Clemson’s first real test of the season exposed a few cracks the Tigers couldn’t quite patch in time.
The Tigers erased most of a 19-point second-half hole and even grabbed the lead twice, but Georgetown kept answering and walked out of Littlejohn Coliseum with an 85-78 win Friday night. Clemson’s first loss of the year came after a game in which the Hoyas controlled the paint early, then survived the late push.
Georgetown set the tone inside through Vince Iwuchukwu, the USC and St. John’s transfer who piled up 16 points and five rebounds in the opening half. Clemson never found a clean answer for him over the first 20 minutes, and the Hoyas turned that advantage into a 20-2 run that stretched the margin to as many as 19.
The Tigers did what good shooting teams do when they’re chasing. Ace Buckner and Notre Dame transfer Cole Certa started firing from deep, and Clemson suddenly had life.
The two guards combined for five made threes and finished as the team’s top scorers. Each also got into double figures in the second half as Clemson clawed back enough to briefly seize control.
But Georgetown had its own response ready, and Jaland Lowe delivered it. The Pitt and Kentucky transfer knocked down threes on the other end, including a deep one over Buckner that served as the knockout blow with 1:14 left and pushed the Hoyas ahead by eight.
Afterward, Brad Brownell pointed directly at the defensive issues that have followed his team through the early part of the season.
“I think we’re just not as good as we need to be and we’re making too many errors, and I wouldn’t blame all of it on mental focus,” he said. “Some of it’s coaching.”
The numbers told the same story. Clemson was beaten on the glass 33-27, and Georgetown repeatedly used offensive rebounds and loose balls to stretch possessions and drag the game into its preferred rhythm. That slowed Clemson’s pace and made every comeback possession feel heavier.
Even with the Tigers shooting 46% from three in the second half, Brownell said too many of those attempts came under pressure.
“I would say that we had stretches where we didn’t play as well, which, again, some credit goes to Georgetown for that,” Brownell said. “They’ve got good coaches, and they game plan too.”
Now Clemson heads to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational, where Brownell will get a steady dose of Power Six competition after facing only one such opponent so far this season. He said the answer starts with the day-to-day work.
“It’s our habits. It’s our daily habits. It’s taking things that we practice and making sure we execute them, it’s very much mental concentration [and] attention to detail,” Brownell said.
Before that trip, Clemson gets one more home game. The Tigers will face The Citadel on Monday at Littlejohn Coliseum, with tipoff set for 7 p.m.
In Other News...
Clemsons Georgia Tech Loss Exposed A Much Bigger Problem
Clemsons trip to Georgia Tech turned into more than just a frustrating 20-6 loss, because the offense again spent the afternoon searching for answers after Tait Reynolds was injured early and did not return. Christopher Vizzina took over at quarterback, but the Tigers never found the kind of rhythm they needed, and the result was another game without an offensive touchdown.
Nolan Hauser at least gave the Tigers a small bright spot by setting the program record for field goals made in a single season, but even that milestone underscored how much the offense has been leaning on the kicking game. For a team with bigger goals, the concern now is not just one bad outing in Atlanta, but a second straight week without an offensive touchdown and the uncertainty that comes with Reynolds status moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Suddenly Has A Bigger QB Concern Than Fans Expected
Clemsons quarterback depth took an immediate hit against Georgia Tech when freshman Tait Reynolds went down with a left knee injury on the opening drive and had to leave the game. Reynolds was later seen wearing a brace on his left leg and did not return, forcing the Tigers to turn to third-string quarterback Trent Pearman much earlier than expected.
Christopher Vizzina, Clemsons usual backup, remains available but is still not fully healthy after a recent ankle sprain, which leaves the Tigers with more uncertainty behind center than they likely anticipated. Dabo Swinney was set to offer an injury update at halftime, and for a team trying to settle its quarterback situation, the next few hours could matter a great deal. [Read more 🡒]
Clemsons QB Situation Just Got More Concerning After Vizzinas Exit
Clemsons quarterback depth took another hit in the loss to Georgia Tech, and Christopher Vizzinas night ended in far more troubling fashion than the ankle sprain he had been managing. The backup still fought through the game, finishing with 133 passing yards, one interception and 18 rushing yards on six carries, but his availability became a concern again late when he absorbed a head and neck injury and had to be taken to the hospital.
Dabo Swinney said the injury was more serious than the ankle issue Vizzina entered the game with, a development that only adds to the uncertainty around Clemsons quarterback room. Swinney also pointed to Vizzinas effort in a tough spot, noting that he kept competing despite having already dealt with multiple injuries, but the bigger question now is how long the Tigers may be without him. [Read more 🡒]