Glockner. This is ESPNU NCB Insider on 1/4 just after the win against FSU. The Clemson info really starts about 14:28.


podcast link. A very interesting take.

Some people were starting to come around even prior to the win against GT. Tonight/tomorrow's rankings should reflect what the rest think about us.

Videos: Clemson Basketball 2-0 in ACC

Firstly, a link to Mr. Shoeless- Thanks again.
Notice: files are a bit large and are in .wmv format.

Mays follow dunk and replay
Mays super duper crazy flying reverse off the rebound dunk and replay!
Cliff Hammonds has icewater in his veins late in games (FSU and GT clips)
Mays is Super Human and doesn't need more than 6.5 seconds to sprint around the world & make a layup to win the game

Also, Sportscenter via YouTube final play of the game.

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.

Clemson Basketball Video Highlights

Here is a nice video I found on a Clemson Basketball Messageboard.

Click to save or to watch: BEWARE, the video is 22MB. Thanks to whoever shoelessworks is.

Go Tigers!

Tiger Video and Tigers on TV!

Firstly, I added some links to some historic videos in the link section. Also, I added a sweet Trevor Booker dunk (posted below).

Secondly, I found this quaint press release on the Clemson Website.

This Clemson press release looked promising until I read to the second line.

Dec. 7, 2006

"The Clemson-Georgia men's basketball game scheduled for Thursday, December 28 has been selected to be televised by Fox Sports Net South, except for in the state of North Carolina. The game, which was originally announced as a 7:30 PM start time, will now tip-off at 7:00 PM that Thursday at Littlejohn Coliseum."

I know some type of blackout rule exists here, but really? Not in NC? What states does FSN South Cover? SC and NC? That might be it. Does whomever is in charge know NC is close to SC? Do they know you can get a Clemson University NC license plate? Do they know NC is the 11th most populous state in the country? Someone's credibility is deeply wounded after this Tiger video debacle.

Trevor Booker: DUNK!