Oh my....my world is exploding....

I wondered all year how these two teams would match up and now I get my chance. Clemson is a great defensive team. Belmont is a great offensive team. It's a really interesting match up.

The first few months of the season, I would have given the edge to Belmont, because though Clemson was strong defensively, they just couldn't score enough. Belmont I thought would be way too much offense for them, and Clemson wouldn't be able to keep up.

Now though, with Clemson being at home, and the crowd really getting behind them lately, I think Clemson definitely is a favorite. Clemson's offense is really coming along now as well. They are not just relying on KJ McDaniel on offense, but also the other role players as well. What I worry about for Belmont is Clemson is also using their size downlow to score points. Could be some tough match ups for Belmont.

Belmont is also playing great basketball right now. It should be a great game. I can't wait to watch it!

If it hadn't been your world exploding, it would have been mine since I went to Illinois! (Really, it already exploded a little Friday night when Belmont set the scoreboards for a potential next game and they showed "Bruins" and "Illini".) I really was hoping for the home game, though.

Watching the game today, I did think that Belmont can beat either of those teams - not necessarily easily, but definitely possible. Either way, I'm looking forward to watching the next game!

(03-23-2014 01:56 PM)BelmontFan Wrote:  If it hadn't been your world exploding, it would have been mine since I went to Illinois! (Really, it already exploded a little Friday night when Belmont set the scoreboards for a potential next game and they showed "Bruins" and "Illini".) I really was hoping for the home game, though.

Watching the game today, I did think that Belmont can beat either of those teams - not necessarily easily, but definitely possible. Either way, I'm looking forward to watching the next game!

good luck guys, loving it. go bruins, go racers.

(03-23-2014 02:02 PM)msuowns Wrote:  

(03-23-2014 01:56 PM)BelmontFan Wrote:  If it hadn't been your world exploding, it would have been mine since I went to Illinois! (Really, it already exploded a little Friday night when Belmont set the scoreboards for a potential next game and they showed "Bruins" and "Illini".) I really was hoping for the home game, though.

Watching the game today, I did think that Belmont can beat either of those teams - not necessarily easily, but definitely possible. Either way, I'm looking forward to watching the next game!

good luck guys, loving it. go bruins, go racers.

Owns, it would be great if both of our schools could win both of our tournaments. The OVC is looking pretty good. Good luck to you guys.

Illinois shot terribly against Clemson and it would be nice to say that it was all Clemson defense, but Illinois missed quite a few uncontested 3s. Don't get me wrong, Clemson's defense is impressive, but Illinois missed some open shots.

I hope that we can shoot the 3 a little better and keep this game close at the end. I like our chances if it's close and Byrd is calling the plays.

(03-23-2014 12:09 PM)ClemsonBrad Wrote:  Clemson's offense is really coming along now as well.

Clemson 50, Illinois 49?

I'll put my money on you guys beating Clemson by 15 or more.

(03-24-2014 01:08 AM)BucSinceTheSixties Wrote:  

(03-23-2014 12:09 PM)ClemsonBrad Wrote:  Clemson's offense is really coming along now as well.

Clemson 50, Illinois 49?

I'll put my money on you guys beating Clemson by 15 or more.

I know it may sound funny....but if you had watched this team in the beginning of the year, the offense has come a LONG, LONG way since then. With Rod Hall, KJ McDaniel and Nnoko, Belmont is going to be challenged on the defensive end with the size and athletic ability. They HAVE to make Clemson shoot the 3 pointer and slow the game down, because Clemson is not a great shooting team. They make a lot of points happen with their athletic ability and on the fast break.

It's a very interesting match up. I am curious to see what the spread will be.

If Blake is not well enough to play, then we will be in big trouble rebounding and stopping their interior presence. Looked like Blake was hurting some on Friday. I thought that I saw on Twitter where someone said he may not be able to go?

Blake not able to go would be a problem. Nnoko is a big threat inside, but not insurmountable if we are at full strength. Nnoko averages single digit scoring.

Clemson shoots about 30% from 3-point, so they're not a scoring machine, so we have to find a way to slow down the inside and the dribble drive.

Please win this game Belmont!

(03-24-2014 10:29 PM)HenryMuto Wrote:  Please win this game Belmont!

I'm just going to second this!

Spread is at Clemson -7. I really like Belmont to cover that.

I hate losing like that. When in the middle of the second half, when we are leading the game, the announces mention that we had 3 questionable calls in a row. When the announcers call it out, that is bad.

Did we do some things to lose? Yes. However, those 3 possessions were swings where we didn't score and they did. That is more than the margin of the loss.

Exciting game! But, Belmont clearly DID NOT put in a full 40 minutes like it could have. It seemed to me that Belmont missed too many open shots and got killed by the ACC officiating crew (1. How was that NOT back court? 2. Clemcheat went over the back for rebounds way too many uncalled times. 3. Seriously? A Flagrant 1 for getting legs tangled? Wow! Just wow.). Belmont really should have won this game big. You guys are clearly both a better offensive AND defensive team than Clemson (how many steals did you guys have anyway?). Belmont could have won (narrowly) with either the missed opens OR with the suspect officiating . . . but not both. Just watching on TV, it seems that every time you guys surged ahead, the officials were there to keep Clem within striking distance. I feel bad for you all; but, hey, 26-10 ain't too bad!

over and back, jeez louise, dang it man, I thought Belmont had it.

Thanks guys. I'll take 26-10 for what was figured as a rebuilding year. I really can't complain. So, Owns, you guys got to carry the torch for the OVC. Go win it all!

thanks man, god bless Belmont.

(03-26-2014 06:25 AM)Bruin2002 Wrote:  Thanks guys. I'll take 26-10 for what was figured as a rebuilding year. I really can't complain. So, Owns, you guys got to carry the torch for the OVC. Go win it all!

Really, really fun game to watch. Momentum shifts all night. Not too many fouls called. The game just seemed to flow nicely and was enjoyable to watch. Clemson really had Belmont pretty flustered on offense I thought the 1st half. Belmont just couldn't seem to get any flow going.

But they battled back nicely and went on some great runs. Bradshaw, especially, really took over at one point. That is great to see especially when he is only a sophomore.

I was really happy to see Clemson win, but still very bummed to see Belmont knocked out. It was a weird feeling. A fantastic year for Belmont though, and I am already looking forward to next season.

(03-26-2014 02:21 PM)ClemsonBrad Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 06:25 AM)Bruin2002 Wrote:  Thanks guys. I'll take 26-10 for what was figured as a rebuilding year. I really can't complain. So, Owns, you guys got to carry the torch for the OVC. Go win it all!

Really, really fun game to watch. Momentum shifts all night. Not too many fouls called. The game just seemed to flow nicely and was enjoyable to watch. Clemson really had Belmont pretty flustered on offense I thought the 1st half. Belmont just couldn't seem to get any flow going.

But they battled back nicely and went on some great runs. Bradshaw, especially, really took over at one point. That is great to see especially when he is only a sophomore.

I was really happy to see Clemson win, but still very bummed to see Belmont knocked out. It was a weird feeling. A fantastic year for Belmont though, and I am already looking forward to next season.

ClemsonBrad,

Is it true after every home win, Clemson fans rush the court? Seems odd and unnecessary, especially for last nights game. I keep seeing Clemson message boards stating no one will understand unless you go to Clemson...

I really thought you had that game when you were up 66-61 with about 4 minutes left. Then it all fell apart. Great season but I wish you had made it to New York.

PS - Did Clemson really storm the court ?

(03-26-2014 02:31 PM)hoosbruin Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 02:21 PM)ClemsonBrad Wrote:  

(03-26-2014 06:25 AM)Bruin2002 Wrote:  Thanks guys. I'll take 26-10 for what was figured as a rebuilding year. I really can't complain. So, Owns, you guys got to carry the torch for the OVC. Go win it all!

Really, really fun game to watch. Momentum shifts all night. Not too many fouls called. The game just seemed to flow nicely and was enjoyable to watch. Clemson really had Belmont pretty flustered on offense I thought the 1st half. Belmont just couldn't seem to get any flow going.

But they battled back nicely and went on some great runs. Bradshaw, especially, really took over at one point. That is great to see especially when he is only a sophomore.

I was really happy to see Clemson win, but still very bummed to see Belmont knocked out. It was a weird feeling. A fantastic year for Belmont though, and I am already looking forward to next season.

ClemsonBrad,

Is it true after every home win, Clemson fans rush the court? Seems odd and unnecessary, especially for last nights game. I keep seeing Clemson message boards stating no one will understand unless you go to Clemson...

It is true that it is a tradition that Clemson rushes the court or rushes the field after every game. Really, it is more popular in football. Technically, after every football game, Clemson fans can and do come on to the field. If it is after a close win or a win against a big opponent, they may "rush" the field instead of walk to it.

It really doesn't happen after hoops game.

With that said, I'm a Clemson graduate and obviously, a HUGE Clemson fan....and I think our rushing the court last night was ridiculous. It's one thing if you are facing the number 1 team in the country and you beat them in a huge upset game, and then rush the court to celebrate...to me, that is excusable or acceptable....but when you win an NIT game, I think rushing the court looks absolutely foolish, and really, way too over the top. it was embarrassing to see all our students storm the court last night.

I'm probably in the Clemson Fan minority in this, but the rushing the court last night was ridiculous...come on kids...