CLEMSON - During a recent homestand wherein they got back to playing pressure/uptempo basketball, the Clemson Tigers, in a rout of Virginia Sat.(Feb.20), closed that successful series of game with emphasis.

And the take no prisoners like exhibition displayed opposite the visiting Cavaliers, from Charlottesville, which was closed out in a lopsided 23 point (72-49) triumph at Littlejohn Coliseum was apparently just what the doctor ordered for Oliver Purnell’s charges, who were looking straight ahead at challenging road tests against Maryland (Wed., 2/24) and Florida State (Sat., 2/28).

The emphatic defeat of Tony Bennett’s Wahoos was preceded by ACC wins over Miami and Florida State.

However, in the big way the 19-7, 7-5 ACC Tigers tuned up for trips to College Park, Md. and Tallahassee, Fla. made an impression on junior center Jerai Grant, who played big in the victory over 14-11, 5-7 Virginia. Grant, who went 8-9 from the field, tied his career scoring mark with his 18 point contribution.

“Winning is what it’s all about; especially at this time of the season,” said Grant, whose dad (Harvey) and uncle (Horace) starred at Clemson in the mid-1980’s. “These were games we had to have, and to end the homestand the way we did---with all wins---lets me know that we definitely have a chance to go on and be a great basketball team.
“Getting our last three wins doesn’t mean that we’ve totally arrived as team but it really does a lot for our confidence. We definitely believe we have a chance to go a long ways if we continue to play tough Clemson basketball.”

Wasting little time in getting control of the game this past weekend versus the Cavaliers, the Tigers with pressure defense and timely shooting finished the first 20 minutes of play with a 19-point (41-22) advantage, and never looked back en route to the easier than expected league win.

Although mindful of what was ahead for his players away from the friendlier confines of Littlejohn, Purnell nevertheless lauded them for the victory over the Cavaliers and the two that preceded it.

“No question, the guys took care of business,” said the seven year Clemson hoops coach, of play in the three home wins. “Now the next step for us to become a really good team or a great team is to go out on the road and win.

“But I have hope for us as a team. The way we’ve been playing lately is the way we should be playing. We’ve had lapses here and there but I feel we have what it takes to become a great basketball team.”

Admitting that his Cavs ran into a team that was out to take care of business right from the start, Bennett pointed out the primary reason his squad ended up on the very short end of the final count.

“We simply were no match for them inside. They got good play from Booker (Trevor) and Grant down low and we didn’t do a good enough job of contesting that big part of Clemson’s game,” said the Virginia mentor.