Defense Crushes UAB 70-52, Clemson wins 1st Tourney Game Since 1997

by DrB on Mar 16, 2011 12:23 AM EDT in Clemson Basketball

And Brad Brownell gets his first NCAA win at Clemson. I know its UAB and its the play-in, but I'll take it.

Not going to say much tonight about it because we have to get cracking on some kind of preview for West Virginia, but except for about 10-15 minutes of this game you could not help but be impressed by the play of the Tigers tonight.

Clemson jumped out to a quick 25-7 lead with smothering defense, challenging every UAB pass they attempted. We pointed out in the preview that the PG Aaron Johnson (who ended up with a broken tibia) made UAB go, and Brownell noticed it as well. Clemson rotated his defender between Stitt and Young and he could never get free of the full court man pressure to get their offense moving.

UAB responded with two quick 3s from Jamarr Sanders, their leading scorer coming in, and rained 3 pointers down for the rest of the 1st half and into the beginning of the 2nd. UAB had only hit 33.7% from 3 all season and hit 7/13 to have the contest to a reachable 39-27 at halftime. The defense wasn't that bad, they were just hitting some great shots. UAB ended up with 12/24 3 pointers made on the night.

Clemson couldn't quite get the offense moving in the 2nd half but the defense picked up the slack until the interior size advantage did get going. Clemson dominated them inside on the night, with a 40-24 advantage in the paint. We got 22 and 8 boards from Jerai Grant and 10 and 7 from Devin Booker, along with 14/16 from the FT line.

Clemson faces 5-seed West Virginia Thursday at 12:15 EST on CBS.

Tweet Comment 7 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Great Win!

and that blond Cheerleader can be my hero any day.

by Lawtonfunk on Mar 16, 2011 8:04 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

Any way we can get a snap shot of her?

You know for personal research?

Don't give up, don't ever give up ~ Jim Valvano

by AParker on Mar 16, 2011 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions

Was very proud

last night to see SO much orange in UD arena. As i was walking in, i was wondering how many c u alumns were in southwest Ohio.. Every time i turned around, i ran into another clemson shirt.

by sedge94 on Mar 16, 2011 8:55 AM EDT reply actions

DR B

If you want to know what’s in store for us tomorrow at 12:15… all we have to do is look in the mirror.

Their front line is similar in size to us — Flowers, Jones, Thoroughman, Kalichla, are all 6-7 to 6-8.

Their back court of Mazzoula and Mitchell.. 1 driver and 1 shooter.

This is a team that struggles to score, but guards very very well and will turn you over. IMO.. whoever can get points from the perimeter and in transition will win this game.

We really couldn’t ask for a better matchup. Teams with size hurt us.. and WV is about as small as we are.

by sedge94 on Mar 16, 2011 9:43 AM EDT reply actions