I just returned from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tenn., after watching Clemson earn one of its biggest wins in the program’s history. The Tigers beat Baylor, the No. 3 seed in the NCAA’s West Regional, by eight points in a game in which they never trailed.
Baylor had one of the top five offenses in the country in terms of efficiency, yet Clemson held them to 38 percent shooting from the field, including 25 percent (6-24) from behind the three-point line. One of the nation’s best shooting teams and best offenses was held to 64 points.
However, the Tigers have no chance of beating No. 2 Arizona in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night in Los Angeles. At least that is what TBS analysts Seth Davis said after I turned on my television in my Memphis hotel room Sunday night.
I was stunned. Not that I don’t think Clemson has a big challenge at the Crypto.com Arena on Thursday. But the Tigers had just knocked off a team that Vegas and everyone else said was better than them.
The win over the Bears followed an even more impressive victory in the first-round, a win over a New Mexico squad that was hot and was everyone’s darling pick. Vegas had Clemson as the underdog in that game too and ESPN said the Tigers were the more likely No. 3 seed to lose to an 11 seed in the opening round.
Yet, the Tigers beat New Mexico by 21 points and was the only No. 3 seed to make it past the first round.
Clemson (23-11) held New Mexico, another high-scoring team, to 29-percent shooting, including 13-percent from behind the arc (3-23). The Lobos’ 56 points were a season low, as was their shooting performance overall and behind the three-point line.
By the way, Clemson trailed by a grand total of 30 seconds in both games combined. The Tigers never trailed in the Baylor game.
You would think the Tigers might get some credit for doing all of that, but no, instead the talking heads out there act like Baylor and New Mexico missing shots had more to do with them than Clemson.
Davis basically said Clemson should not even show up in Los Angeles because they cannot hang with Arizona’s speedy guards.
Is that not the same narrative I heard last week before the New Mexico game?
I have heard others say Clemson isn’t going to be able to match the Wildcats’ guards or their Bigs inside. Is that not the same thing they said prior to the Baylor game?
In a recent article, ESPN’s Myron Medcalf harped more on Clemson losing three out of four games heading into the tournament than what the Tigers have done in the tournament. He also said there was no sign this was a potential Sweet 16 team.
Did Medcalf not watch any of the Tigers’ 21 regular season wins prior to the tournament. Did he not see that this same Clemson team went to Chapel Hill and knocked off No. 1 seed North Carolina. Did he not see this same Clemson team win at Alabama or beat other tournament teams such as Boise State, TCU and South Carolina.
Medcalf ranked Clemson No. 16 in his re-seeding of the remaining 16 teams, while the Athletic had the Tigers No. 15 and CBS No. 13.
I am not guaranteeing a Clemson win on Thursday night by any stretch. Arizona is a quality ballclub with some great college players, such as former UNC transfer Caleb Love. He averaged 14.3 points per game in the three head-to-head matchups he had against the Tigers when was in Chapel Hill.
But to say the Tigers do not have a chance or to put down what they have accomplished and say they won because New Mexico and Baylor did not play well, is not right.
Clemson deserves a little more respect then it is getting right now, so maybe the Tigers will have to go out and earn that respect this week in Los Angeles.
–photo by Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
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