Finding Identity
I was excited entering this basketball season. I saw Clemson Nation embrace this program at the end of last season with the NIT run. They had four returning starters and had added some nice pieces to the puzzle. But so far this season has been a huge disappointment. I am hopeful that this team can find its identity as soon as tonight in Louisville.
My major disappointment has been the loss of identity. I thought this program was about three things:
1-Mental and Physical Toughness
2-Player Development
3-Depth
Mental and Physical Toughness
Brad Brownell
Brad Brownell
Head Coach
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said last year that Clemson fans ought to love his program because it was a lot like the old
Danny Ford
Danny Ford
Former Head Coach
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Football teams of three yards and a cloud of dust. He said we grind out possessions on offense and play hard on defense. I think Clemson fans embraced that identity but have seen little of that this season. I have not see this team play with the energy and enthusiasm it did a year ago. Maybe that can change tonight.
Player Development
I loved what this staff did in developing players in the first few years of the program but this year it seems like several players have gone the other way. Other than
Jaron Blossomgame
Jaron Blossomgame
RS So. Forward
#5 6-7, 215
Alpharetta, GA
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, I can't point to any player making a big improvement from last season.
Jordan Roper
Jordan Roper
Jr. Guard
#20 6-0, 165
Columbia, SC
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has gone backwards this season. As a freshman Roper averaged 7.9 points per game. As a sophomore he scored 7.4 points per contest. This season he has dipped to 3.9 points per game.
His field goal percentage went from 38% as a freshman to 40% as a sophomore. This season Roper is shooting 25% from the field.
In his freshman season, Roper hit 41% of his three pointers. Last year he was 32% from behind the arc. This year Roper has dipped to just 13% from three.
Austin Ajukwa
Austin Ajukwa
So. Guard
#1 6-6, 205
Columbia, SC
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has also failed to progress. As a freshman he hit 40% of his field goals. This year he is down to 31%. A season ago, Ajukwa made 42% of his three point attempts. This year he is down to 23%.
I thought a big piece of the puzzle this season would have been
Landry Nnoko
Landry Nnoko
Jr. Center
#35 6-10, 255
Montverde, FL
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but the center has stayed in foul trouble and has doubled his turnovers per game this season.
The freshmen guards have been abysmal from the field.
Patrick Rooks
Patrick Rooks
RS Fr. Guard
#0 6-2, 190
Charlotte, NC
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and
Gabe DeVoe
Gabe DeVoe
Fr. Guard
#10 6-3, 200
Shelby, NC
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were high scoring guards in high school. This year Rooks is shooting 26% and Devoe is 0-11 from the field. His next point will be his first in college. Maybe tonight we will see more from these players.
Depth
Clemson doesn't sign McDonald's All-Americans and thus doesn't lose guys to the NBA after one season. I thought this program lacked superstars but could build some depth and wear teams down.
This has not been the case this season. The Tigers have gotten very little off of the bench this season. Roper, Djitte, Ajukwa, Smith, Rooks and Devoe have added very little to this point. Maybe we will see more from the bench tonight.
In summary, the reasons I fell in love with Clemson basketball are not seen in this team. I want to like this team again. I want the program I fell in love with back again. Let's hope this team can find a spark tonight and make us like the identity again.
The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency
Prayer List
The prayer list is a medium for our community to recognize those that are in need. If you would like to add someone to the list, please email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com. Please let me know when it is appropriate to remove a person off the list.
Those who need our prayers include: Jo Ann Bachman, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got Igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S., Daniel Rosborough, the Huffman family, Nancy Winkler, John Reeve, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L., Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Perrin Seigler, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, the Nicolopulos family, "the Jacksonville, FL guys," Kim Sims, the Coyle family, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee, Kelly Trakas, Jimmy Moore, the Thomas V. family, Emary Claire Young, Kitty Bowers, Julie Locke, the Scheider family, Lauren Kittles' family, Frank Gentry, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Millie Heatley, Lynn Martin and family, Michael Pinson, Jake David family, Angie Crowley, Ira, Mike Tolson, Poly Wells, Dr. Muriel Bishop, Jack Cunningham, Emily Jefford Meister, Zachary Stoller, Aaron Clackum, Pat James, Cortney Moore, William Moore, Angelia and Savannah Anderson, Scott Johns, Frank Carroll, Brandon Thompson, Alvin Sammons, Georgine McAlhaney, Glen Davis, Mike Price, Clay Childers, Aaron Knight, Danielle Johnston and family, Nicholas Abrams, Lana Kuykendall, Gary, Gary G., William Huggins, Jim Bennett, Chantz Fowler, Ethel McElveen, Michele Gurganus, William Gentry, Lewis Usher and Tanya Sanders, Shon Cooper, Nick Collins, Amanda Peake, Danny Hammond, Chip Turner, Nick Collins, Allen Steen, the Sturkey family, the Lance family, Nick Chrisley's family, Allison Williams, Lt. Kyle Walker, Summer and Joel Johnson, Nicole O'Donnell, James O. Johnson, Joy Pruett and family, Bill Schmidt, Jack Bailey, Gardner Family, Charles Turner, Kathy Bartholomew, Ray Sanders, David and Robin Blocker, J.R. Ray, Kenneth Kowe, Lauren Sielicki, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Jonathan and Jacki Sullins, Peter Laboy, Kat and Carlisle Jones, Elizabeth Galloway and family, Anita McDonald, Willard Harryman, Liz Surratt, Molly Senn, Jackie Shearer, Richard Sellers, Tim Drisdelle, Edward Easterling, Dawson Bourne, Susan and Mike Brown, Julie Goodman Marshall, Willard and Dorothy Harryman, Justin Jernigan, Jack Cunningham, Mia Daughtery, Tee Senn, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, Rita Elrod Hammond and family, Jim McKeller, Tony Alewine, Sharon Storck, Dick Baird, Richard Bagnal, Dustin and Brittany Peurifoy, Jan Allan, Josh Cox, Gregg and Sylvia Lewis, Travis Hamrick, Kaki Harmon, Brandy Stephens, Jammie McKellar and babies, Karen Edwards, Jackson Lindsey, Cathy Hutson Gregg, Kristin Heckman, Jennifer Johnson, Jay Johnson, Lyndsie Johnson, Emily Davis, Hayes Davis, Judy Towe, Johnny Towe, Ken Brown, Elaine Brown, Rhonda Thompson, Tim Davis, Jacob Greinke, Jack Finley, Richard and Clara Crawford, Zach and Griffin Johnson, Israel, Frankie Allen, Bobby Allen, the Wessinger family, the Parsons family, Todd Price and family, Rosemary A Flynn, Dr. Mickey Shealy family, Sarah McManus, Mr. Gillespie, Al Evans, Craig Rush, Bobbi Nicholson, Earl Gilstrap, Dr. Matt Stower, Tyler Kemmerlin, Parks Hutto, and our great country and the men and women in uniform that protect and serve it every day, plus their families.
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