CUTigers

OFFICIAL GAME THREAD: NO.12 CLEMSON vs. No.18 Virginia

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 12:15:17

Tip is at 6:00 on ESPN, and I'll have live updates from Littlejohn right here! Brownell told me yesterday that Hunter Tyson could make his return tonight. Tyson has been out over a month with a facial injury suffered against Alabama. He is 4th on the team in scoring average and had 9 points in just 6 minutes before leaving the Alabama game.

Brownell said the disruption to the team's momentum was difficult. They were riding a 4-game win streak and then had to suddenly stop practicing and isolate. It sounds like possibly none of the players even had COVID, but that it was Assistant Coach Bender who tested positive. Brownell said that he and Bender had to watch practice on video the other day. Since Brownell was back in the building today, and Bender will not be on the bench tomorrow night, that leads me to believe that it was Bender who tested positive.

At any rate, the Tigers will have their hands full with No.18 UVA, which is coming in hot. The Tigers have beaten all of the big boys in the ACC--Duke, UNC, Louisville, Syracuse and FSU--multiple times each in the last couple years, but they haven't been able to knock off UVA in quite some time. In fact, after winning his first two meetings with UVA, Brownell has lost 10 straight to the Hoos! This would be the year to finally beat them, but it's the worst possible timing with the Tigers coming off the 10-day hiatus. Brownell said that the players looked fatigued at practice the other day, and they will have to be sharp against that Tony Bennett defense. If there's any rust, the turnovers will mount in a hurry. And look out for Jay Huff! He's a 7-footer who likes to drain 3-pointers. He was 4-8 from 3 against Notre Dame the other night and is 44 percent this season. Their 6'9 guard, Murphy, can also stroke the 3's at 48 percent. Kihei Clark is still running the point for the Hoos. It seems like he's been there for 10 years. He will make it tough for the Tigers to press.

Keep it right here for live updates and post-game interviews!

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:16:55

As I first reported, Hunter Tyson has indeed made his return for the Tigers tonight, wearing a face protector. Hemenway gets the start tonight, along with regular starters Simms, Trapp, Dawes and Baehre.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:18:17

Rough start for the Tigers. I was worried they would come out sluggish after the 10-day layoff, and sure enough, they are down 12-2 five minutes into the game. And bear in mind that a 10-point deficit against UVA is like 16 against a normal team.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:23:06

Still 12-2 with 11 mins left in the half!

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:23:35

Ugh Hoos hit a 3 to make it 15-2.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:24:42

Good grief another 3 pushes the lead to 16! Honor needs to start putting up some 3's, or this is gonna get ugly quick.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:26:00

Simms gets a couple offensive boards, and Trapp drives to draw a foul on Huff. Better make em both!

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:27:01

Trapp makes just one. Lol still, that's one more point than they've scored in the last 8 minutes. Tigers trail 18-3 with 8:30 left in the half.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:27:23

Ugh Huff pushes the lead to 17.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:30:54

Tigers are a dreadful 1-14 from the field and 0-9 from 3.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:31:32

Hall with a nice little baseline jump hook! Tigers trail 20-5 with 7:30 left in the half.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:32:31

Ugh another 3 by the Hoos. They are 5-10 from 3 so far! Tigers trail by 18.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:32:53

Clark layup pushes the lead to 20.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:35:00

Good grief fall-away jumper puts Hoos up 22.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:36:19

Clark layup pushes the lead to 24 with 5:30 left in the half. I knew it tonight would be a tough challenge and the Tigers would be sluggish, but this is getting ridiculous. By far the biggest deficit of season for the Tigers.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:36:53

Newman jumper cuts the lead to 22.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:37:30

Clark makes a pair of free throws to push the lead to 24 again.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:48:53

Tyson jumper cuts the lead to 22.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:49:25

Clark pushes the lead to 24.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:50:45

HEMENWAY FOR 3!!! First 3 of the game for the Tigers cuts the lead to 21.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:51:15

Tyson layup cuts the lead to 19.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:52:11

TYSON FOR 3!!! Second 3 of the game for the Tigers cuts the lead to 17 with 37 seconds left in the half! Tyson has 7 points in the last 3 minutes.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 17:53:39

Tigers get a stop on D to end the half, and there's some life in this place! 8-0 run to end the half.

TIGERS TRAIL 33-17 AT THE HALF.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:04:23

Honor short jumper starts the half! His first points of the game cut the lead to 14. Tigers are on a 10-0 run going back to the end of the half.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:04:43

Ugh 3 by Hoos pushes the lead to 17.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:05:09

Hoos score a couple layups, and just like that, it's a 22-point lead again.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:05:49

Clark fast break floater pushes the lead to 24. Timeout Tigers after a quick 10-0 run by Hoos.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:09:20

HEMENWAY FOR 3!!! His second of the game cuts the lead to 21.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:09:58

Good grief another 3 for Hoos pushes the lead to 24. They are 8-10 from 3 tonight!

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:10:33

Trapp layup cuts the lead to 22.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:10:57

Lol yet another 3 for Hoos at the end of the shot clock. Tigers trail by 25.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:11:21

Hoos score again to push the lead to 27.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:11:38

Honor layup cuts the lead to 25.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:12:37

ANOTHER 3 for Hoos! They are a ridiculous 10-18 from 3 and lead by 28. Not much you can do when a team shoots out of your minds like this.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:17:17

Lol Hoos now 12-20 from 3. Tigers trail by 32 with 13:30 left. I don't care who it is, Gonzaga, Baylor or anyone else would lose to UVA if they shoot like this.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:17:35

Hunter scores to cut the lead to 30.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:21:40

Hoos now 13-21 from 3. Lol they haven't shot like this from 3 in literally years. Just caught them on the wrong night! They were just 36% from 3 coming into game, 62% tonight. Tigers trail by 35 with 12 mins left.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:27:25

Hoos are now 14-22 from 3, which is 63.6%. Nearly DOUBLE their season average. Tigers trail by 39 with 8 mins left. This one can't end soon enough!

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:31:00

Trapp 3 cuts the lead to 36.

CUTrevor 2021-01-16 18:42:21

Hoos hit their 15th 3 of the game with 1:30 left to make it 85-48.