Thursday January 14, 2010

North Carolina Review

North Carolina Review
Let the debate begin.

Last night’s 83-64 point win over 13th-ranked North Carolina or last year’s 74-47 victory over 10th-ranked Duke Blue Devils?

I love talking about both of those and really don’t mind taking either side in the argument. I guess it’s like arguing Carrie Underwood or Julianne Hough? If I had any culture at all I would make a Picasso, Van Gough or Monet reference but I am clueless in that department. It was a thing of beauty and a masterpiece on the hardwood.

I know Clemson has a big uphill battle in getting grounded and finding a way to win on the road in Raleigh on Saturday and history tells us to expect a letdown. The Tigers have lost their last 14 games in which they were coming off of a win over a ranked team.

But today let’s just enjoy history today.

Dissecting this one is fun and some of the numbers from this one are impressive. For example:
*The 19-point defeat was the worst defeat in Roy William’s tenure at North Carolina.

*Clemson forced 26 North Carolina turnovers.

*The Heels made only one more field goal (27) than they had turnovers (26).

*Ed Davis and Deon Thompson came into Wednesday’s game averaging over 15 points apiece. The Tigers held each to just four points each.

*Clemson’s starters outscored North Carolina’s starters 67 to 30. Wow!

*Ed Davis was just 2 of 11 from the field. He had just four points and four rebounds. He was averaging over ten boards a game.

*Deon Thompson was just two of four from the field and was held to just four points and five rebounds. He also had five turnovers.

*Marcus Ginyard is the Tar Heels third leading scorer this year. He came into the game averaging 10 points but was also held to four points.

*UNC’s front court was averaging 40 points and 20 rebounds a game. Last night the trio was held to 12 points and 11 boards.

*Clemson scored 35 points in the first 9:41 of the game.

*The Tigers outscored UNC from the free throw line 18 to 7.

*Clemson was 18 of 20 from the free throw line for a blistering 90%.

*Clemson outscored the Tar Heels form behind the three-point line 21 to 9.

*The Tigers were 7 of 15 from three in the first half but was 0-11 in the second half. They hit 7 of the first 11 but then missed their last 15 three pointers.

*Both teams took 61 goals and Clemson made only two more field goals but the difference in the scoring came on the free throws and three-pointers.

*Trevor Booker and Demontez Stitt combined for 41 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists.

*Trevor Booker was 8 of 12 from the field and 5 of 7 from the line. The senior had 21 points, nine boards, four assists and two steals.

*Stitt was 8 of 14 from the field and 3 of 3 from the line for his 20 points and four assists.

*David Potter and Tanner Smith had five steals each. Clemson had 14 steals in the contest.

*Clemson scored 33 points off of turnovers compared to just 13 by the Heels.

*Clemson held its own in the paint and were only outscored there 40-38. Normally UNC has a huge advantage in this department.

*Smith added 14 points to go with his five steals.

*Clemson ended a 10-game losing streak to the Heels.

*The loss was the worse North Carolina has suffered in the ACC since Maryland beat them by 40 in 2003.

*North Carolina has never turned it over more than 26 times under Roy Williams.

*UNC is 1-5 on the road this season.

*Clemson had some big runs during the game. The Tigers started the game on a 7-0 run before UNC pulled to within 9-6. But then Clemson went on a 26-6 run.

*The Tigers hit all 13 of their free throws in the second half and their last 17 in the game.

*Clemson never trailed in the game.

I thought the atmosphere in Littlejohn last night was phenomenal. We had a Tar Heel fan call in the radio show this morning and he agreed. He also said he has been to games at Kansas, Kentucky and Duke and those places were no better or louder than what he witnessed last night.

I think the atmosphere had something to do with North Carolina’s 26 turnovers. The Tar Heels looked rattled from the opening tip. Clemson’s defense forced many of the turnovers but maybe the crowd had something to do with the unforced Tar Heel errors.

The daunting first six games of the schedule now don’t look so insurmountable. A spilt with the next two road games means the Tigers could come home to face Duke next Saturday with a chance to go 4-2 to start the ACC season. Two weeks ago that was not even a possibility in my mind. But we should not get too far ahead of ourselves. Instead, today, let’s just sit back and enjoy the spoils.

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, Bob Pollock, 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".