Clemson Men’s Basketball: Madness hopes die in Louisville

On Wednesday, Clemson Men’s Basketball couldn’t miss a shot, hitting over 60% from the floor against Louisville.

Three days later on a different court in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, it was Louisville who seemingly couldn’t miss.

The Cardinals shot 50% from the field in the first half and that wasn’t even the worst of it – they hit 52% in the second half.

This was the Clemson team picked 11th in the preseason ACC poll.  I didn’t expect the Tigers to replicate their Wednesday performance, but I expected more than 4 of 24 from three-point land.

P.J. Hall scored 28 points to lead four Tigers in double digits, with Brevin Galloway tallying 16, Chase Hunter 15 and Hunter Tyson 12.

Hall also led the Tigers with 8 rebounds.

Clemson got 0 points from their bench, which had been a strong suit for the balance of the season.

Louisville dominated the boards, outrebounding Clemson 37-26 on the night.

For the Tigers. their hopes of ending the season in the Big Dance is over barring a miracle.

It’s such a conundrum and disappointment, yet a window into the Brad Brownell tenure at Clemson.

Clemson fans rightly feel “same ole same ole” in the Brownell era.

The bad losses in December hung around, but the loss in Chestnut Hill was the one that derailed the Tigers in my mind.

The nail in the coffin for Clemson Men’s Basketball came in Louisville, but the beginning of the end came in Chestnut Hill

Two days after a thrilling win in Tallahassee, Clemson came out lifeless and toothless, playing the Eagles game and scoring only 54 points and losses to Miami and North Carolina followed.

In many ways this team has overachieved, but in many ways they have disappointed down the stretch.

There are four games left in the regular season, starting with a home game against Syracuse next Wednesday.

There are two Quad 1 opportunities left, but both are on the road and both seem like a pipe dream now.

A season with so much promise and so much fun likely died in Louisville in a loss to a 3-22 team.