USC-Clemson In-Game Blog
posted by Scott Hood, Saturday, December 01, 2007
6:10 PM - 2 FT by CU. 81-70. Foul on miss by USC. It looks like CU will win. USC got to within 8 at one point but couldn't get it done on the defensive end. CU came up with just about every loose ball today. They outhustled USC. That was key. USC has done a better job here in the 2H on both ends but it won't be enough. They couldn't make up totally for a poor first half. They started badly and never fully recovered. ZF had a big game for USC. The atmosphere was electric here at LC today. USC needs to work on that. It's over. FINAL: CLEMSON 85, USC 74.
6:05 PM - DD misses FT. He stands about 6 inches behind the line. Loose ball. CU get sitand lays it in. That hurt. Anotehr loose ball. CU scores again. 79-67. 90 secs left. The rally has been snuffed out. 1 min left. DD with a long 3P from well beyond the line. It's 79-70 with 35 secs left.
6:00 - Dunk by Holmes, second one. LU by ZF. Suddenly, it's 73-65. USC within 8 with 3:44 left. CU calls t/o. USC has to keep the rally going! Big defensive stand here. They must prevent CU from scoring. Nope. Driving LU. That hurt. ZF misses drive to the basket. Less than 3 mins left. There's a TO by CU. DD drives to the basket. Hoop good and foul! DD will go to the line. It's 75-67 CU with 2:46 left. DD can cut it to 7 with the FT.
5:55 - ZF fouled hard going to the basket. Hits 1 FT. 6:45 left. 67-54. Big J by CU from the corner. That hurt. ZF drives to hoop. Layup and the foul. FT good. 69-57. Less than 6 mins left. USC gives up a LU, though. 71-57. Basket by CU. That may be the dagger. But dunk by Holmes. 73-61.
5:50 - GT on CU. 3rd media t/o with 7:54 left. USC just got slapped with a tech. foul. USC trails 65-53. They've never led in this game. ZF has 20 points for USC. He's played well for the most part. Time is running out. Need a major spurt here. CU hits the Tech FT's. CU 67-53.
5:45 - Backdoor LU by ZF. It's 60-51. Into single digits. That's a start. But Rivers hits a long 3P. Ouch!. Couple of misses by USC. They're rushing shots now. Another basket by CU, It's 65-51 with 8 mins left. Need a spurt here.
5:40 PM - Basket by CU waved off. Second media t/o of the 2H. 11:53 left. USC trails 60-49 and they have the ball. Plenty of time left. The key will be how USC does defensively.
5:35 - USC had a chance to move to within 10 but ZF turned it over and now CU has a chance at a 3PP. FT good. It's 60-45 with 13 mins left. DD drives and hits a J. Off. foul on CU. USC trails 60-47 and has the ball. They're slowly cutting into the lead. DD and BRR are leading the charge back. Will it be enough? ZF hits a J. It's 60-49.
5:30 - Fast break basket by Downey. 4 straight points by USC. They're down by 14. DD blows by his defender again. It's 57-45. USC within 12. CU calls t/o with 14:06 left. USC must get it the lead into single digits to really make a run here. They need some defense.
5:25 - 3P by BRR. He's red hot right now. But USC gives up another OR basket at the other end. 1st Media t/o of the 2H with 15:14 left. CU leads 57-39. Poor defense here in the 2H has prevented the Gamecocks from cutting into the lead. Actually, CU has expanded its lead to 18 right now. It's going to be a uphill struggle from this point without some semblance of a defense.
5:20 - The 2H is underway. Wow! Thunderous dunk by CU's Sykes. BRR responds with a 3P, just USC's second of the day. Anotehr 3 by BRR. He's heating up. USC needs to step it up defensively. Another basket by BRR. CU leads 51-34. USC can't trade baskets here. They MUST go on a long run here. ZF drives in for a basket. But CU responds. No defense here by USC. A frustrated Odom calls t/o with 16:55 left. CU has scored just about every down the floor. It's 53-36 CU.
5:10 - CU is shooting 38.9%, but USC is at 37.0%. The difference lies in 3P shooting (CU is 5/12, while USC is 1/8), FT (CU 10-13, USC 5-9) and rebounding. CU has 26 rebounds to USC's 16. CU has 12 OR. That's way too many. Downey is struggling. He's 1-of-7 from the floor with 4 turnovers. SF has 14 points to lead USC. The next highest scorer has 4 pts.
5:00 - CU at the FT line. 3.7 secs left. 1 FT good. DD misses bomb from 30 feet. HALFTIME: CU 43, USC 26. We'll have stats
4:55 - Slam dunk by CU. That brings the crowd to its feet. USC needs a rally here in the late stages of the 1H. Another plaming call. That's the third or fourth one of the 1H. It's being emphasized this year. Jumper by DD. USC needed that. CU calls t/o with 57.8 secs left. USC trails 42-26. USC needs to finish the half strong here and get some momentum for the 2H.
4:50 - Nice back door cut by CU. Foul. 2 FT. 4 mins left. T/O on USC. Downey palmed the ball. They're calling that closeely this year. 3P by CU. That hurts. Holme smisses. Need some defense here. Illegal screen. Break there. 4th media t/o of the 1H with 3:03 left. CU leads 40-24. They've never trailed in this game. It was 2-2 early but CU then scored eight straight points to take a 10-2 lead and USC has been fighting from behind ever since.
4:45 - 2 FT By Muldrow. 31-20 CU. ZF with a slam down the middle. Turnover CU. OOB right in front of us. 33-22. USC needs to cut this to single digits. They don't. CU gets a follow-up basket. Have to box out there. No excuse to allow the shooter to get his own rebound. CU is outhustling USC right now. Plain and simple. It looked like Holmes got pushed from behind but no call. 35-22 with 4:25 left in 1H.
4:40 - Nice drive to the basket by ZF. Chance for a 3PP. But he misses thr FT. 31-18. There's a nice defensive stand by USC. CU had several shots at the basket. Couple of blocked shots. 3rd media t/o with 7:40 left. CU leads 31-18. USC needs a late flurry here. They're still hanging around. It looked for a minute there that CU might run away and hide.
4:35 - Off. foul on Downey. That hurt. USC best the press, too. It's still 29-14 with 9:36 left. It's been a little ragged here the last few mins. USC needs to score points here.
4:30 - CU is pouring it on. Long 3P. But Fredrick hit a 3P for USC. They needed that. But CU scores agin. Here comes the full court pressure. It's affecting USC. Ball out of bounds. CU ball. TV t/o. 11:09 left in 1H. CU leads 29-14. Odom has to figure out something fast because this game could slip away fast if this keeps up. CU appears superior in size and speed. Plus, they're making shots. That's a lethal combination.
4:25 - After some technical difficulties, we're back. It's not good news for USC right npow. Clemson leads 22-11 with 13 mins left in the 1H. Mike Holmes has come in and provided a much-needed spark off the bench. Holmes hit a short jumper and then scored off an OR. Oops. Archie was just smacked with a T. CU hits both FT. It's 24-11with 12:42 left. And CU gets the ball.
4:10 - We're underway. Clemson has an early 4-2 lead. Downey just threw a pass away. There's another t/o. 3P. CU leads 7-2. Turnovers. Downey shot is blocked. 3P by Clemson. It's 10-2. USC calls t/o with 17:55 left. CU's full-court pressure is affecting USC right now. Odom talked about this yesterday.
4:05 - The starting lineup are being introduced. We're almost underway. I would say LC is about 80 to 90 percent full. There are empty seats in the upper corners. CU puts the stidents behind each of the baskets, which is smart in my opinion.
3:30 - We're here at Littlejohn Coliseum for today's USC-Clemson game. Dave Odom said yesterday that this is a huge game for USC. He admitted he had failed to take the rivalry seriously for the first six years but after dropping three straight games to CU, he now realizes how serious it is. We'll see how the Gamecocks play. USC's starting lineup: Archie, Day, Muldrow, Downey and Fredrick.
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USC v. Clemson MBB Blog - 12/1/07
6:10 PM - 2 FT by CU. 81-70. Foul on miss by USC. It looks like CU will win. USC got to within 8 at one point but couldn't get it done on the defensive end. CU came up with just about every loose ball today. They outhustled USC. That was key. USC has done a better job here in the 2H on both ends but it won't be enough. They couldn't make up totally for a poor first half. They started badly and never fully recovered. ZF had a big game for USC. The atmosphere was electric here at LC today. USC needs to work on that. It's over. FINAL: CLEMSON 85, USC 74.
6:05 PM - DD misses FT. He stands about 6 inches behind the line. Loose ball. CU get sitand lays it in. That hurt. Anotehr loose ball. CU scores again. 79-67. 90 secs left. The rally has been snuffed out. 1 min left. DD with a long 3P from well beyond the line. It's 79-70 with 35 secs left.
6:00 - Dunk by Holmes, second one. LU by ZF. Suddenly, it's 73-65. USC within 8 with 3:44 left. CU calls t/o. USC has to keep the rally going! Big defensive stand here. They must prevent CU from scoring. Nope. Driving LU. That hurt. ZF misses drive to the basket. Less than 3 mins left. There's a TO by CU. DD drives to the basket. Hoop good and foul! DD will go to the line. It's 75-67 CU with 2:46 left. DD can cut it to 7 with the FT.
5:55 - ZF fouled hard going to the basket. Hits 1 FT. 6:45 left. 67-54. Big J by CU from the corner. That hurt. ZF drives to hoop. Layup and the foul. FT good. 69-57. Less than 6 mins left. USC gives up a LU, though. 71-57. Basket by CU. That may be the dagger. But dunk by Holmes. 73-61.
5:50 - GT on CU. 3rd media t/o with 7:54 left. USC just got slapped with a tech. foul. USC trails 65-53. They've never led in this game. ZF has 20 points for USC. He's played well for the most part. Time is running out. Need a major spurt here. CU hits the Tech FT's. CU 67-53.
5:45 - Backdoor LU by ZF. It's 60-51. Into single digits. That's a start. But Rivers hits a long 3P. Ouch!. Couple of misses by USC. They're rushing shots now. Another basket by CU, It's 65-51 with 8 mins left. Need a spurt here.
5:40 PM - Basket by CU waved off. Second media t/o of the 2H. 11:53 left. USC trails 60-49 and they have the ball. Plenty of time left. The key will be how USC does defensively.
5:35 - USC had a chance to move to within 10 but ZF turned it over and now CU has a chance at a 3PP. FT good. It's 60-45 with 13 mins left. DD drives and hits a J. Off. foul on CU. USC trails 60-47 and has the ball. They're slowly cutting into the lead. DD and BRR are leading the charge back. Will it be enough? ZF hits a J. It's 60-49.
5:30 - Fast break basket by Downey. 4 straight points by USC. They're down by 14. DD blows by his defender again. It's 57-45. USC within 12. CU calls t/o with 14:06 left. USC must get it the lead into single digits to really make a run here. They need some defense.
5:25 - 3P by BRR. He's red hot right now. But USC gives up another OR basket at the other end. 1st Media t/o of the 2H with 15:14 left. CU leads 57-39. Poor defense here in the 2H has prevented the Gamecocks from cutting into the lead. Actually, CU has expanded its lead to 18 right now. It's going to be a uphill struggle from this point without some semblance of a defense.
5:20 - The 2H is underway. Wow! Thunderous dunk by CU's Sykes. BRR responds with a 3P, just USC's second of the day. Anotehr 3 by BRR. He's heating up. USC needs to step it up defensively. Another basket by BRR. CU leads 51-34. USC can't trade baskets here. They MUST go on a long run here. ZF drives in for a basket. But CU responds. No defense here by USC. A frustrated Odom calls t/o with 16:55 left. CU has scored just about every down the floor. It's 53-36 CU.
5:10 - CU is shooting 38.9%, but USC is at 37.0%. The difference lies in 3P shooting (CU is 5/12, while USC is 1/8), FT (CU 10-13, USC 5-9) and rebounding. CU has 26 rebounds to USC's 16. CU has 12 OR. That's way too many. Downey is struggling. He's 1-of-7 from the floor with 4 turnovers. SF has 14 points to lead USC. The next highest scorer has 4 pts.
5:00 - CU at the FT line. 3.7 secs left. 1 FT good. DD misses bomb from 30 feet. HALFTIME: CU 43, USC 26. We'll have stats
4:55 - Slam dunk by CU. That brings the crowd to its feet. USC needs a rally here in the late stages of the 1H. Another plaming call. That's the third or fourth one of the 1H. It's being emphasized this year. Jumper by DD. USC needed that. CU calls t/o with 57.8 secs left. USC trails 42-26. USC needs to finish the half strong here and get some momentum for the 2H.
4:50 - Nice back door cut by CU. Foul. 2 FT. 4 mins left. T/O on USC. Downey palmed the ball. They're calling that closeely this year. 3P by CU. That hurts. Holme smisses. Need some defense here. Illegal screen. Break there. 4th media t/o of the 1H with 3:03 left. CU leads 40-24. They've never trailed in this game. It was 2-2 early but CU then scored eight straight points to take a 10-2 lead and USC has been fighting from behind ever since.
4:45 - 2 FT By Muldrow. 31-20 CU. ZF with a slam down the middle. Turnover CU. OOB right in front of us. 33-22. USC needs to cut this to single digits. They don't. CU gets a follow-up basket. Have to box out there. No excuse to allow the shooter to get his own rebound. CU is outhustling USC right now. Plain and simple. It looked like Holmes got pushed from behind but no call. 35-22 with 4:25 left in 1H.
4:40 - Nice drive to the basket by ZF. Chance for a 3PP. But he misses thr FT. 31-18. There's a nice defensive stand by USC. CU had several shots at the basket. Couple of blocked shots. 3rd media t/o with 7:40 left. CU leads 31-18. USC needs a late flurry here. They're still hanging around. It looked for a minute there that CU might run away and hide.
4:35 - Off. foul on Downey. That hurt. USC best the press, too. It's still 29-14 with 9:36 left. It's been a little ragged here the last few mins. USC needs to score points here.
4:30 - CU is pouring it on. Long 3P. But Fredrick hit a 3P for USC. They needed that. But CU scores agin. Here comes the full court pressure. It's affecting USC. Ball out of bounds. CU ball. TV t/o. 11:09 left in 1H. CU leads 29-14. Odom has to figure out something fast because this game could slip away fast if this keeps up. CU appears superior in size and speed. Plus, they're making shots. That's a lethal combination.
4:25 - After some technical difficulties, we're back. It's not good news for USC right npow. Clemson leads 22-11 with 13 mins left in the 1H. Mike Holmes has come in and provided a much-needed spark off the bench. Holmes hit a short jumper and then scored off an OR. Oops. Archie was just smacked with a T. CU hits both FT. It's 24-11with 12:42 left. And CU gets the ball.
4:10 - We're underway. Clemson has an early 4-2 lead. Downey just threw a pass away. There's another t/o. 3P. CU leads 7-2. Turnovers. Downey shot is blocked. 3P by Clemson. It's 10-2. USC calls t/o with 17:55 left. CU's full-court pressure is affecting USC right now. Odom talked about this yesterday.
4:05 - The starting lineup are being introduced. We're almost underway. I would say LC is about 80 to 90 percent full. There are empty seats in the upper corners. CU puts the stidents behind each of the baskets, which is smart in my opinion.
3:30 - We're here at Littlejohn Coliseum for today's USC-Clemson game. Dave Odom said yesterday that this is a huge game for USC. He admitted he had failed to take the rivalry seriously for the first six years but after dropping three straight games to CU, he now realizes how serious it is. We'll see how the Gamecocks play. USC's starting lineup: Archie, Day, Muldrow, Downey and Fredrick.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.