99 Problems but a Win ain’t 1! | Clemson defeats Syracuse
Clemson’s last home game of the 2023-2024 season. Photo by Dez Barnes
Clemson, SC- Weekday madness! Clemson takes on the Orange of Syracuse University at home in the Littlejohn Coliseum. Tension is high as Selection Sunday is 12 days away. Both teams looking outstanding, coming in at 20 wins so far for the season. Clemson has one less loss than Syracuse at 9. The Tigers came into tonight's game planning to continue making their mark on the court, with star P.J. Hall leading the troops.
Clemson is coming off a close loss against ACC opponent Notre Dame on the road. Thus, they are striving to regain momentum and secure a win for their last home game of the season. Clemson will end the regular season on March 9 at Wake Forest. At Notre Dame, Clemson averaged 39% in field goals, 17.9% in three-point shots, and 78.6% in free throws.
Moving into the first period at around 5 minutes, the Tigers took a strong 16-5 lead. They took no time heating up the court and getting points on the board early. Of course, this had the crowd on fire and pumped, as the Tigers have shown a slow start in previous games. Throughout the season, the Tigers have consistently grown to allow their guards more control on the court, which has worked out tremendously for them.
Chase Hunter, G, was expected to play way better than he did against Notre Dame, where he played for 34 minutes and only rallied 4 points. This was an unlikely performance from him, as he has been the team's leading three-point shooter. Another starter for Clemson, Guard Joseph Girard III, had great expectations of bringing the same fierce attitude to the court as his last game. Against Notre Dame, he played for 31 minutes and rallied in 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists. The Tigers would need that same performance, if not better, from him against the Orange.
As the half drew near, the Orange got back into fighting shape, adding 25 points to the board. But, although they made an excellent offensive run going into halftime, they still trailed by 12 points. They had some work to do if they wanted to make this a competitive game going into the second period.
After halftime, the Tigers exhibited a heightened level of speed and aggression, which is pretty standard for them. However, Syracuse had an opportunity to recover and gain points on the board. They managed to reduce the gap to just 8 points at the 10:25 mark, but they still had a lot of work to do.
To be fair, Clemson could afford to ease up a bit, given the size of the gap. Syracuse was struggling to catch up, and Clemson maintained its lead throughout the game. The Littlejohn Coliseum proved to be a challenging venue for opponents, thanks to the passionate and energetic fans, particularly the students who come out in droves to cheer on their team. The loud and boisterous crowd played a crucial role in the game day experience.
As the game neared its end, the Tigers continued to drive towards the basket, keeping the crowd engaged. Syracuse put up a good fight, but ultimately fell short. Both teams now have their sights set on the March Madness tournament, but Clemson appears to be in a much better position to make a run.
