Monday February 01, 2010

The Prettiest Ugly

The Prettiest Ugly
I may be the only one that feels this way but I thought last night was beautiful. In fact, I would rather win a game like last night as opposed to that 60% shooting night.

No, I have not lost my mind….at least not yet. Let me explain the thinking here.

Anyone can win a game where they shoot the ball well and just have one of those nights. In a 30-game season you can have one of those nights two or three times per season. Almost every team in the league will have one of those nights. They are great but they are so few and far between.

Last night was ugly. We are talking Rosie O here. But the point is that sometimes you have to win a tough, physical, low-scoring defensive battle. They can’t always be Carrie Underwoods.

I gain more respect for a team after a scrappy win in which they won ugly than I do those rare 60% nights. Show me a team that can win by shooting only 31% and I will show you a fantastic effort.

Clemson had no business winning that game last night. Demontez Stitt once again sat out. Trevor Booker had the flu all week and his little brother Devin broke his nose in practice last week. This group looked like a basketball team on life support.

Maryland came into the game with the league’s best record but the Terps are not the league’s best team. Still, the five Gary Williams put on the floor should beat this Clemson bunch.

That is why this win was so impressive. I think it was the most important win of the year so far. Clemson came into the game with a 3-4 record in the ACC and the Tigers were on a three-game losing streak. A loss and a 3-5 record is a huge difference than the 4-4 record after the win.

A couple of game notes show us just how bad the Tigers were in the win.

Clemson shot just 31.9 percent (22-69) from the field. It was the lowest field goal percentage in a Clemson victory since 1997 when the Tigers shot 31.6 percent in a 65-59 win over Tulsa in the NCAA Tournament.

I told someone last night that it looked like a Rick Barnes coached Clemson team due to the physical defense and poor shooting.

Speaking of defense, the Tigers held Maryland to 53 points, 34.6 field goal shooting, 26 turnovers and 20 percent on three-point shooting in this game. It was the fewest points, most turnovers and lowest field goal percentage by Maryland this year. Maryland had shot .514 in ACC games on three-point shots entering the game but managed to go just 2-10 from three.

How did the Tigers do it? I would credit Andre Young and Jerai Grant with huge efforts. Young tied a school record with seven steals. He and the rest of the Tigers forced Greivis Vazquez to commit nine turnovers.

Young, Booker and Grant were a major force on the defensive end and part of the reason Maryland did not score in the last four minutes of the game. The Terps’ last points came on Eric Hayes’ three-pointer with 4:06 to play.

Ugly wins sometimes means you win in a different way. It was certainly different not having Trevor Booker as the offensive star. He was just 2-16 from the field but did hit the huge three-pointer to answer Hayes’ three and give the Tigers a four-point lead again.

Booker did play terrific defense and grabbed 16 boards which was one shy of his career high.

But the night belonged to Grant. The Maryland native had a career high 18 points and a career high 12 rebounds . He also had four blocked shots and a steal in his 32 minutes of action. It was just his second career double-double, his first against an ACC team.

Grant played hard. He ran the floor well and was able to finish plays offensively. It was the kind of effort a team with three injuries or illnesses needed.

So Clemson ends the first half of conference play with a 4-4 mark. It could have been better but it could also have been worse. I still think 8-8 in this league gets you in the NCAA tournament but the Tigers will need Stitt back soon in order to get to that mark.

With a healthy Stitt, Clemson could get nine wins and maybe steal one to get to 10-6. A first round bye in the ACC tournament is a realistic goal if he returns to 100% soon. Without Stitt being healthy, the Tigers may struggle to a sub .500 mark in league play.

Stitt now has five days off to rest his injury as the Tigers do not play this week until Saturday’s game at Virginia Tech and we have learned anything in the past it is that these two teams usually play close, physical games.

OP on the Fans
I must admit I am biased towards Oliver Purnell. He would have to really screw up for me to disagree with him but I did not hear any boos towards Jennings last night. I take him for his word that he did though. Also, I do like the fact that he is defending his players. That is what a head coach needs to do.

I was more disappointed with the student section last night but OP chose not to get into that. I guess I have pounded that drum to the point where it is no longer even worth it but I am still amazed how there can be 700-900 empty seats in the student section. That was uglier than the game itself.

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", Kim Sims.