Path to the Hall of Fame (v2)

[randy]

Nov 22, 2011: (4) Clemson (2-1) vs (1) #13 Arizona (2-0)

We're 0-8 FG prior to hitting our 1st shot. Down 2-4, 13:57. A 3pt shot by SG Brett Holmes gave us the lead for the 1st lead of the game, and we slowly increased advantage since then. C Ryan Burris with 10 pts off the bench. Up 19-10, 7:51. ARIZ hitting 3pt shots that allowed them to stay in the game, despite having committed 13 turn overs already. Halftime, Up 31-24.

Fouls situation is not in our favor, as 2 of our key players already with 4 fouls. SF Rick Beck's timely baskets have kept us in the lead. Up 40-34, 12:29. ARIZ continuously getting the benefit of the calls, and they have sliced our lead on their FTs. Up 46-45, 7:28. ARIZ momentarily gets the lead. We quickly regrouped our defense, and came up with a 7-1 run to reclaim advantage. Up 55-50, 3:36.

We extend the lead to 7. Two more fouls on us, and ARIZ coming back again. 2 of our players have fouled out, including outside sniper SG Brett Holmes. Up 57-54, 2:49.

We want to go to SF Rick Beck at every opportunity. Beck delivered. Up 5. ARIZ not yet done, as they convert their 5th triple of the game. Up 59-57, 2:11.

Isolation on SF Rick Beck again. Beck drives, but he got blocked. ARIZ with the ball. Another foul on us. ARIZ hits both FTs to tie. Timeout. Tied at 59, 1:26.

Going to SF Rick Beck again. Beck missed a 3. And yet another foul on us. ARIZ takes a 2 pt lead on FTs. Last timeout. Down 59-61, 0:54.

No one wanted to shoot. Ball ends up in SF Rick Beck again. Beck shoots, and this time he scores on a jumper. Tied at 61, 0:40.

Another invisible hand check foul. Come on refs, let the players play. Split by ARIZ. They get the off rebound. Follow up is no good. We finally secure the rebound. Down 1. We have no more timeout. 0:28 left. SF Rick Beck wants the ball. Beck gets the ball. Beck fires and scores! Timeout ARIZ. Up 63-62, 0:23.

No foul called this time, but ARIZ connects on their jumper. We have to hurry up. Down 63-64, 0:18. This time, ARIZ's turn to be called for a foul. 1-and-1 for PG Rob Swan. Swan hits both! Timeout ARIZ. Up 65-64, 0:10.

We'll press and go 1-2-2 zone. ARIZ crosses the timeline. 3 secs left. They put a desperation 3. It goes in and the buzzer sounded!

We have 2 losses so far this season, both times on a last-second shot by the opposition. Tough luck. ARIZ had a +16 in FT atttempts


Final Score: Clemson - 65, Arizona - 67


Box Scores
[INDENT]Beck 21, 3, 0
Holmes 13, 4, 1, fouled out
Burris 10, 3, 1, fouled out
Lawrence 6, 6, 1
Swan 6, 3, 4
Forbes 4, 0, 3
Aylsworth 2, 3, 0
Johnson 2, 1, 0
Smith 1, 6, 0, 3 stls
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 41-33%
REB: -2
TO: -3
Pts in paint: +2
2nd chance: +1
Fast break: +2
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 24, 2011: Kentucky (1-3) @ Clemson (2-2)

SF Rick Beck leading our balanced scoring with 6 pts. Up 14-7, 13:31. Both teams in the penalty. UK at 21% FG. Up 28-10, 7:58. The big discrepancy in the 1st half was our 12-0 advantage in fast break pts. Halftime, Up 46-26.

SG Brett Holmes and SF Rick Beck taking over the offense at the start of the 2nd half, and our 1-2 scoring punch now combining for 28 pts. We're in the penalty, but I dont think that will hardly matter now. Up 61-36, 12:03. Score was padded by a late meaningless 10-0 spurt by UK, but overall, it was a good defensive effort by the team the whole game.


Final Score: Kentucky - 59, Clemson - 79


Box Scores
[INDENT]Holmes 20, 3, 0 (*)
Beck 14, 3, 0
Lawrence 9, 7, 4, 3 stls
Smith 8, 12, 0
Forbes 7, 0, 2
Burris 6, 5, 4, 2 stls, 2 blks
Johnson 6, 2, 0
Aylsworth 5, 1, 0
Swan 4, 3, 8
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 48-44%
REB: +11
TO: -6
Pts in paint: +12
2nd chance: +9
Fast break: +8
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Nov 28, 2011: St Joseph's (1-2) @ Clemson (3-2)

SG Brett Holmes on fire early with 14 pts. STJO(PA) shooting just 25% FG. Up 22-8, 11:40. Both teams shooting the lights out in the past 6 mins. We're 8-14 3PT, with SG Brett Holmes accounting for 7 triples. Up 37-27, 5:23. STJO(PA) cooled off a bit in scoring, until they hit a buzzer beating 3pt shot. SG Brett Holmes with another fine shooting performance, 25 pts. Halftime, Up 51-37.

It's our turn to go on a scoring slump, as no one else beside SG Brett Holmes (30 pts) able to score. Up 56-47, 13:46. We still can't put this team away, as STJO(PA) able to knock down their outside shots very quickly, not allowing our double team to set in. Up 70-57, 7:56. Off rebounding kept us in control of the game during the last few minutes, to preserve this win.


Final Score: St Joseph's - 62, Clemson - 79


Box Scores
[INDENT]Holmes 35, 5, 4 (*)
Lawrence 11, 13, 3
Aylsworth 9, 2, 2
Burris 7, 9, 1, 2 stls
Beck 6, 3, 1, 2 stls
Smith 6, 3, 1, fouled out
Swan 3, 2, 6
Johnson 2, 2, 0
Forbes 0, 0, 4
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 40-41%
REB: +7 (+7 off)
TO: -11 (7-18)
Pts in paint: +4
2nd chance: +9
Fast break: +8
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 1, 2011: Clemson (4-2) @ Marshall (2-1)

Halftime, Up 36-30.

MARS able to tie the game at 38. We regained the lead and extended it to 43-38, but MARS has come back again. Up 45-44, 11:32. A couple of outside shots, and we worked our way to increase the lead to 9. MARS able to answer back with a 3pt shot of their own, and another FG. It's close once again. Up 55-51, 7:07.

Lead back up to 8, but just when we're gaining some little momentum, MARS able to hits back 2 consecutive FGs to come close to within 4 again. We hit a 3, and MARS with a FG converted. Up 64-59, 2:52. We turn the ball over. MARS sores. Up 3. We also scored. Up 5. MARS counters with another basket. Down 3. And then we turn the ball over. Up 66-63, 1:41.

We get a steal and scored 2 FTs on the otehr end. Up 5. Another MARS turn over. We threw the ball away also. Timeout MARS. Up 68-63, 0:48.

We press and MARS got rattled and called for steps in their backcourt. We'll slow things down now. MARS now intentionally fouling, and we're making our FTs to seal this game


Final Score: Clemson - 74, Marshall - 63


Box Scores
[INDENT]Swan 14, 3, 4, 4 tos
Beck 12, 5, 0
Holmes 11, 1, 1, 2 stls
Lawrence 10, 7, 3, 2 blks (*)
Johnson 9, 0, 1
Burris 8, 6, 0, 2 stls
Smith 4, 4, 0
Aylsworth 4, 3, 0
Forbes 2, 3, 3
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 51-44%
REB: +4 (-5 off)
TO: Even
Pts in paint: +8
2nd chance: +3
Fast break: Even
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 5, 2011: Clemson (5-2) @ Texas A&M (5-3)

TXAM in penalty early, and good FT shooting allowed us to hang on to the lead despite 38% FG. Up 16-9, 13:52. We also got into penalty, but TXAM's 50% FT not getting it done for them. We also started to get inside pts from our bigs. Up 30-22, 7:33. Combined fouls count is 26 in the 1st half. We shot 21-24 FT and TXAM 14-20 FT. Halftime, Up 50-43.

Refs can't stop calling fouls on both teams. But what I am not pleased about is TXAM shooting 61% FG. Up 70-59, 13:06. TXAM making a big run, as we're turning the ball over more. Up 76-73, 7:43. TXAM able to take the lead, as fouls are becoming one sided on TXAM's favor. We have 2 players fouling out already, with 2 having 4 fouls each. Down 79-80, 4:34.

SF Robert Aylsworth hits a 3, and then later on 2 FTs, to sandwich a transition basket by TXAM. Up 84-82, 3:34. TXAM got back witha jumper to tie the game. Aylsworth missing on the front end of his 1-and-1, and TXAM punishing us with an inside basket. Timeout. Our defense is nowhere near from that of last season. Down 84-86, 2:36.

C Delawn Smith gets to the low post and scores. Tied game. We finally get a stop, as TXAM missed a 3. Timeout. Tied at 86, 2:00.

SF Rick Beck missed on a fall away jumper. TXAM posted their guard down low, and they easily score again. Another timeout. Down 86-88, 1:10.

We go for a 3. Missed. Off rebound and putback by C Delawn Smith is good. We tie the game again. TXAM scores on a jumper. Last timeout. Down 88-90, 0:29.

This time, SF Rick Beck elects to drive, and he scores. Another deadlock. TXAM not calling a timeout. 0:21 left. They shoot. Missed. But the refs says there's a foul. TXAM hits both FTs. We have no more timeouts. We need to hurry up. 0:08 left.

SF Rick Beck puts up a 3. Beck knocks it down! What a bog shot by Beck. Timeout TXAM. Up 91-90, 0:01. We'll just press, and that should do it.

Not the kind of game we want to play. But we'll take any kind of win we can get in this up and down season.

Total foul count: CLEM 25, TXAM 21
FT shooting: CLEM 28-33 (85%), TXAM 25-38 (66%)


Final Score: Clemson - 93, Texas A&M - 92


Box Scores
[INDENT]Beck 23, 7, 0 (*)
Holmes 20, 0, 1, 3 stls, fouled out
Smith 17, 9, 0
Swan 9, 0, 5, fouled out
Aylsworth 7, 3, 2
Burris 6, 2, 1, 2 blks
Lawrence 4, 4, 0, fouled out
Johnson 4, 0, 0
Griffin 2, 0, 0
Forbes 1, 1, 4
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 56-58%
REB: +3
TO: +3
Pts in paint: -2
2nd chance: +12 (15-3)
Fast break: +2
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 13, 2011: Vanderbilt (4-3) @ Clemson (6-2)

VANDY already with 6 turn overs. Up 15-6, 13:47. Much better defense as compared to our last game, as we're making it difficult for VANDY to execute their plays, now with 9 turn overs. Both teams in penalty. Up 38-22, 6:45. We had a lot of opportunities to score from FTs, but we already missed 9; good thing we shot well from the floor, 57% FG. Halftime, Up 50-34.

Slowly making this into a blowout now, as our bigs starting to dominate tyhe inside while we continue to shoot well from the perimeter. Up 65-43, 13:55.

Best all-around game we've played all season. Balanced scoring (5 players in double figures), efficient execution on offense (22 asts, 10 turn overs), and we forced VANDY to commit 19 turn overs.


Final Score: Vanderbilt - 78, Clemson - 98


Box Scores
[INDENT]Holmes 26, 1, 5, 2 stls, 4 tos (*)
Burris 17, 2, 2
Beck 15, 4, 0, 2 blks
Aylsworth 14, 3, 3
Smith 13, 7, 0, 2 blks
Lawrence 9, 5, 1
Swan 2, 3, 10
Johnson 2, 0, 0
Forbes 0, 0, 1
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 60-50%
REB: +4
TO: -9 (10-19)
Pts in paint: +18
2nd chance: -2
Fast break: -3
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Dec 19, 2011: Brigham Young (7-4) @ Clemson (7-2)

We're shooting 78% FG. Up 17-13, 13:42. Our defense beginning to play well (37% FG and 6 turn overs for BYU), but we need to improve our rebounding. Up 27-21, 7:30. SG Brett Holmes was his usual cold assassin shooting performance, with 20 pts; C Delawn Smith also aggressive on offense today, 12 pts. Halftime, Up 50-29.

Scoring has slowed down for both teams, which we dont really mind at this stage as we're maintaining our lead at half time. Up 56-35, 12:40. Still a comfortable lead at this time, even if our FG% has now dipped below 50% FG. Up 61-44, 7:40. BYU got close to within 13, but they couldn't make enough stops towards the end, as we hold on to this win.


Final Score: Brigham Young - 59, Clemson - 74


Box Scores
[INDENT]Smith 21, 9, 1, stls (*)
Holmes 20, 8, 0
Beck 13, 7, 1
Lawrence 8, 5, 1
Burris 4, 3, 0
Johnson 4, 0, 0
Aylsworth 2, 3, 2
Swan 2, 2, 6, 5 tos
Forbes 0, 0, 5
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 45-35%
REB: +6
TO: -2
Pts in paint: +14
2nd chance: +3
Fast break: Even
[/INDENT]

[randy]

Season Preview / Predictions

1. Georgia Tech
2. Duke
3. Wake Forest
4. Clemson
5. Virginia
6. Maryland
7. North Carolina
8. North Carolina St
9. Boston College
10. Virginia Tech
11. Florida St
12. Miami (FL)

Non-Conference Records (RPI)

1. #2 Georgia Tech, 10-2 (3)
2. #9 Duke, 8-1 (6)
3. #10 North Carolina St, 10-2 (7)
4. Clemson, 8-2 (15)
5. #16 Wake Forest, 9-2 (23)
6. Maryland, 7-2 (28)
7. North Carolina, 6-5 (115)
8. Virginia, 4-5 (125)
9. Miami (FL), 6-3 (151)
10. Florida St, 4-5 (174)
11. Boston College, 4-5 (187)
12. Virginia Tech, 3-6 (284)

[randy]

Dec 26, 2011: Florida St (4-5, 0-0) @ Clemson (8-2, 0-0)

We have 8 team fouls already, and we have a big deficit early. Down 7-17, 13:34. SF Rodney Aylsworth providing instant offense off the bench with 9 pts. Down 22-26, 7:29. We eventually pulled even behind the continuous scoring of Aylsworth (17 pts). Halftime, Tied at 38.

We keep on running at every opportunity getting us easy baskets. But FLST's 3pt shooting has been on target, 8-18 3PT, to keep them in the game. Up 52-47, 13:27. We were leading by 7, but FLST able to quickly erase it, and even led by 1 earlier. Score has been close since. Both teams in penalty. Up 62-61, 7:46.

Fouls have not been kind on us, and we now have 3 starts on the floor with 4 fouls each. SF Rick has come up with a couple of baskets to hold off FLST. Up 68-65, 5:50. PG Rob Swan comes up with 3pt shot. We made consecutive stops on the defensive end. C Delawn Smith scored inside, and on our next offensive play, SF Rodney Aylsworth converts on a 3pt play opportunity. We now have a double digit lead. Up 76-65, 3:51.

We ha difficulty stopping FLST's outside shots almost the whole game, but we manage to limit them to just 1 FG in the last 7 mins. SF Rodney Aylsworth came up with his best game of the season so far, but he got plenty of support as 6 other players scored at least 8 pts each.


Final Score: Florida St - 69, Clemson - 84


Box Scores
[INDENT]Aylsworth 22, 5, 6, 4 stls, 4 tos, 8-11 FG (*)
Beck 12, 5, 0
Smith 12, 5, 0, fouled out
Lawrence 11, 5, 1
Burris 10, 3, 0
Swan 9, 1, 4, 2 stls
Holmes 8, 3, 3, 3 stls
Forbes 0, 2, 2
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 50-39%
REB: +4
TO: -6 (13-19)
Pts in paint: +30
2nd chance: +4
Fast break: +26 (32-6)
[/INDENT]



ACC Conference Standings

1. #2 Georgia Tech, 1-0 (W1)
2. #9 Duke, 1-0 (W1)
3. #10 North Carolina St, 1-0 (W1)
4. #16 Wake Forest, 1-0 (W1)
5. Clemson, 1-0 (W1)
6. Virginia Tech, 1-0 (W1)
7. Maryland, 0-1 (L1)
8. North Carolina, 0-1 (L1)
9. Miami (FL), 0-1 (L1)
10. Florida St, 0-1 (L1)
11. Virginia, 0-1 (L1)
12. Boston College, 0-1 (L1)

[randy]

Dec 29, 2011: North Carolina (6-6, 0-1) @ Clemson (9-2, 1-0)

We are in the penalty very early again. Up 10-5, 13:22. PF Bill Lawrence has been aggressive on offense, with 9 pts. More than half of UNC's offense came from the FT line. Up 25-18, 7:27. Crazy number of fouls and FTs in the 1st half. We were called for 19 fouls (UNC had 12); UNC's 23 of 35 1st half pts came from FTs. Halftime, Up 39-38.

The refs only gave me a warning after I was fuming mad at the 6-0 foul count in less than 4 mins in the 2nd half. It must have fired up our players, as we doubled our 6 pt lead into 12 pts in a space of less than 1 minute. SG Brett Holmes hits a 3, before UNC scores yet again from the FT line as find ourselves in penalty again. Up 59-46, 13:52. We can't do anything with the calls. We channeled our frustrations by getting inside the paint more, and scoring on low post and drive plays. In between FTs by UNC (32-41 FT so far), they have struggled on making shots from the field at 38% FG. Up 75-57, 7:36. And suddenly, the whistles have stopped blowing towards the end of the game. Love these refs.


Final Score: North Carolina - 68, Clemson - 94


Box Scores
[INDENT]Holmes 23, 5, 4, 4 stls (*)
Lawrence 16, 9, 0
Smith 16, 4, 0
Beck 12, 3, 0
Burris 11, 6, 0
Johnson 8, 4, 2
Aylsworth 4, 3, 3, 2 stls
Forbes 2, 0, 4, fouled out
Swan 2, 0, 2
Gelbard 0, 0, 2
Griffin 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 58-37%
REB: +7
TO: -7 (10-17)
Pts in paint: +16
2nd chance: +4
Fast break: +10 (14-4)
[/INDENT]



ACC Conference Standings

1. #10 North Carolina St, 2-0 (W2)
2. #2 Georgia Tech, 2-0 (W2)
3. #14 Wake Forest, 2-0 (W2)
4. Clemson, 2-0 (W1)
5. #11 Duke, 1-1 (L1)
6. Maryland, 1-1 (W1)
7. Boston College, 1-1 (W1)
8. Virginia Tech, 1-1 (L1)
9. North Carolina, 0-2 (L2)
10. Miami (FL), 0-2 (L2)
11. Florida St, 0-2 (L2)
12. Virginia, 0-2 (L2)