Basketball and Baseball Preview Notes
Tigers Begin The Gauntlet
Clemson's next seven games are as tough as any in the country. I called last week “Deposit Week.” It was a chance to get two wins before the schedule got extremely difficult. Clemson took advantage, won both games and is now 13-4 overall and 4-1 in the conference.
Like most, I expect the Tigers to struggle over the next seven games. In fact, I would take two wins in the next seven. This would put the Tigers at 15-9 overall and 6-6 in the league.
Tonight's task is a tall one. Pittsburgh is 16-2 overall and 4-1 in the league. This is a tough, physical team that plays extremely well at home. The Panthers are 11-0 at home this season and have been almost unbeatable at home under Jamie Dixon.
The Tigers win this past weekend should provide an excellent preview on one end of the floor. I am not talking X and Os, but Wake Forest played extremely hard on the defensive end. Clemson should expect the same intensity tonight.
A key to the Tigers' success of late is that they have been getting good efforts from a lot of different sources each game. One night it might be
Jaron Blossomgame
Jaron Blossomgame
RS Fr. Forward
#5 6-7, 215
Alpharetta, GA
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playing well like he did against Duke. One night it might be a good defensive effort from
Landry Nnoko
Landry Nnoko
So. Center
#35 6-10, 245
Montverde, FL
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. The Tigers have gotten a couple of good performances from Ibtahim Djambo, who played well against South Carolina and Wake Forest. Siddy Djitte has also given some solid efforts on the boards. Some nights
Jordan Roper
Jordan Roper
So. Guard
#20 5-11, 165
Columbia, SC
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has been hot on the offensive end. Other games have gotten good efforts from
Rod Hall
Rod Hall
Jr. Guard
#4 6-1, 210
Augusta, GA
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and
Adonis Filer
Adonis Filer
So. Guard
#3 6-2, 190
Chicago, IL
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.
Brad Brownell
Brad Brownell
Head Coach
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has gotten a lot out of this team but we still need to remember they are challenged in many ways. However, the staff has to be given credit for terrific game plans in recent games.
This team does the little things well. They defend well in the post and have rebounded the ball well. They are winning close games because of its terrific free throw shooting.
I believe the next challenge the staff and this team faces is a mental one. They cannot get too down on themselves when things go south during this tough stretch. It would be easy to get dejected with a bad effort on the road in several of these games.
They also have to keep an eye on the big picture. One thing they have to be aware of is the cumulative effect of five of six games on the road. It would be easy to get exhausted from the hostile environments and travel. The next three weeks could be just as tough of a mental drain as it they are a physical drain.
Clemson Baseball
I had a chance to sit down with Clemson assistant coach
Bradley LeCroy
Bradley LeCroy
Assistant Head
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recently and I was ready for opening day by the time the conversation ended. Lecroy and the baseball staff have worked very hard in recruiting and I think this is the best team Clemson has fielded in recent seasons.
I still have concerns about scoring runs, but this pitching staff should be one of the best in the country. This will be a deep staff with talent from both sides. Clemson has a good blend of experience and youth on this pitching staff.
One concern I have is the level of competition. The ACC is absolutely loaded this season. North Carolina, Virginia, NC State, Miami, Georgia Tech and Florida State are title contenders this season.
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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, 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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