University of North Carolina Athletics
Clemson Game Guide
March 16, 2008 | Men's Basketball
March 16, 2008
By Lauren Brownlow
The Basics
Carolina (31-2) will face Clemson (24-8) in the ACC Tournament Championship game on Sunday. The Tar Heels beat Virginia Tech 68-66 on Saturday in the first semifinal. Clemson is coming off of a 78-74 win over the No. 2 seed Duke. Clemson had not beaten Duke in the last 22 meetings. Carolina is 16-12 in the ACC Tournament Championship game all-time. The Tar Heels are now 10-1 in Charlotte as the No. 1 seed in the ACC Tournament and are 5-0 in Bobcats Arena. Carolina is 13-1 against Clemson in the ACC Tournament with the loss coming in 1996.
Game Time: North Carolina vs. Clemson, 1:00 PM.
Last Time: Carolina beat Clemson 103-93 in double-overtime in Chapel Hill on February 10, 2008. Carolina was down by as many as 15 points in the second half and overcame an 11-point second-half deficit with three minutes left in regulation. After turning the ball over 13 times in the first half, Carolina had just seven turnovers in the second half and both overtimes. Clemson had just seven turnovers in the first half and committed 15 in the second half and both overtimes. Clemson was 12-of-28 from the three-point line but shot just 5-of-16 in the second half and both overtimes. Carolina hit 31-of-36 free throws compared to 1-of-7 for Clemson.
Tyler Hansbrough had 39 points and on 11-of-16 shooting and added 13 rebounds for Carolina, also adding three steals. Wayne Ellington had 28 points on 9-of-22 shooting (5-of-9 from beyond the arc). Danny Green had 14 points, many late in regulation, on 5-of-12 shooting. He added two assists, three steals and two blocks. Quentin Thomas had just six points but he hit the game-tying lay-up at the end of regulation and also hit key free throws. He also had nine assists.
Cliff Hammonds led the Tigers with 31 points on 13-of-23 shooting (5-of-8 from beyond the arc). K.C. Rivers had 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting and added six assists, five steals and two blocks. Demontez Stitt had 13 points, five assists and six turnovers. David Potter added ten points on 5-of-11 shooting. Trevor Booker also had ten points on 5-of-8 shooting and added a team-high ten rebounds.
Radio Coverage: Tar Heel Sports Network coverage begins at 12:00 PM.
Injury Report: Ty Lawson is still recovering from both a sprained ankle and a hip pointer. Marcus Ginyard is playing through a stress reaction in his left foot. Bobby Frasor tore his left ACL and is out for the season. Bobby Frasor tore his left ACL and is out for the season.
Storylines
Valuing the ball: Carolina turned the ball over 17 times against Virginia Tech, marking the most turnovers committed by the Tar Heels in the last four games. Virginia Tech's 12 steals were the most by a Carolina opponent since the most recent meeting against Clemson when the Tigers had 13 steals. Clemson has averaged 12.5 steals against Carolina. Carolina has allowed six ACC opponents to have double-digit steals; three of the six games went to overtime, one was a Carolina loss to Duke and one was Saturday's two-point win over Virginia Tech.
Carolina was fortunate in that the Hokies scored 17 points off of those 17 turnovers but nine of those were off of seven first-half turnovers. Carolina had a second-half stretch in which the Tar Heels committed six turnovers in five minutes (from the 9:01 mark to the 4:01 mark), but Virginia Tech could score just four points on those six turnovers and stretched its lead to only seven when it could have been much worse. Carolina even turned it over with 51 seconds left and a tie ballgame but Virginia Tech missed a jumper with 28 seconds left, setting up the Hansbrough game-winner. "We acted out of character today. We panicked a little bit, and made a lot of turnovers down the stretch that we normally don't make and things like that. So the next game, we've got to work on that," Ty Lawson said (his one assist and four turnovers marked his worst assist-to-turnover ratio in a game since the season-opener against Davidson).
Clemson is well-known for its pressure defense and the Tigers have been working their press to perfection in the ACC Tournament. It was the same press that gave Carolina fits in both meetings, but most notably in Chapel Hill as it helped force five Carolina turnovers in the first five possessions. In the ACC Tournament, Clemson's opponents have averaged 19.0 turnovers in the two games after averaging 17.3 in the ACC regular season. Clemson is averaging 10.0 steals in two ACC Tournament games after averaging 8.8 steals in the regular season. The Tigers are also fouling less, committing just 17.5 per game in two Tournament games compared to 20.6 in the ACC regular-season; Clemson opponents are averaging 16.5 free throw attempts in the Tournament compared to 22.3 in the regular season.
Battling through adversity: Carolina certainly did not play its best game against Virginia Tech. In the first 16 minutes and 46 seconds of the second half, Carolina shot 7-of-24 from the field (29.2%) and 0-of-6 from beyond the arc, scoring just 18 points in that span. Then in the final three minutes and 14 seconds of the game, Carolina had 12 points on 4-of-5 shooting (2-of-2 from beyond the arc); the one shot was a Ty Lawson miss that Tyler Hansbrough put back in to win the game.
"Tywon (Lawson) missed two dead lay-ups. Danny (Green) missed a dead lay-up. Deon (Thompson) missed one from a foot. We ran a lob play out of bounds from Tyler (Hansbrough) and he missed it from six inches. We had missed a lot of shots. Yet I think you've got to say that that's partly us and then again, I congratulate Virginia Tech. I thought they really defended us well, made it tough," Williams said. "We haven't been satisfied with the way we play but I think a lot of that is it's the ACC. It's guys that do know what you're trying to do. Before one of Wayne's big-time three's, we ran a play and they knew exactly what we were running. You're not going to face that a lot of other times."
Carolina was able to stay in the game despite its shooting woes largely because of its defense. Virginia Tech began the second half shooting 4-of-6 from the field (1-of-2 from beyond the arc) and scoring ten points in the first 4 ½ minutes, mounting a six-point lead. The Hokies would hit just 1-of-6 three-pointers and 5-of-17 shots from the field, scoring just 18 points in the final 15:33. Carolina also had five of its nine steals in the final 12 minutes of the game.
This Carolina team has managed to get the stops that it needed and make the plays that it needed during this ten-game winning streak. After hitting a three on their first steal of the game, Carolina could not capitalize on turnovers by the Hokies, hitting a jumper in the first half off of another turnover but missing two lay-ups, a three-pointer, three jumpers and committing two turnovers on the other 10 Virginia Tech turnovers. It was not until the final three minutes that Carolina was able to capitalize; Tyler Hansbrough had his tip-in after a Virginia Tech turnover (though it was also on the Ellington technical) and Ellington hit 2-of-3 free throws off of another late turnover. Carolina's seven points off turnovers were its fewest since scoring just seven points off of Maryland's turnovers in the home loss in January.
Carolina was missing even easy lay-ups all over the court and long rebounds were bouncing out to the Hokies. It seemed like the type of game that the Tar Heels were not destined to win. Yet somehow, as they seemingly always do, they were able to make the plays down the stretch that they needed to make. It may not have been pretty - but it was a win. Carolina will take that. "We might not be necessarily getting great defensive efforts, not playing as smart as we need to defensively, but I don't think that this team is worried right now. We're continuing to do things together when we need to," Marcus Ginyard said. "I think that's the biggest thing about playing in March is just doing whatever it takes to get it done. It's not going to be pretty all the time, but as long as you're staying together and everybody is keeping that same focus to the same goals, then you can pull through."
At The Game
Listening to the Tar Heel Sports Network at the game: The in-stadium feed in Bobcats Arena will be on or around FM 87.9.
Watching At Home
Turn down the sound: If you're watching at home while listening to the radio or over the computer via Carolina All-Access, there will inevitably be some delay. For the reason - and a possible solution - click here.
A full list of THSN affiliates can be found here.
Raycom/ESPN coverage: The game will be available on Raycom/ESPN.
Names To Know
Tyler Hansbrough: Why not? Make no mistake - Hansbrough has been the most important player on this team the entire season. Can Carolina win if he doesn't have a good game? Absolutely. But he has shown that he has the ability to take this team on his back when the team needs him and it will certainly need him tomorrow. Hansbrough moved into third place on Carolina's all-time scoring list with his 26-point effort against Virginia Tech. In the ACC Tournament, he has hit 16-of-33 shots and 16-of-18 free throws, averaging 24.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 34.0 minutes. Tyler Hansbrough made at least 4-5 plays down the stretch - a rebound here, a tip-in there, a putback jumper with 0.8 seconds left - that were crucial to the win.
The talk after Carolina's first matchup with Clemson in which Hansbrough had 12 points on 3-of-7 shooting (his lowest scoring output in ACC play) was that Clemson had found the "secret" to shutting down Hansbrough. In the second meeting between the two teams, Hansbrough had 39 points on 11-of-16 shooting (17-of-19 from the free-throw line). He has had double-doubles in both meetings, pulling down 14 boards in the first game and 13 in the second game for an average of 13.5.
There are a lot of other Tar Heels who need to have a good game for Carolina to win tomorrow. But despite being the focus of so much defensive attention, he has managed to get it done nearly every ACC game this season. His 39-point explosion against Clemson in the last meeting was his third straight double-double in Carolina's third game without Ty Lawson. As all teams do, Clemson will concentrate on shutting down Hansbrough. But with the addition of the jumper to his game, he is preventing teams from being able to defend him one-dimensionally and his play has opened up things for the team all over the floor.
Wayne Ellington: Wayne Ellington has had seven 20-point games this season and one 30-point game. Two of his 20-plus scoring games have come against Clemson, including his only 30-point effort. At Clemson, he had a career-high 36 points. He added 28 points in the meeting in Chapel Hill. He has shot 10-of-17 (58.8%) from beyond the arc in the two games. If there has been a negative in his two games against Clemson, it has been that he has hit a combined 10-of-24 shots from two-point range (41.7%) and had turned it over seven times in the two meetings, including five in the most recent matchup in Chapel Hill.
Ellington had 15 points against Virginia Tech Saturday, but as late as the 5:56 mark, Ellington had just five points on 2-of-9 shooting (1-of-5 from beyond the arc). He made a lay-up and in the final 3:14, he shot 2-of-2 from the field, 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and 2-of-4 from the foul line. But in the midst of that, he picked up a technical foul that is not the type of play that Ellington would normally make. It very nearly cost Carolina as Virginia Tech was able to take a two-point lead on the free throws. Ellington then missed the front end of his 1-and-1 and fortunately, Tyler Hansbrough tipped it in. But Ellington went on to make a three-pointer on the next possession to tie the game with 2:05 to go and then draw Deron Washington's fifth foul on a three-pointer, making two of three foul shots to give Carolina a two-point lead.
Clemson is very much aware of Ellington's success against Carolina. The Tar Heels have barely managed to win two close games against the Tigers and Ellington has had to hit ten three-pointers to keep the Tar Heels afloat.
"I saw it (Ellington's technical) clearly and Wayne did start talking to the player. I have no idea if he was saying anything bad or congratulating him on his haircut or whatever, but he was talking and then there was a bump. I have no problem with what the official did and I had no problem with Wayne missing the free throw because he said he knew Tyler was going to get the offensive rebound and put it back in. After that, Wayne made some big, big jumpshots but I was disappointed in it," Williams said.
Deon Thompson/Alex Stepheson: The two should not be grouped, because they are obviously not the same player. However, Carolina will need more from one of the two of them in order to stay in the game against a Clemson team that is very tough to contend with in the post. Thompson made a huge play in the closing moments of the Virginia Tech game, deflecting the inbounds pass with 0.8 seconds left to seal Carolina's victory. However, Thompson did not score and pulled down just two rebounds in 16 minutes of action. Thompson has been hampered by injuries; however, he was coming into the ACC Tournament on the strength of a nine-rebound game against Duke. In the ACC Tournament so far, Thompson has shot 2-of-11 from the field and scored just five points, adding five rebounds (one offensive) in two games. He blocked two shots against Virginia Tech. He also has five fouls and one turnover in the last two games, averaging 18.0 minutes.
Stepheson played well in the first game, shooting 3-of-3 from the field and 1-of-4 from the foul line on his way to seven points in 14 minutes. He added just two rebounds but did not have a turnover. He missed his only shot attempt in his eight minutes against Virginia Tech and committed two fouls and two turnovers. He did have three rebounds. Williams had to shuffle the rotation around against Virginia Tech because of the problems with the post play, and Michael Copeland saw some minutes as well. Carolina has been forced to go small lately as well, negating any advantage it should have with its good post play. "I was trying to find something that I felt was working. I was a little disappointed with our big guys because we turned it over four times dribbling it in the post. We work all the time about not dribbling it in the post. So I took them out and put Danny (Green) in," Williams said.
Combined, the two have shot 5-of-15 from the field and 2-of-6 from the foul line, pulling down ten rebounds in two games. Against Clemson in the previous two meetings, Thompson has shot 7-of-20 from the field and averaged 8.5 points, 7.5 rebounds (2.5 offensive), 2.5 assists, one steal, one block, 3.0 fouls and 2.0 turnovers in 32.5 minutes. Stepheson missed the first meeting but had two points on 1-of-3 shooting and added four rebounds (two offensive), two assists, one block, one foul and no turnovers in 17 minutes in the second game. Neither of these two need to score a lot of points for Carolina to win but if either - or both - can come in and provide Carolina a spark on the defensive end, it would be much-needed.
Cliff Hammonds: The senior guard was huge against Duke, scoring 17 points on 5-of-8 shooting (3-of-6 from beyond the arc) and adding five rebounds, three assists, three steals and 35 minutes. He has shot 8-of-15 from the field and 4-of-10 from beyond the arc in ACC Tournament play, averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.0 steals and 3.0 turnovers in 30.0 minutes. Hammonds has also made 4-of-6 free throws in two ACC Tournament games compared to 17-of-34 in the 16 regular-season ACC games (50 percent).
In two previous meetings with Carolina, Hammonds has shot 19-of-36 from the field, 6-of-15 from beyond the arc and averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 2.0 fouls and 3.5 turnovers (six in the second meeting). In the most recent game, Hammonds absolutely torched the Tar Heels for 31 points on 13-of-23 shooting (5-of-8 from beyond the arc) and though he hit just 1-of-7 three-pointers in the first meeting, he hit 5-of-6 two-point baskets. He has been a problem for Carolina to defend in the past and he has been feeling it lately.
James Mays: Mays has been huge for Clemson in the ACC Tournament, averaging 15.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists while shooting 58.8% from the field and 91.7% from the foul line. Mays shot just 47.5% from the field, 52.8% from the foul line and averaged 10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in Clemson's ACC regular-season games. Against Duke, Mays shot 5-of-7 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line, including a few down the stretch, scoring 16 points and adding four rebounds, four assists and just one turnover in 29 minutes.
Mays has shot a combined 7-of-18 from the field and 4-of-8 from the foul line against Carolina, averaging 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 2.5 steals, 2.0 block, 3.5 fouls and 2.5 turnovers. He has been instrumental in Clemson's recent run, though, and Carolina's ability to stop Mays will be crucial.
Trevor Booker: It seems impossible, but Trevor Booker has been nearly as good as Mays in the ACC Tournament. Booker has shot 12-of-19 from the field (63.2%) and averaged 12.0 points, 7.5 rebounds (4.5 offensive rebounds), 2.0 assists, 2.0 blocks, 1.5 fouls and just one turnover in 22.5 minutes. Against Duke, Booker had 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting and added seven rebounds (six offensive), two assists, one steal, two blocks, two fouls and just one turnover in 29 minutes.
Booker has been an important force for Clemson in the post in two games against Carolina this season, notching two of his three double-doubles in ACC play against the Tar Heels. He has shot a combined 12-of-22 from the field and averaged 12.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 5.0 fouls and 1.5 turnovers in just 28.0 minutes. He has fouled out of both meetings and his limited minutes were important in both Carolina victories. He has not fouled out of any Clemson ACC win this season while fouling out of two of its league losses and notching four fouls in three losses.
Quotables
"That little dance he did after it went in - we're going to try to put that on some kind of musical." -Roy Williams on Tyler Hansbrough's victory dance after making the game-winner
"I just wanted to back up. I wasn't sure how long he was going to do it. I tried to give him a high-five but he just kept going, so I just wanted to get out of his way." -Wayne Ellington on almost getting clobbered by Hansbrough in the middle of his victory dance
Lauren Brownlow is the managing editor of Tar Heel Monthly.
