Monday January 28, 2008

Weekend Thoughts

Weekend Thoughts
These might not be as popular as “Deep Thoughts” by Jack Handy on Saturday Night Live but here are a few of the thoughts that ran through my mind this weekend:

*There were some positives and negatives to come out of the Miami game Sunday. The first positive is Jerai Grant. I watched his every move Sunday and he just makes good decisions and good things happen whenever he gets a chance. I think his future is extremely bright.

*Let’s all hold our breath as we wait for the news on Trevor Booker’s ankle. Hopefully we will not look back at the injury as being the beginning of the end of a good season.

*If I see another team come in and attack the rim against us I may pull out my remaining hair. Miami followed the game plan of a couple of other programs and came away with an impressive amount of points in the paint. I am not sure if it is individual effort or the scheme but something has to change. Clemson has made some average post men look great at times this season. I find it interesting that the Tigers seemingly did a better job against North Carolina and NC State’s post players than they did against Wake Forest and Miami. The Tar Heels and Wolfpack are supposed to have the league’s best front court but Clemson seemed to handle that aspect well in both games. However the Tigers let the Deacs and Canes pound the ball inside.

*It was nice to see Clemson shoot free throws better Sunday.

*I know a lot of people are upset about the loss and it is easy to complain about many aspects of the defeat but at some point you just have to congratulate McClinton for an unbelievable final three minutes of the game. He was 2 of 14 from the field before hitting those last three three-pointers. It is difficult, but sometimes you just need to realize a great effort by an opponent.

*I think this basketball team could use the time off. Clemson does not play again until Saturday when the Tigers host Boston College but that is OK with me. Rest is better than Rest In Peace and that might be where the season would have been headed if Clemson had to turn around and play again Tuesday.

*A 3-3 record at this point is one game under where I felt the Tigers would be. A 15-5 overall record is 2 games under where I pegged the Tigers. I did not count on a loss to Charlotte and I figured Clemson would have won one more ACC tilt to this point.

*I am not sure 8-8 gets you into the dance this season so I am now looking at the drive for 9. A 9-7 record will get you into the NCAA tournament so let’s see how Clemson can make it. The Tigers have 10 more ACC games this season but only four more at home. I think the Tigers have to win out at home against a schedule that includes Boston College, Georgia Tech, Miami and Virginia Tech. All will be difficult and a slip up is definitely a possibility. The Tigers play close games in this league this year so I expect four more close ones at home. The road games the rest of the year include trips to Virginia, North Carolina, NC State, Florida State, Maryland and Georgia Tech. I feel all of these games are ones Clemson could win with the exception of the UNC game but all are games they could lose also. If Clemson wins all four home games it has to win two of the six road games to get to 9-7 in the league. If the Tigers slip up at home in a game then they will have to split the six games on the road to get to the nine win mark. I cannot see the Tigers going 3-3 on the road the rest of this season. At 8-8 in the ACC the Tigers would need to win one or two games in the ACC tournament to get into the dance.

*I got an e-mail last week that said, “You can’t spell Clemson Tigers without the letters NIT.” I hope this team can turn this season around. Clemson is 5-5 in its last 10 games and 3-4 in its last seven contest. Please let me feel like this team is special and can turn it around.

*I am still on cloud nine though. Every since James Davis announced he was coming back I have been walking around with a big smile. It is amazing how much we put into this football stuff. Since James said he is coming back my yard does not look as bad as it did before. I have had three people ask me how much weight I have lost. Gas prices are not as important since then. My food tastes better. Telemarketers are not nearly as annoying and the lines in the grocery store are shorter. How did James Davis and his announcement make a trip to the DMV such a pleasant experience?

*A bored moment Saturday night led me to my Playstation 3 and EA Sports’ NCAA Football 2008. I have not played the game since August but I had to play a short game with Clemson and Alabama in the Georgia Dome. Just the look of the uniforms on the same field is something I never would have thought I would have seen in my lifetime. Now if I could just make it until August. Am I the only one you wants August to break in line after January so we can see the Tigers and the Tide?

*The women’s team is back in action tonight. I was encouraged by the two road wins in the ACC a few weeks ago until I saw where Virginia Tech and Wake Forest are 0-13 in the league this year. Here is hoping the Tigers score double-digits in the first half unlike their last game.

*I wonder how Rory Sabbatini liked Tiger Woods’ performance at Torrey Pines? Tiger’s 62nd victory total is slightly ahead of Sabbatini’s two wins at this point in their careers.

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