Is 2011 the year that Clemson finally wins in CH? (Poll Added! Poll Is Closed!)

[SFDukie]

1926. Silent Cal is in the WH; alcohol is prohibited; Henry Ford initiates the 5 day, 40 hr workweek. Goddard is testing his first liquid fuel rockets. And Clemson visits UNC for the first time and loses by 30.


85 years is a long time. 55 losses-and of course the tigers had their best chance since the Doh years to beat UNC last year. But they've reeled off 8 consecutive wins, including a pretty decisive 15 point win vs GaT, since their close consecutive road losses in Columbia and Tallahassee.

Is this finally the year?

[AlaskanAssassin]

If VaTech couldn't, you think Clemson can? You never know, but I find VaTech to be better than Clemson.

[CDu]

1926. Silent Cal is in the WH; alcohol is prohibited; Henry Ford initiates the 5 day, 40 hr workweek. Goddard is testing his first liquid fuel rockets. And Clemson visits UNC for the first time and loses by 30.


85 years is a long time. 55 losses-and of course the tigers had their best chance since the Doh years to beat UNC last year. But they've reeled off 8 consecutive wins, including a pretty decisive 15 point win vs GaT, since their close consecutive road losses in Columbia and Tallahassee.

Is this finally the year?

Well, they may have had their best chance to beat UNC last year. And they did so convincingly: 83-64. But they definitely didn't have their best chance to beat UNC at Chapel Hill last year, since they didn't play at Chapel Hill last year.

I haven't seen Clemson this year, but they don't seem to be as good as they were last year (they don't have a replacement for Booker and their backcourt looks the same). I'm not saying it can't happen, but I certainly won't be predicting a Clemson win.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Julio teases Klemnop with such thoughts in his front page article this morning. Klemnop knows better. The chances of him streaking down Franklin St (or just sitting on the Well as he claims his promise was) on Tuesday night? Very, very slim. But Klemnop, a bunch of us will still come bail you out if you do! Promise!

[Klemnop]

Julio teases Klemnop with such thoughts in his front page article this morning. Klemnop knows better. The chances of him streaking down Franklin St (or just sitting on the Well as he claims his promise was) on Tuesday night? Very, very slim. But Klemnop, a bunch of us will still come bail you out if you do! Promise!

For the record the original promise was, "I'll hang nekid from the sun dial in front of the Planeterium the day Clemson ever beats UNC in Chapel Hill." For those with a bit of Chapel Hill geography this is essentially being nekid on Franklin Street as the aforementioned sun dial is viewable, unobstructed, from the road.

I don't think anyone should be holding their breath this year. Better Clemson teams have gone to Chapel Hill to play worse UNC teams and not been able to turn the trick.

While UNC did just lose a head-scratching game to GaTech, it was a road game in the ACC. And, as was discussed in the front page article, UNC wasn't really playing inspried leading up to that game...which can create a perfect storm when you come up against an opponent you perceive to be much worse that you in an environemnet much more difficult than you expect. I'd guess that the Heels come out with plenty of fire on Tuesday night.

On the plus side it will be UNC's 3rd game in five days. However Ol' Roy chooses to motivate them he's got to be careful not to run their legs out from under them.

Clemson's problem will be dealing with UNC's size. After Jerai Grant we don't have anyone that's a legitimate inside threat. Baby Booker (Devin) has the size and length...but nowhere near the Beast tenacity that his (smaller) brother had for banging around. And Milton Jennings, while he's trying to become more of an inside presence, just doesn't have the bulk or experience to produce inside on a regular basis.

The Tigers do seem to be getting the hang of Brad Brownell's motion offense. On days when the open shots that are available are falling (see 2nd half vs. GaTech 9-9 on 3s) the offense looks pretty damn good. But when the shots aren't falling it's ugly. And more times than not it's been ugly. In Oliver Purnell's press you could always count on a flurry of points once or twice a game that came from the pressure. Points don't come in flurries any more. They come from methodically grinding out the possession...and when the possessions end empty too often then the bottom falls out.

It is interesting to note that the Tigers have improved defensively under Coach Brownell. I'm no Xs-and-Os guy but I hear that he's tightened up the on-ball techniques (which Clemson excelled at under OP) and vastly improved the off-ball/help techniques. He's left little doubt that he's a much better teacher of the game than OP and the players do seem to be responding to that after a period of adjustment in Nov./Dec. But he's at least a couple of competent shooters away from being able to run his system effectively.

Bottom line: Clemson at UNC is the closest thing to a sure bet that there ever was. I gave up getting myself emotionally invested in this game a long time ago. I don't even think of it as a game anymore. It's really just a circus side show. We know we're going to get cheated by paying our dollar to look behind the curtain...but we pay the dollar anyway.

Klem

[OZZIE4DUKE]

For the record the original promise was, "I'll hang nekid from the sun dial in front of the Planeterium the day Clemson ever beats UNC in Chapel Hill." For those with a bit of Chapel Hill geography this is essentially being nekid on Franklin Street as the aforementioned sun dial is viewable, unobstructed, from the road.

I don't think anyone should be holding their breath this year. Better Clemson teams have gone to Chapel Hill to play worse UNC teams and not been able to turn the trick.

...

Bottom line: Clemson at UNC is the closest thing to a sure bet that there ever was. I gave up getting myself emotionally invested in this game a long time ago. I don't even think of it as a game anymore. It's really just a circus side show. We know we're going to get cheated by paying our dollar to look behind the curtain...but we pay the dollar anyway.

Klem

So you won't be in chapel hill at game time on Tuesday night? Will you drive up immediately after you beat them? How long will it take you to get there? PM me your cell phone number and I'll call you so you'll have mine and we can coordinate video cameras and bail money, etc.!

[Klemnop]

So you won't be in chapel hill at game time on Tuesday night? Will you drive up immediately after you beat them? How long will it take you to get there? PM me your cell phone number and I'll call you so you'll have mine and we can coordinate video cameras and bail money, etc.!

For the first time in a LOOOOONG time I'll actually be in the Carolinas during the game. Should the unthinkable happen it'll take me a little bit under four hours to get to Chapel Hill. Game should end around 10:15. That puts me on the sun dial around 2:30a.

[OZZIE4DUKE]

For the first time in a LOOOOONG time I'll actually be in the Carolinas during the game. Should the unthinkable happen it'll take me a little bit under four hours to get to Chapel Hill. Game should end around 10:15. That puts me on the sun dial around 2:30a.

I just PM'd you my cell number, just in case!

[moonpie23]

That puts me on the sun dial around 2:30a.

ummm...i'm there...

[SFDukie]

Well, they may have had their best chance to beat UNC last year. And they did so convincingly: 83-64. But they definitely didn't have their best chance to beat UNC at Chapel Hill last year, since they didn't play at Chapel Hill last year.

I haven't seen Clemson this year, but they don't seem to be as good as they were last year (they don't have a replacement for Booker and their backcourt looks the same). I'm not saying it can't happen, but I certainly won't be predicting a Clemson win.

Thanks for the uneven scheduling reminder. I'm stick stuck in a home and away mindset

I haven't seen them play either, just read news accounts and seen a brief highlight or two-that was part of my motivation for the thread.

[jv001]

For the first time in a LOOOOONG time I'll actually be in the Carolinas during the game. Should the unthinkable happen it'll take me a little bit under four hours to get to Chapel Hill. Game should end around 10:15. That puts me on the sun dial around 2:30a.

Just got through reading Klemnop's posts regarding Clemson vs unc and the chances he'll be on that sun dial around 2:30am. I was laughing so hard my wife thought about calling for the guys with the straight jackets. Let's hope Klem get's the chance to get on that sun dial. That would make my day, month and year. Go Duke and Go Clemson for this game!

[cptnflash]

It seems unlikely, but man would it be awesome! Here's hoping!

[Olympic Fan]

Clemson owns the ACC's longest active winninbg streak (8 games -- nobody else has won more than two straight) and has the second best overall record in the league (13-4 ... just ahead of BC and FSU at 13-5).

To be fair, that winninbg streak started against some real patsies at home -- Savannah State, UNCG, Delaware Statem ECU and Citadel, but it did include a pretty impressive win at College Charleston.

Whether it's increased confidence or growing familiarity with Coach Brownell's system, I don't know but the last two games -- homecourt victories over Miami and the same Georgia Tech team that justed ripped UNC -- are fairly impressive.

Whether that translates into a historic victory in Chapel Hill, I can't say. Jerai Grant has been playing very well -- he averaged almost 17 points and eight rebounds over his last eight games. Stitt, who was hobbled by a knee problem (he missed two games with arthroscopic surgery), seems to be back in form (16/17/16 points in the last three with 13 total assists. The real question is how much can they get from Tanner Smith, Baby Booker and Andre Young.

I don't expect a win at UNC (although they get the Heels again in Littlejohn next month and I could see them winning that one). Still, it wouldn't be the biggest upset ever -- aside from from historic improbability.

PS UNC x-rayed Henson's elbow and it came up clean. He and McDonald (bad back) practiced Monday morning.

[CameronBlue]

Projected low for Chapel Hill Wednesday early am: 40 degrees.

[Kfanarmy]

Projected low for Chapel Hill Wednesday early am: 40 degrees.

Great post. Just need to make sure the pictures are taken from the waist up or from the backside...

[OZZIE4DUKE]

Projected low for Chapel Hill Wednesday early am: 40 degrees.

If Clemson wins, it'll feel more like 9F!

[duketaylor]

Tuesday night, could it happen this year?

[wilson]

Dear DBR readers,
Please scroll down at least 6 inches before starting any new thread.
There's already a thread for this.

[wilko]

Great post. Just need to make sure the pictures are taken from the waist up or from the backside...

Ditto, I need no male porn visuals. I am satisfied:
1) Knowing it happened
2) That said action tormented Holes fans.

[Newton_14]

Ok folks, this one needs a poll! I added the poll so vote now. The poll will close tomorrow night.

What say ye???