Clemson, DeVoe Pound Pitt from the Perimeter
CLEMSON -- Clemson’s marketing department showcased two great ideas for the basketball program moving forward.
The first was “90s Night,” where Clemson’s basketball team donned throwback white uniforms with an orange stripe down the side for a retro look. It looked like Rick Barnes’ 1996-97 team, which was a four-seed in the NCAA tournament, was warming up on the court before Clemson dominated Pittsburgh.
No. 16 Clemson continued its winning ways as the Tigers rolled over the Panthers 72-48.
With the win, the Tigers got to 20 wins on the season and are on a four-game winning streak. Past games were tough and tight-knit, this one was anything but.
With only a 32-22 lead at the half, Clemson used a 19-2 run over a 3:48 span to take control of the game for good and did so in the way it always does: with the three-point shot.
The second promotion of the night was one where Clemson partnered with Chick-fil-A. After a string of tremendous performances behind the three-point line the past few games, it was time for fans to cash-in on Clemson’s success.
It was announced that if Clemson made ten threes, all of the 7,000 fans in attendance would be eligible for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich. The Tigers had only four threes at the half but made six in less than six minutes in the second half to send their fans home happy.
Clemson finished with 12 three-pointers on 27 attempts. The Tigers have now won six consecutive ACC games when they make at least nine.
But the story continues to be how unconscious Gabe DeVoe is shooting the ball. If you thought he was feeling it before, you hadn’t seen anything yet.
DeVoe led the Tigers again, tying his career high of 25 points. However, he did set a new career-high in made threes. DeVoe came into the game making at least five three-pointers in the last three games. Against Pittsburgh, DeVoe made seven. The last time a player at Clemson made 5 or more three-point shots in four consecutive games was when Michael Tait did it in 1986-1987.
The senior guard’s confidence is higher than a Whitney Houston High C-note, and it shows when he pulls up from 35 to 40 feet away. DeVoe seems to get better and better as the games go by and he could probably knock a shot down from Seneca if you let him.
Brownell noted that DeVoe is always the first person in the gym for a shoot-around. If you were shooting as well as he is right now, wouldn’t you?
Many thought Clemson would falter without Donte Grantham in the lineup with no one able to fill his shoes. But DeVoe has been no scrub, especially on 90s night.
Most of DeVoe’s career-highs on the offensive end have come since Grantham went down.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” DeVoe said after Clemson’s ninth ACC victory. “Just shooting without a conscious and not thinking about it.”
Shelton Mitchell added 12 points, and Elijah Thomas also finished with a double-double ten points, 11 rebounds as the Tigers cruised to the easy victory. Marcquise Reed had been sick with the flu and a 103-degree fever, but DeVoe put on his best Reed impression as he scored 19 of his 25 points in the second half.
The Tigers finished shooting 46-percent from the field and held Pittsburgh to only 18 made field goals. The defense came through in a big way, forcing 15 Panther turnovers while Clemson was able to keep its number less than ten.
“They are so much better defensively than they were a year ago,” Pittsburgh head coach Kevin Stallings said.
Turnovers have been an extreme point of emphasis for Brad Brownell’s group.
“A disciplined performance by our guys. I was really pleased with the maturity and the way we played,” Brownell said. “You got to play really well in the league and in the non-league to get to 20. I’m proud of our guys and how much they have poured into it.
“20 wins in 24 games is excellent basketball.”
Meanwhile, Stallings’ young Pittsburgh team is the exact opposite. The Panthers’ season is sinking worse than the Titanic. Stallings said he noticed his 8-18 (0-13) team didn’t bring anything to Littlejohn during shoot-around.
The Tigers now find themselves 9-3 in conference play, sitting second behind No. 2 Virginia which is undefeated in ACC play. Not many expected Clemson to be in this position. The Tigers aren’t chasing waterfalls, but a high seed in the conference tournament and NCAA tournament would suffice.
“We still have to play really well to win games, and fortunately for us, we have,” Brownell said. “We’re just trying to play as well as we can play and keep our head down and find out who is next.”
The Seminoles are what’s next for Brownell’s squad as they take a four-game win streak on the road to Tallahassee.The Tigers face Florida State next Wednesday at 7:00 PM.