NCSU versus Clemson Notes and Links

08-09 Basketball Future Opponents Media53

clemsonThe Wolfpack men’s hoops squad travels tomorrow to play Clemson in its first conference game of the year, and they will not only have to deal with the 15-0 and 12th ranked Tigers, they’ll have to deal with a full house of Clemson fans in Littlejohn:

Looks like Clemson’s 15-0 start has fans excited about basketball.

The school’s ticket office said Thursday that Clemson’s game against North Carolina State on Saturday is a sellout.

The Tigers have a plethora of riches in their backcourt, which is one of the Wolfpack’s primary weaknesses.  Clemson’s defensive pressure has carried the Tigers while their offense has not firing on all cylinders:

[T]he 12th-ranked Tigers did just that Tuesday night against Alabama, shooting a season-low 39.7 percent as a team. But Clemson managed to scratch out a 66-59 victory over the Crimson Tide, thanks to a late-game run fueled by relentless defensive pressure.

“Our defense really picks us up,” sophomore guard Terrence Oglesby said. “That’s one thing we can always rely on. Shots sometimes aren’t going to fall, but we know that our effort on defense is going to be there.”

The combination of the strength of Clemson’s backcourt, ability to press for 94 feet, and overall defense creates an extremely difficult match-up for this Wolfpack team.

Clemson has a couple of wins against SEC teams (and the Wolfpack is 0-1 after the Florida loss) including a recent win against Alabama.  Not suprisingly, given the Tigers’ fans devotion to their football team, some looked at the win against the Crimson Tide hoops team as a bit of revenge for the savaging that the gridiron version of Alabama gave Clemson early in the football season:

With North Carolina State coming to town Saturday and unbeaten Wake Forest making a trip to the Upstate Jan. 17, topping Alabama was the perfect way to end one chapter of the 2008-09 season and begin another.

And don’t underestimate the importance of this one.

The outcome of the schools’ football game was the beginning of the end of Tommy Bowden’s tenure as coach and proved to everyone the Tigers’ were not a Top 10 team.

Finally, some excerpts from the official Clemson game notes:

  • The Tigers moved up to #11 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll and #12 by AP on January 5. It is Clemson’s highest ranking in either poll since Nov. 16, 1997 when Clemson was ranked fifth in the AP poll and seven in USA Today.
  • Clemson has won 15 consecutive home games, its longest home winning streak since the Tigers won a school record 29 in a row in the Elden Campbell and Dale Davis era (1989-90).
  • Clemson has gone over a year without a loss at home. The last home loss was the Charlotte on Jan. 9, 2008, an 82-72 49ers win.
  • Clemson’s home winning streak ranks fifth best in the nation entering this weekend. Notre Dame has the longest with 44 in a row, while Kansas is at 33, Davidson 24, and Arkansas 17. Notre Dame and Arkansas have home games on Saturday.
  • Clemson is the only school in the nation with a home winning streak and a road winning that ranks in the top 10 among active streaks. Clemson has won four straight on opponent’s home courts, tied for sixth best in the nation. Clemson’s next road game is January 21 at North Carolina.

Needless to say, this game will be a major test for NC State and a quality road win if the Pack can pull out a win.

08-09 Basketball Future Opponents Media

53 Responses to NCSU versus Clemson Notes and Links

  1. JeremyH 01/09/2009 at 11:18 AM #

    sectionsix had a note on Monday about Fergie coming back to practice this week.

  2. LKNpackfan 01/09/2009 at 11:36 AM #

    Clemson is ranked, undefeated, having a great season, blah blah blah… queue deflating, derailing loss.
    Come on Tigers, let that be against us.

  3. Alpha Wolf 01/09/2009 at 11:46 AM #

    Jeremy, he’s supposed to be available. That gives me mixed feelings.

  4. happypackdad 01/09/2009 at 12:31 PM #

    Javi will be available which will help.

    SFN: LOL! Yes…this will help the Tigers a bunch!

  5. UpstateSCWolfpack 01/09/2009 at 12:38 PM #

    Clemson is to basketball, what UNC is to football. Of the sellout crowd, I doubt half of them could name 3 players on their team, and a quarter probabaly don’t know the head coach’s name. They are fast to jump on the bandwagon and even faster getting off.

    SFN: I agree. I think your point is inherently implied in the very fact that they are ‘announcing’/discussing a sellout of an 8k seat arena for an ACC opener. Really? WOW!

  6. Ed89 01/09/2009 at 12:38 PM #

    TF is a good, solid 2G. He’s not flashy or extremely athletic, but he plays good, solid D, and if he’s knocking down his three, he’s a huge plus. He’ll also help with breaking their press, as he can handle the ball and is a solid passer.

    SFN: He no doubt works his butt of on defense. But, I don’t think that necessarily translates into ‘playing solid D’

  7. JeremyH 01/09/2009 at 12:42 PM #

    breaking the press and defending their quicks; some have said he would have been the difference at Florida.

    quite frankly, this game will be a major challenge for our defense, and also for the offense. Sidney has his work cut out for him.

    “When we hungry, we eat” -Julius Hodge

  8. wufpup76 01/09/2009 at 12:51 PM #

    ^Fergs did practice this week and will hopefully be able to give some minutes … Javi should be ready (and will more than likely see time against their press)

    Ok, Captain Obvious here to say “Don’t turn the ball over!!!” … “If you don’t turn the ball over, you can likely get some easy scores by breaking the press! If you don’t turn the ball over the game will likely be close or you could even be ahead and perhaps get one of these close games to swing your way!!”

    Captain Obvious would also like to say “Make you free throws! They (the Tigers) have improved from the line, but are still not that great! If you are the agressor and get to the line and make ’em, there could be a big advantage in free points!!”

    Lastly, Captain Obvious would like to add: “Don’t let Ogelsby and Rivers get comfortable! Harass them! Do let them (especially Ogelsby) take bad panic shots! Make them abandon half court sets and let Ogelsby shoot too quickly or decide to take a bad shot! Let him shoot them out of the game!!! Get the ball out of Stitt’s, Rivers’, and especially Booker’s hands!!! Make Stitt a jump shooter rather than a penetrator!”

    Of course, everything Captain Obvious said is a lot easier said than done … We’ll see how they do!

    Go Pack!!!

  9. wufpup76 01/09/2009 at 12:58 PM #

    ^Fergs did practice this week and will hopefully be able to give some minutes … Javi should be ready (and will more than likely see time against their press)

    Ok, Captain Obvious here to say:

    “Don’t turn the ball over! … If you don’t turn the ball over, you can likely get some easy scores by breaking the press. If you don’t turn the ball over the game will likely be close or you could even be ahead and perhaps get one of these close games to swing your way!”

    Captain Obvious would also like to say:

    “Make you free throws! The Tigers have improved from the line, but are still not that great from there. If you are the agressor and get to the line and make yours, there could be a big advantage in free points!”

    Lastly, Captain Obvious would like to add:

    “Don’t let Ogelsby and Rivers get comfortable! Harass them! Do let them (especially Ogelsby) take bad panic shots! Make them abandon half court sets and let Ogelsby shoot too quickly or decide to take a bad shot. Let him shoot them out of the game! Get the ball out of hands of Stitt, Rivers, and especially Booker. Make Stitt a jump shooter rather than a penetrator!”

    Of course, everything Captain Obvious said is a lot easier said than done … We’ll see how they do!

    Go Pack!

  10. wufpup76 01/09/2009 at 1:12 PM #

    Pretty good link here:

    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/ferguson-returns-other-pack-notes

    I especially like this quote from Sidney:

    “On N.C. State’s fall semester grade-point averages: “I’m more proud about that than anything right now. We’ve got seven guys that are 3.0 or better. Three (more) with 2.9 or better. That’s pretty good. Just in case you guys didn’t know that.”

  11. Ed89 01/09/2009 at 1:17 PM #

    Just a quick thread hijack, but this just in from the Rivals “ask Jerry Meyer” column:

    “What are your feelings on how high NC State’s team recruiting rankings will go if they are able to receive commitments from Derrick Favors and John Wall? Also, in your opinion, how likely are the Wolfpack to be the choice of both Favors and Wall?”

    — Thomas from Greensboro, N.C.
    —–
    I don’t think North Carolina State is the likely destination of either Wall or Favors, but NC State is certainly in the mix for both prospects. In fact, it is the only school that both prospects share on their lists. The primary draw for Wall is that NC State is right in his backyard and Wall’s mother is not in the best of health. Unfortunately for NC State, even if Wall decides to stay home, NC State has to contend with Duke in order to land Wall.

    Favors has NC State in his top three along with Georgia and Georgia Tech. It looks like it will be tough, however, to get Favors out of the state of Georgia. Coaching uncertainty with both programs could work in NC State’s favor, though.

    If NC State were to land both these prospects, it would move right to the top of the national team recruiting rankings. In fact, pretty much every school’s recruiting class would shoot up to No. 1 if it landed both of these prospects.”

    I disagree. I think we land at least one, and possibly both. I can’t imagine Favors wanting to play for Felton at Georgia or Hewitt at GT. I think both are in the hot seat, and their teams aren’t playing well.

  12. ryebread 01/09/2009 at 1:33 PM #

    All the indicators point to a 10-14 point win by the Tigers. We’re playing a top 15 team on the road that is guard oriented and that puts heavy pressure on the ball. We’re injured and have lost all 3 games against legitimate teams this year. Clemson is well coached and typically beats the teams that it’s supposed to. If I were betting, my money would be on Clemson.

    Having said that, I kind of have a feeling about this game. I think we’re due to pull together and win one of these. Hopefully the light week has allowed us to get healthy and prepare for the press. Hopefully, Clemson’s also overlooking us a bit.

    I think it’ll be 66-65 State, but I’d never lay a nickel on it and can’t really defend myself if I were to get flamed for saying so. I know it sounds insane, but I just have a feeling we’re due…..

  13. blackdom 01/09/2009 at 1:36 PM #

    happypackdad: “Javi will be availible so that should help”
    Help who? Us or them? Clemson has 3 frosh that are in the rotation and playing very well,I hope we hang in but it has disaster written all over it.

  14. JeremyH 01/09/2009 at 1:37 PM #

    you guys saw this right?
    http://hsindiana.scout.com/a.z?s=389&p=2&c=824541
    (originally from packpride)

    “Wood is best known for his shooting stroke… he’s already the school’s all-time 3-point shooting leader. However, he’s expanded his game this year and is playing much more with the ball in his hands and creating off the dribble. “

  15. BJD95 01/09/2009 at 1:38 PM #

    I would be very relived if we only lost by 10-14 points. This is a horrid matchup for us.

  16. JeremyH 01/09/2009 at 1:38 PM #

    you guys saw this right?
    etch tee tee pee hsindiana.scout dot com /a.z?s=389&p=2&c=824541
    (originally from packpride)

    “Wood is best known for his shooting stroke… he’s already the school’s all-time 3-point shooting leader. However, he’s expanded his game this year and is playing much more with the ball in his hands and creating off the dribble. “

  17. Alpha Wolf 01/09/2009 at 1:58 PM #

    ^ Wood sounds like a good two-guard prospect. I just wish he were here this season.

  18. Ed89 01/09/2009 at 2:11 PM #

    I think Wood is actually big enough to play some 3 in a 3 guard lineup. I still say Wall, Brown, Wood, Howell, and Favors gives us a Fab Five with all 5 positions covered. 🙂

    As far as Clemson, I think it will be a good test for our team. It will be a telling game.

  19. LKNpackfan 01/09/2009 at 2:12 PM #

    There are a lot of good reasons to go to school in Athens, Derrick, playing basketball ain’t one of them.

  20. burnbarn 01/09/2009 at 2:28 PM #

    http://blogs.newsobserver.com/accnow/ferguson-returns-other-pack-notes

    excellent read by Tysic..

    Lowe discusses players and team’s fall classroom performance.

    7 players have 3.0 or beter and 3 are at 2.9

  21. Jeff 01/09/2009 at 2:29 PM #

    If Wood or Brown were on this year’s team we would be undefeated right now.

  22. RickJ 01/09/2009 at 2:51 PM #

    ^ I absolutely concur on Brown. Am I missing something regarding Wood? He sounds like a Top 100 to 150 type player – with a great stroke but not with difference maker type ability like Brown. Has he gotten that much better in his senior year?

  23. Classof89 01/09/2009 at 4:12 PM #

    We are going to win at least one game where all of us will be wondering “how in the heck did they pull that off” or (the more cynical of us) “where was this team in the Davidson/Marquette/Florida games”

    I don’t think its going to be this one, however. Then again, if a BC team that lost to Harvard by 12 two nights later can go into Chapel Hill and take out the Heels, anything can happen. Me, if I got to pick the “BIG UPSET” of this season, I’d take the Duke game (only because (a) Sid’s already beaten Roy once; and (b)Coach K is sounding more and more like Dean Smith every day with his passive aggressive snide remarks to the media)

  24. pack44fan 01/09/2009 at 4:12 PM #

    We always tend to play Clemson close so I anticipate a fairly close game with Clemson prevailing. I just wish we would attack the press agressively instead of playing so doggone tenatively and throwing lollipop passes. Geez!!!! Give Oliver Purnell credit, he has done a teriffic job at Clemson and Lowe would do well to take notes.

    Not worried about Favors or Walls coming here. If they come great, if they don’t great and good luck to them. As a pack fan, no need to get your hopes up. We need players who want to be here.

  25. milkman 01/09/2009 at 4:36 PM #

    Heads up for Direct TV subscribers…Direct TV is offering NCAA Full Court for free from 1/10 through 1/17. That means you can get both the Clemson (1/10) and Georgia Tech (1/17). For folks like me in Cali…that is awesome!!

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