Heartbreak
Sports teach us so many lessons. We learn that the highs can make us feel on top of the world one minute and the next minute we can get our hearts ripped out. Saturday we saw that as Clemson basketball fans.
Some teams and some coaches are closer to my heart than others. I pull for every Clemson sports team but I feel closer to certain teams some years. I really like this basketball team. I like who they are. I like
Brad Brownell
Brad Brownell
Head Coach
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.
I really liked Tommy West and it hurt a little more when his Clemson teams lost. I have felt the same way about many coaches and many teams, and I have started to feel that way about Brownell and this team. Like many of you, I have invested in this team. That is why Saturday hurt so badly.
Every loss hurts but some hurt more than others. This one reminded me of the Georgia Tech football game a few years ago when the Tigers snapped the ball over the punters head and gave a game away. Once again, this Saturday Clemson had the game in its hands but let it slip away.
Like many of you, I have seen the photos of the ball still in the Pittsburgh player’s fingertips when the clock is 0.00 and the light on the backboard is lit. We have heard the flawed explanation from Les Jones and his crew of officials. I too have wondered if the ACC could step in and declare the game over with the evidence. But really, this game should not have come down to this.
Often times we hear fans encouraging their team to go for it late in a football game on fourth down where they rationalize the decision stating, "If we can't make six inches then we don't deserve to win the game." One could make a legitimate claim that if you can't get the ball safely inbounds with less than 2.5 seconds to go then you don't deserve to win the game either.
The loss overshadowed some terrific efforts. Clemson shot 47% from the field. The Tigers were 9-23 or 39% from behind the three point line. Clemson shot 75% from the free throw line.
Four Tigers had double digit games, including
K.J. McDaniels
K.J. McDaniels
Jr. Forward
#32 6-6, 200
Birmingham, AL
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who had 24 points.
Rod Hall
Rod Hall
Jr. Guard
#4 6-1, 210
Augusta, GA
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had 12 points but missed a couple of free throws late.
Clemson got outstanding efforts from
Jaron Blossomgame
Jaron Blossomgame
RS Fr. Forward
#5 6-7, 215
Alpharetta, GA
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, who had 14 points, and
Jordan Roper
Jordan Roper
So. Guard
#20 5-11, 165
Columbia, SC
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, who had 12 points. Roper played backup point guard with
Adonis Filer
Adonis Filer
So. Guard
#3 6-2, 190
Chicago, IL
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out with a hamstring injury.
Pittsburgh played well also. The Panthers shot 50% from the field, 39% from three and 80% from the free throw line. Pitt outscored Clemson in the paint 36-28.
The loss also wasted an electric atmosphere in Littlejohn Coliseum Saturday. Students showed up early and 10,000 Clemson fans had the building rocking.
The Tigers are the No. 6 seed and face the winner of the opening round game between No. 11 Georgia Tech and No. 14 Boston College Thursday at 9 p.m. at the Greensboro Coliseum.
The Tigers were 3-0 against the Eagles and Yellow Jackets during the regular season. Clemson defeated Boston College 62-60 on the road to start ACC play. The Tigers swept the Yellow Jackets, winning 45-41 at home and 63-56 in Atlanta. The winner of Thursday’s contest faces the tournament’s No. 3 seed, Duke.
Now the Tigers have to find a way to rebound physically and emotionally. I hope they play well in Greensboro because I really like this team and staff.
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 email me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*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, 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, Joyce Bussey, Stacey McKeown, Dale Childs, Larry Lentz, Jr., Carl Sharperson, Scott Hannon, William Perry, Tyler Swaney, Lillian, Mark Feit, David Frame, Chad Berry, the family of Matthew M. Watson, the Dowis family, Shervin Messer, Alan Putnam, the Olivers, Lee Tate, Ronnie Abrams, Eddie Greene, the Jackson family, Bill Vader, Jim Taylor, Tina DeWitt, Rock Horne, Christopher Tuten, Bobby Wayne Thomas, Emma and Danielle Carothers, Robert Ditty, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Smith, Dot Cartee, Ayden Mills, 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, William Ross, Meredith Legg, 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, Doug Bailey and family, Jenna Phipps, Mark Lawrence, Harlan 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, Jim Lanier, Bob Garrett, Skylar, Joseph Thomas, Mrs. Nelis, Jeanne Thompson, Sean Rowell, George Parker, Levon Kirkland and family, Catherine Sewell, Randy Davenport, Patrick Destefano, David Vaughn, Keith Dalton, B.T., Bill Hilbig, 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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