Monday March 22, 2010

Basketball Concerns

Basketball Concerns
Like many of you, I was disgusted Friday afternoon after watching the Tigers play poorly in the loss to Missouri. There were bright moments like Andre Young’s three-point shooting but for the most part I saw too many turnovers and other things that alarmed me.

Losing three straight games is never a good way to end the season but my biggest complaint over the final regular season game, the ACC tournament game and the NCAA tournament game was effort. It is difficult to watch your team get out worked and that is what I saw in each of the last three games. It is difficult to watch the other team have more of a sense of urgency and that too was what I saw in each of the final three contests.

After the Wake Forest game I heard and read comments from optimists that said they understood Wake Forest playing with a more of a sense of urgency because it was senior night and the Demon Deacons were trying to get into the NCAA tournament. I even fell for that one to a certain extent. The game was a road game and Wake did have a lot to play for but it is still hard watching the opponent play harder than the Tigers.

Coach Purnell, a few players and a few fans used the seeding as a reason for the lack of motivation in the NCAA tournament. I heard how State was an 11th seed and they carried a chip on their shoulder into the game. I found that one hard to swallow. To me, it was the ACC tournament and there is no excuse for getting out hustled in an event of that magnitude. Still, I wanted to believe that this team had more in the tank and this team was going to play well in Buffalo.

But what we witnessed Friday was another team playing harder than the Tigers. There was nothing left to play for. This was do or die. If you lost this one then you go home. I can find no reason why we looked so sluggish. Missouri simply played harder and I find that inexcusable.

Clemson basketball has a lack of history. We don’t have the best facilities. We don’t have the most support. We don’t have basketball tradition. However, none of those are excuses for not playing harder. History, facilities, support and tradition have zero to do with effort.

In some losses this year you might could have blamed shooting. In others it might have been free throws. In one or two it could have been turnovers. I have no issues losing a game due to execution because that will happen in this game. Sometimes you are not going to play well and I understand that. However, shooting, free throws, turnovers and a lack of execution have very little to do with effort. There is no excuse that can be offered there.

And finally I do understand that there are some talent issues on this team. Demontez Stitt has some limitations. Andre Young has some issues because of his height. Tanner Smith may struggle with more athletic opponents. David Potter has some physical limitations. The freshmen have a lack of experience. However, none of those limitations and issues has anything to do with effort.

The good news is that this is not a long term issue in my opinion. For the most part effort has not been an issue during Oliver Purnell’s tenure at Clemson. His teams are known for playing hard so I cannot complain too much in this department. But that is why the last three games are even more perplexing. How did the end of the season look so different?

I am not sure we will know what happened but we can turn our attention to the future now that this season is over. I must admit I am concerned about the future of the program. My main concern for the future is recruiting and I am concerned for two reasons. It concerns me on who we have signed and I am also concerned on who we have missed on.

It hurt this program when 2011 point guard Shannon Scott chose Ohio State. He was the one player that really had a chance to take this program to the next level. That was perhaps the biggest loss in the program under Purnell.

Clemson did sign Marcus Thornton, a 6-7 wing from Georgia, in the class of 2010 and he will have to be a contributor because of the lack of depth at the positions he can play. The losses from the class of 2010 also hurt. Jason Morris chose Georgia Tech. Travis McKie signed with Wake Forest. Stacey Poole inked with Kentucky.

Clemson went after a higher level of player because the staff felt the program could go head to head with some top programs for players of this caliber but they lost some big names late.

The freshman class of this past season was the highest rated in recent years but there are still concerns on two of the four signees from that class. Devin Booker and Noel Johnson enjoyed good freshmen seasons and we should be excited about their futures. However, I am not sure Donte Hill and Milton Jennings have been as good as advertised.

Purnell and his staff have excelled in player development and they will need to continue to develop this class but they may have more work cut out for them than we may have first anticipated.

The previous class has had ups and downs as well. Andre Young and Tanner Smith have been solid players from that class but I am not sure a lot of minutes can come from the other two members of the class, Catalin Baciu and Bryan Narcisse.

In the end, I do trust Purnell and his staff and think the program is on a solid foundation for the future. However, in the pre-season the ad campaign was about not being satisfied and I know he is not satisfied after the way this season ended.

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency

Prayer List
We have started a prayer list on the blog. Here are the guidelines:
*If you are offended by prayer or prayer lists then I apologize in advance. The blog is free and the prayer list will be on the bottom of the page so you don’t have to read it.
*If you would like to add someone to the list please e-mail me at mickeyplyler@hotmail.com
*If you want the reason for the prayer to be added to the name please specify in your e-mails.
*Please let me know when it is appropriate to take the person off of the prayer list

Those who need our prayers include:
Finn Brookover, Larry in Naples, FL, RTG-Pawsitive Tiger, Mary-Louise Pawlowski (John's daughter), Jo Ann Bachman, Frank Taylor, Kenneth Bryant, Pruitt Martin, Got igers and his family, David Rowland, Leonard, Gillespie and his family, Jim S, Christine Hepfer, Daniel Rosborough, Amy Murphey, Jack Huffman, Nancy Winkler, Dr. Nancy Strom Morgan, John Reeve, Eileen Woodrum, Ethel Southard, Vinnie Brock, Kaitlyn L, Eric Boessneck, John Bowers, Jimmy Ness, Susan Miller, Joyce Harley, Steve Proveaux, John Petrey, Chalmers Carr, Drayton Melton, Jeffrey Greene, the Hutto family, Sherl Drawdy, Caleb Kennedy, Teresa O'Connor, Matt Jacobs, Mike Kingsmore,Perrin Seigler, Carole White Begley, Candee Massee, Lindsey Jordan, Sam Catoe, Tyler Felch, Steve Cato, the Nicolopulos family, Cason Palmer, Candace Fallaw, Scott Jackson, "the Jacksonville, FL guys", Kim Sims, the Coyle familty, Ryleigh Tedder, Steve Lee.