See Pricing

Single Post

Clemson upsets Arizona to reach Elite Eight for first time since 1980

Clemson upsets Arizona to reach Elite Eight for first time since 1980

[ad_1]

LOS ANGELES — For the second time in program history, and the first since 1980, Clemson is going to the Elite Eight.

Clemson outlasted Arizona’s furious comeback attempt at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night, holding on for a 77-72 win. Arizona, which trailed by as many as 13 points early in the first half, made it a two-point game with 49.6 seconds left, only for Clemson guard Chase Hunter to score an acrobatic layup — and get fouled in the process — on the next possession.

Hunter’s free throw made it a five-point game, and Arizona didn’t have enough time to close the gap.

In the defining win of coach Brad Brownell’s 13-year tenure, Clemson held Arizona without a single field goal during a pivotal 10-minute second-half stretch. That the Wildcats — who are now the first No. 1 or 2 seed eliminated from this NCAA Tournament — were even able to keep the game close during that streak was a minor miracle.

But that 10-minute segment — from the 14:32 point in the second half to Jaden Bradley’s 3-pointer with 4:20 to play — was emblematic of the entire game. Arizona didn’t have its worst shooting performance of the season by accident; Clemson’s defense was rugged and lively from the opening tip. The Tigers missed their first six shots, looking surprisingly unsettled early. When Clemson shifted to a zone midway through the second half, it only further frustrated the Wildcats.

Coach Tommy Lloyd’s team finished the night shooting 37.3 percent overall and a disastrous 17.9 percent from 3.

As for Lloyd, it’s another disappointing end to a strong season. The Wildcats won the Pac-12 regular-season title in the conference’s final season of existence and earned a top-two seed for the third time in Lloyd’s three seasons. But for as good as Lloyd has been — he won more games his first two seasons than any other coach in Division I men’s college history — none of his three squads have made it farther than the Sweet 16.

Instead, the Tigers will keep dancing and have their entire roster to thank. Hunter, who finished with a team-high 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists, was the best player on the court most of the night, regularly driving past and shooting over the Wildcats’ lethargic defense. Normal leading scorer PJ Hall chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds, more than he had in Clemson’s first two postseason games combined.

Syracuse transfer Joe Girard handled Arizona’s press masterfully in the second half, dishing six assists despite a 1-of-5 shooting night. And Ian Schiefflin — the ACC’s Most Improved Player — hung with Arizona’s physical frontcourt all night, adding 14 points — three of them on a banked-in triple late in the second half — and seven rebounds.

Early on, as Clemson built its 13-point first-half lead, it was evident that Brownell brought his A-game. He called for some gorgeous baseline out-of-bounds plays, regularly beating Lloyd in the margins. And anytime the Wildcats seemed to be gaining momentum, especially with a heavily pro-Arizona crowd, Brownell had an answer. The zone. A set play. Anything to get the Tigers back on the board, and prevent the sort of “Clemsoning” for which the program has long been known.

Arizona did, in fact, tie the game twice in the second half, but in neither instance did it have enough to take the lead. It was almost metaphorical how with a tied game, forward Keshad Johnson — who played in last season’s national championship game for San Diego State — had multiple tip-in opportunities at the rim and couldn’t quite get the ball high enough.

Bradley — who hit the 3-pointer that snapped Arizona’s 10-minute scoreless streak — tried willing Arizona back into the game, finishing with a team-high 18 points. But he didn’t have nearly enough help. Former UNC star Caleb Love, playing for the chance to potentially face his former team, had one of his worst efforts of the season: 13 points on 5-of-18 shooting, including missing all nine of his 3-point tries. Love also had three turnovers, all in the first half, but his erratic shooting was what crushed Arizona late.

And so on marches Clemson, looking to make history on Saturday when it plays the winner of North Carolina and Alabama. The Tigers, known more for their football than basketball, have never made a Final Four. But now, they’re one game away.

For more on March Madness, follow The Athletic’s live blog for scores, updates and news.

Required reading

(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)



[ad_2]

Source link

Learn more with our blog tips