Clemson Falls to Miami 76-73
by ggggmen08 on Jan 18, 2012 9:34 PM EST
in Clemson Basketball
Email
PrintI'm not sure how this is possible, but ESPN3 blacked out the game where I live, yet I couldn't watch it on TV either. Instead, RSN was broadcasting the 1-12 Washington Wizards. Forced to choose between the Wizards or following a gamecast for 2 hours, I decided to follow the gamecast for 2 hours.
My thoughts and opinions are strictly based on what the gamecast has told me, so if I'm wrong I plead ignorance. Please feel free to fill me in on anything I may miss.
Tanner Smith owned the first half for Clemson. He was absolutely on fire and finished the first half with 18 of Clemson's 39 first half points. Unfortunately he didn't receive much help from his supporting cast and our defensive effort was atrocious. F1NS' comment after last game, where he said we can't seem to get multiple guys hot at the same time is very true. If Tanner is feeling it, it seems like Andre Young is off. If Jennings sneaks up on us and has a good game, Tanner is off.
In the second half, the good Tanner cooled off and turnover Tanner came out. He finished the game with 6 turnovers, of which 5 came in the 2nd half.
This loss does not fall on the offense, though, from what I read. Yes, we could've shot better from the foul line and from behind the arc, but we put up 73 points while shooting 48% from the field. We had 4 guys score in double figures, with Tanner leading the way with 23 points.
What hurt us in this game was our defense. We allowed Miami to shoot 51% from the field and 45% from behind the arc. Miami was also able to knock down 13-14 free throws. Malcolm Grant got out of his slump, just as Category 6 had predicted, leading Miami with 16 points. This is not the same defensive team we saw lock people down defensively last year. I may not have been able to watch this game, but I've seen enough this year to know that our perimeter defense is soft and we lack a shot blocking presence to mask this deficiency.
It's tough to win on the road, especially in conference play. Losing to Miami by 3 isn't a terrible loss by any means. Miami is a more talented team than Clemson. I believe 4 out of their 5 starters would be starting for Clemson right now. So losing on the road at Miami doesn't surprise me. However, I'd like to be able to stop using the lack of talent excuse after every loss and instead praise these guys for winning with effort and smart play. The FSU game gave us a false sense of hope, which makes this losing streak tougher to swallow.
Also, can we get more KJ McDaniel? Please??
I'd love to hear the thoughts of people that were actually able to watch the game...
7 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I watched the game and your spot on
Tanner wasn’t very effective in the second half. Bobo had a good game and continues to show the fire that Booker and Jennings lack. I would start Bobo personnaly. It was our D that let us down this game. Miami was able to make a run every time we took the lead and once again our lack of a go to guy hurt us when we really needed it, until we find that guy then we’ll struggle in close games.
1-3-1
We switched to the 1-3-1 D at the end of the game to try to get back in it. It worked a little bit against Duke, and it pulled us back in it in this one too. It possibly could have one us the game if not for some real costly turnovers at the end there (Devin throwing the ball to the bench, Tanner’s TO with just seconds remaining, etc.)
I love watching us play the 1-3-1, as its exciting and creates TOs
as you said, our perimeter D is lacking, so maybe we could employ the 1-3-1 more often, it would certainly improve our perimeter D
I don’t think it would be reasonable to try to use it the whole game, as the opponent would get too many easy layups bc of the 1-3-1, but I hope Brownell will keep using it at certain parts of games, and maybe he will try to use it before the very end of games like he has been doing
I'm a big fan of mixing up defenses
It all depends on how much you work on that defense in practice though.
Did somebody say Free Throws?
Hmmm I didnt see the game but we lose by 3 on the road. Let me guess we shoot under 70% FT again and our opponent shoots over 75% again.
I think our FT 5 is about 67% for the season and thats because Young is shooting like 93% and he takes more FT’s than anybody. Winning any game is hard when you give up these many points on the line.
Free throws win the game or lose the game
was a saying that my coaches used to preach since I was five years old. And it’s always held true. It’s the one area that Clemson has been historically weak at. We’re better precentgae wise this year than we used to be but we still seem to miss them at the most important times.
3 point shooting
Yes our free throw was not great but that is not the only thing that is killing this team. They were 6-20 from behind the arc in the game. Why are they shooting 20 3-pointers in the game when Miami’s big guys were in foul trouble.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Shakin The Southland
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
