Wednesday March 03, 2010

Oh What a Night!

Oh What a Night!
Of all of the things Oliver Purnell does well perhaps the thing he does best is Senior Night.

Under Purnell, Senior Night begins with a tearful ceremony where he loses his emotions in saying goodbye to the seniors. He even breaks out the orange blazer for the special night. Then the night ends with the seniors speaking to the crowd through the P.A. microphone. And in the last six years, it has ended with a huge Clemson win.

Last night was another special night.

The ninth win of the ACC season gives the Tigers three straight winning seasons in the conference for the first time in school history. It was also the first time Clemson has four consecutive 20-win seasons and Booker and Potter added a 93rd win to their Tiger careers, another school record.

The Tigers broke a 41-41 tie with another Andre Young three-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half and kick start a big second half spurt. In the second half Clemson protected the basketball much better and did a much better job on the boards.

In the recruiting rankings and even in the pre-game warm ups it is hard to see how Clemson could beat a team with this many future NBA stars. But when Paul Hewitt is your coach, it could make Derrick Favors, Gani Lawal, Iman Shumpert and Glenn Rice, Jr a 7-8 ACC team. Every time I watch Tech play I wonder how they could have a losing record in the league, then I remember Hewitt is still the man in charge of the Jackets.

The Tigers turned the ball over only 11 times and worked the inside-outside approach in the half court offense. Demontez Stitt was 4-6 from three in compiling his 20 points. The junior also had seven assists and four steals.

Young and David Potter added three three-pointers each as the Tigers were 12-27 from behind the arch.

Georgia Tech is a very difficult matchup inside but Devin Booker had seven points and four rebounds. Jerai Grant had 10 points and Trevor Booker added 21 points and nine rebounds.

In the end, it was another perfect way to celebrate the careers of the seniors. Potter stepped up with a couple of huge three-pointers as the Tigers tried to stay close in the first half. Trevor Booker had a big three-pointer and ended his home career win a thunderous dunk on a rebound. It was the appropriate way to finish a great career at home.

It was also an example of Clemson winning two different styles of basketball games in 48 hours. In Tallahassee Sunday they won a blood bath, defensive battle. Last night Clemson won an offensive free for all. I think it is a sign if a good team that can win games in different ways.

I also think the crowd was fantastic last night. Purnell sent the students and e-mail asking for their support and they responded with good energy.

Energy was a key as Clemson was coming off a road win Sunday night and had only one day to prepare for Tech. The staff was concerned about the short turnaround but Purnell and staff found extra motivation. Purnell talked about honoring the seniors with a great effort. He challenged his team to send out the seniors the right way and apparently it worked. Purnell also commented after the game about the team unity and how this team is the closest it has been all year.

Clemson finishes the regular season with a 7-1 record in ACC home games. All seven wins were by at least eight points. It was Clemson’s fifth ACC home win by double digits.

The only bad news to come out of last night’s win was Tanner Smith’s ankle injury.

So the Tigers improve to 21-8 overall and 9-6 in the ACC. Their RPI improved to 25th and Clemson is now alone in third place in the ACC.

Now Clemson has four days off to prepare for the season finally as it travels to Winston-Salem for a game against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons may need a win to get into the NCAA tournament, something Clemson does not have to worry about. Instead the Tigers are playing for seeding in the ACC tournament and NCAA tournament.

Tonight are two ACC games that will affect Clemson’s ACC standings. NC State visits Virginia Tech and Wake Forest travels to Florida State. If the Wolfpack upsets the Hokies tonight, Virginia Tech face Georgia Tech Saturday with a potential NCAA tournament bid on the line.

The winner of the Wake Forest-Florida State game gets its ninth conference win but the loser may need to win this weekend to get in the NCAA tournament. Wake hosts Clemson and the Seminoles travel to Miami this weekend.

The ACC could get as few as five teams and as many as seven in the NCAA tournament but that could be decided in the next five days.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee.