Re: We have only had two basketball coaches who have stood up to UNC coaches.

for well over 60 years, have attended about 15 ACC Tournaments going as far back as 1975, been a hardcore ACC basketball fan for equally as long and fortunate enough to have seen games at all of the original ACC members' coliseums (still haven't been to Syracuse, ND, Louisville or Miami)---in some cases, more than one gym. Have seen a ton of basketball talent roll through the conference over the decades.

That night in Littlejohn when Barnes challenged Deano to a fistfight at center court was without question the greatest Clemson basketball moment in my lifetime. Rick was expressing the sentiment of every Clemson fan (and a BUNCH of others) who have endured decades of one-sided, biased, officiating and especially the almost dictatorial attitude and behavior of Coach Smith.

I don't know how many young Tiger fans are aware that many years ago, every ACC basketball coach could submit a "blackball list" of three conference officials to the ACC office who, under most circumstances, would be assigned other games to work. EVERY ACC ref bent over backwards to stay on Smith's good side because of the number of great Christmas tournaments, exhibitions etc, that unc was involved in put extra money and travel tix in the refs pockets.

So, the average Clemson fan felt great vindication when Barnes slammed his sportscoat down on the floor in a physical challenge to Smith....and I suppose that it also drew those same fans closer to Barnes so that when he said those stupid things about the local education system upon departing for Austin they felt a bit betrayed. I think Clemson would've paid Barnes whatever he sought to have kept him in Tigertown and would've agreed to any capital improvements within reason.

Anyhow, I was ready to take on the Smith's longtime assistant coach--the elderly Bill Guthridge--whenever the fisticuffs began....amazingly, no Clemson fans were arrested that evening. And fortunately it was far more huff'n'puffery than action because the Conference commissioner would have had to issue suspensions to coaches and players rather than inviting Smith and Barnes to his Greensboro home to "smooth things out" had any punches been thrown

BTW, second on my list of all-time greatest Clemson basketball moments was Buckner's last second dunk to defeat unc in the Tournament.

Message was edited by: tigrjm76®

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Tates Locke - Greensboro News & Record

Feb 10, 2019, 3:40 PM

Tates Locke is still crying foul.

Locke coached Clemson for five seasons in the early '70s, and he hasn't stopped harping about the officiating since.

``They were phantom calls,' said Locke when remembering Clemson's 61-60 defeat on Feb. 2, 1974.

Locke was never happy about what he perceived as officiating favorable to Dean Smith and the Tar Heels. In the previous season, Locke had pulled his players from the floor in the closing seconds of an 84-69 loss to UNC in the North-South Doubleheader in Charlotte.

On this night, however, the shooting of Van Gregg (20 points) and the fierce inside presence of mammoth freshman Tree Rollins had the Tigers poised to steal victory. Clemson led by as many as six in the second half.

But according to Locke, Rollins and many less partial observers, the officials got in Clemson's way.

Four significant calls took the ball out of the Tigers' hands and led directly to Tar Heel baskets. The refs whistled Clemson's sure-handed guard Jo Jo Bethea for palming and a double dribble and twice called three-second violations - once while the Tigers were still in the backcourt.

``You can't have but one count going on at a time,' says Locke.

Says Rollins, who finished with 15 points and seven rebounds: ``It was definitely a home-court advantage. Who knows what the officials were thinking? They were certainly questionable calls.'

Carolina took advantage, finally taking the lead at 57-56 on two Bobby Jones free throws with 2:19 remaining.

UNC still led 59-58 with 18 seconds left and guard Ray Harrison set to shoot one-and-one free throws. Harrison missed, but Jones tapped the rebound out to Darrell Elston. Nine seconds later, Elston drained two free throws, leaving Rollins' tap-in at the buzzer a moot point.

After the game, Locke voiced his complaints about official John Russell: ``This game was ours, no doubt. But the same official took us out of it just like he did at Clemson.'

Locke brought his Tigers back the next year and nearly won it again. This time Rollins, Stan Rome and sensational freshman Skip Wise - who scored 25 - left as 74-72 losers.

This time the Tigers couldn't complain about the officiating, only their own pathetic attempts to take advantage of it. Clemson made only 14 of 32 free-throw attempts.

The Tigers let a five-point halftime lead slip away, and UNC tried to hold onto a 70-68 lead with 5:14 remaining by dropping back into its fabled ``four corners.'

The gambit failed, as a Rollins block and a Wise layup gave Clemson a one-point lead with 2:19 left. Rollins missed two free throws that could have extended the lead with 1:45 to play and Rome failed on the front of a bonus chance one possession later.

Trailing 72-71, UNC turned to Walter Davis, who had been stuffed by Rollins on two previous shot attempts. Davis made a move to the left baseline to get away from Tree, then swished a 20-footer over 6-6 Wayne Croft with 15 seconds left.

``The Greyhound came through for them that night,' said Rollins.

Says Locke: ``Davis made one that was just remarkable.'

Clemson's last chance ended when Rome charged into Mitch Kupchak. John Kuester sank one of two foul shots for the final margin.

Locke, who currently scouts for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, left after that season and can only wonder what Bill Foster might have been able to do with a full complement of returning stars.

Wise, the first freshman to make first-team All-ACC, only lived up to half his name. He skipped out to the pros.

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Clemson basketball/ Rick Barnes

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Prolly meant lacrosse***

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Re: Clemson basketball/ Rick Barnes negative posts?

He should have drop-kicked old Deano right then and there.

lmao!!

lmao!!

We have only had two basketball coaches who have stood up to UNC coaches.