You can make the argument that the theme for this Clemson Men’s Basketball season has been “flipping the script”.
The program had been known for relatively easy non-conference schedules, and it bit them in the backside last season. They played a harder early season slate this year.
The program had dropped multiple games to Quad 3 and Quad 4 teams last year. This season they are 3-1 in Q3 and 5-0 in Q4.
Another Clemson MBB theme is the scoreless drought when the opponent will either make a comeback or extend a lead and seal a victory. Clemson flipped that script last night against the Miami Hurricanes.
The Tigers defeated the Canes 77-60 in Littlejohn Coliseum Wednesday evening, thanks in part to a 24-3 run to finish the contest.
This victory avenges the loss in Coral Gables earlier this year that began Clemson’s slide that dug a big hole for them in the ACC standings. The Tigers are now 7-6 in the ACC and 17-7 overall. They are tied with three other teams for fifth place in the conference.
Chase Hunter led the scoring with 20 points, a season-high for him. He also contributed 4 assists and 3 rebounds. Ian Schieffelin pulled down a team-high 11 rebounds, while Joe Girard led with 5 assists.
It has been easy for fans to fall into old depressions about the Tigers, especially considering their poor form in the new year after a hot start in December, which is another recurring theme for the program. The flip side for this year’s squad is the tendency to push in the other direction in some areas, as we mentioned before with the successful non-conference performance against a challenging schedule and the consistency needed to avoid playing down to the level of their competition.
I will sound like a broken record to some, but Girard is the element that has been missing from this team in the past and when they have been on the wrong side of the score this season.
Clemson is 10-1 this season when Joe Girard scores 15 or more points.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) February 14, 2024
This has been the missing piece for the Tigers!
Brad Brownell's squad goes for its third straight win tonight against Miami at home.
Girard tends to get hot towards the end of the season, ie: he peaks at the right time. This is one of the main reasons why Syracuse went on all these crazy postseason runs in the last few years.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday when they host the North Carolina State Wolfpack.