Tag: joe girard

Joe Girard’s heartfelt message to Clemson fans

Clemson Basketball: Few players in the history of Clemson basketball left more of an impact in just one season than senior guard Joe Girard did.

Few players in the history of Clemson basketball left more of an impact in just one season than Joe Girard did.

The Glens Falls, N.Y. native, who transferred to Clemson from Syracuse after legendary coach Jim Boeheim announced his retirement last year, helped lead the Tigers to only their second all-time Elite Eight appearance — and first since 1980.

With his decision to transfer to Clemson, Girard gave the Tigers not only an instant scoring threat; he lended a certain layer of credibility to the program.

Girard averaged 15 points per game for Clemson and played in all 36 contests this season. He had a 25-point night in the Tigers’ ACC opener at Pitt and had nine games with 20 or more points, including a season-high 26 against Boston College on January 13.

Girard scored 19 points in the Tigers’ 89-82 loss to Alabama on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Girard took to social media to issue a special heartfelt message to Clemson fans.

“Clemson family,

“I just wanted to give you all a big thank you! Although I was only here for a year, you guys gave me a home away from home.

“To Coach Brownell & staff, the managers, and my incredible teammates, thank you for giving me another historic run in March Madness capped off with an Elite 8!

“The decision to transfer here was everything I wanted and more.

“I’m proud to be able to call myself a Clemson Tiger for life. Tiger Pride! -JG3 Out”

Clemson’s dream run ends in the Elite 8 with loss to Alabama

Clemson’s underdog story ends in the Elite 8 with a loss to Alabama.

Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team’s dream run in the 2024 NCAA Tournament has come to an end in the Elite 8 as the Tigers fell to Alabama 89-82.

The Tigers hung in with the Crimson Tide for most of the game, but self-inflicted wounds and hot second-half shooting from Alabama led to Clemson’s downfall. The Tigers are a top-ten team nationally in free throws, but they struggled mightily against the Crimson Tide. Hitting 8 of 16 free throws, Clemson came up short at the free-throw line when they needed it the most.

On the other side, Alabama was scorching hot from the three point line. The Crimson tide hit 16-36 threes, a clean 44.4%. Most of that came from Mark Sears who nailed 7-14 behind the arc.

Clemson’s run was an excellent one, with the Tigers winning four three games as underdogs. They worked hard and fought till the end, but couldn’t overcome Bama’s red-hot offense. The Tigers fall short of the Final Four but have arguably the best season in program history.

How Clemson has thrived as the underdog in the NCAA Tournament

Clemson is 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament, with all games being played as the underdog.

Clemson basketball’s historic journey continues as they secure their first Elite Eight appearance since 1980 with a thrilling 77-72 upset over Arizona in the NCAA’s West Regional.

Despite being the underdogs, Clemson showcased unwavering determination, with Hall and Schieffelin leading the charge. Led by Chase Hunter’s 18 points, Clemson defied expectations and capitalized on turnovers to maintain control throughout the game. This victory over No. 2 Arizona highlights Clemson’s resilience and ability to thrive in adversity, making their underdog story all the more inspiring.

The Tigers being labeled as underdogs is not over embellishment, this team has been the underdog in every game they played. As the Midwest No. 6 seed against No. 11 UNLV, Clemson was underdogs and absolutely dominated the Round of 64. Then it was Baylor in the Round of 32, where the Tigers were once again underdogs but found a way to prevail. In the Sweet 16, a spot they haven’t made it past since 1980, Clemson took down Arizona as big underdogs.

That’s been the story of the Tigers tournament run. While there is no denying this team has a lot of talent and experience, they’ve gone into every game with expectations against them. That doesn’t change with their Elite 8 matchup against Alabama, where the Tigers are once again dogs.

Clemson has been so strong in this tournament because of what I mentioned: talent and experience. The Tigers have an excellent blend of the two, capable of running with the best of them while maintaining composure in tough situations. Clemson head coach Brad Brownell has run this team perfectly over the past few games, with the veteran presence on the court following his lead.

Another underdog game for the Tigers on the way and one you know they’re prepared for.

How Clemson has thrived as the underdog in the NCAA Tournament

Clemson is 3-0 in the NCAA Tournament, with all games being played as the underdog.

CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 16/16 Clemson Tigers scored at least one run in four consecutive innings, including five in the fourth and three in the fifth, to run-rule Boston College, 10-0, in five innings to clinch the series victory on Saturday. This is the second run-rule for the Tigers during the series and ninth of the season, while also marking the eighth shutout of 2024.

The Tigers offense exploded for 14 hits in the five-inning performance. This is the seventh time in 2024 Clemson has tallied double-digit hits, marking the second-most hits in a game this season trailing only the series finale against NC State where the Tigers finished with 15. Redshirt senior Arielle Oda led the team going a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Junior Maddie Moore followed going 3-for-4 with one RBI. In total, seven Tigers produced at least one hit, with Valerie Cagle, Alex Brown and Alia Logoleo adding two each. Cagle finished the game with four RBIs, including three off a walkoff home run, and two runs.

In the bottom of the second inning, Clemson took a 1-0 lead after Oda bunted a two-out single for a base hit. Brown tripled down the right field line to plate Oda and give the Tigers the lead. Clemson added another run in the third inning after McKenzie Clark singled and advanced to second as Valerie Cagle was hit by a pitch. Logoleo tallied an RBI single to left field that allowed Clark to score to put Clemson up 2-0 after three.

Boston College looked to get on the board in the fourth getting its leadoff runners on with no outs. Clemson made a pitching change from starter Brooke McCubbin to Regan Spencer, who made three-quick outs to force the Eagles to leave them stranded.

Clemson picked up steam in the bottom of the fourth after Oda and Brown clocked back-to-back singles to open the frame. Moore notched her RBI with a single up the middle that plated Oda from second. Cagle followed with her first RBI hit of the day with a shot into right field to score Brown, and Logoleo executed a squeeze bunt to score Clark in the next at bat. With two on and two out, Lindsey Garcia ripped a single up the middle that had both Cagle and Logoleo scoring to make it 7-0 after four.

Oda kept things rolling in the fifth with a leadoff single. Moore tallied her third hit of the day with a single through the left side. In an attempt to steal, Moore was ruled out on the play but it was overturned after review due to obstruction by BC’s shortstop. Clark joined her on the basepath following a walk to put two on with two out. Cagle stepped to the plate and drove an 0-2 pitch 268 feet out of left field to secure the 10-0 run-rule win. This was Cagle’s sixth home run of 2024 and 65th of her career.

McCubbin got the start in the circle this afternoon and pitched three innings before Spencer closed out the game and picked up her first save of the season. Spencer pitched two innings as she faced eight hitters, tallied three strikeouts and only allowed one hit.

Up Next

Clemson concludes its homestand with a midweek against Furman on Tuesday, April 2. The midweek game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and was picked up for broadcast on ACC Network. Tickets for every home game are still available for purchase this season. Fans can grab theirs either online or by visiting the ticket table outside the main gate of McWhorter Stadium on the day of the game. For more information on how to manage your tickets, including transferring them if you aren’t able to make it, visit ClemsonTigers.com today.

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

Joe Girard: ‘All those fire Brownell guys can, you know, kiss it’

Joe Girard and PJ Hall had something to say for the Brad Brownell haters of the world.

Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team are making waves in the NCAA Tournament, securing a spot in the Sweet 16 with a nail-biting 72-64 triumph over the Baylor Bears. RJ Godfrey’s composure on the free throw line proved pivotal as he extended Clemson’s lead in the game’s closing moments. This hard-earned victory signifies a major milestone for the Tigers, marking their return to the Sweet 16 after a six-year absence.

With each player stepping up when it mattered most, Clemson showcased resilience and determination throughout the game, fending off Baylor’s challenges to emerge victorious. As they continue their tournament journey, the Tigers are poised to make an even deeper impact, fueled by their momentum and collective effort on the court.

For a team like Clemson to make a run like this means not only the players are performing but also the coach. Brownell has done a phenomenal job with this team, and Joe Girard and PJ Hall wanted to send the Brownell haters a message after their big win.

“I don’t like really doing this, but all those fire Brownell guys can, you know, kiss it,” Girard said to WYFF’s Marc Wideman. “He has done an unbelievable job here. He has built this program for 14 years. He has been in the league for so long. You don’t get that every day. You don’t get that everywhere.

“Brownell is an unbelievable coach. Obviously, he has a lot of strategy and techniques he likes to do and that is why he is so successful.  Shoutout to Coach for making history. It is unbelievable.”

Hall added to the defense of their head coach, showing how much Brownell means to this squad.

“For four years I have had to listen to people hating on that man and they do not understand how incredible he is behind closed doors and how much of genius he is,” Hall said. “He is a blessing to be at Clemson.

“There are people that support him thick and through and we love that, but everybody needs to know that Coach Brownell is arguably the best coach to come through Clemson in terms of Xs and Os and we are trying to prove that right now.”

Next up for the Tigers is Arizona in the Sweet 16, Thursday (7 p.m., CBS) in Los Angeles.

WATCH: PJ Hall, Chase Hunter and Joe Girard talk Selection Sunday

Here’s everything Hall, Hunter, and senior Joe Girard told reporters on Selection Sunday.

Clemson had to wait a while before seeing its name appear on screen during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show.

Enough of a wait to give seniors PJ Hall and Chase Hunter a bit of anxiety, it seems.

Clemson (21-11 overall) had nothing to worry about in the end, but it took until the reveal of the final region — the West Region, where No. 6 seed Clemson will face No. 11 New Mexico Friday — before the Tigers learned their fate and where they’d be playing.

The Tigers will face the Lobos (26-9) in a scheduled 3:15 p.m. EDT tipoff. The game will be televised on truTV. New Mexico won the Mountain West Tournament to secure an automatic bid to the Dance.

“Me and Chase had PTSD, man,” Hall said Sunday. “I’m sitting there like, ‘There’s no way.’ But yeah, right before, (Hunter said) ‘I hope we’re not in the first (regional announced) for a little bit of buildup. But I didn’t want that much buildup. It’s exciting. Special stuff.”

Here’s everything Hall, Hunter, and senior Joe Girard said after Clemson learned where and when they’d be playing.

WATCH: Clemson players discuss win over Syracuse, Senior Night

PJ Hall, Chase Hunter, Joe Girard, and Ian Schieffelin met with reporters after Tuesday’s game to discuss Senior Night, the win over Syracuse, and more. Here’s everything the players said.

Tuesday was Senior Night at Littlejohn Coliseum, and three Clemson seniors made sure it was a memorable one for both the team and its fans.

PJ Hall led Clemson scorers with 25 points in the Tigers’ 90-75 takedown of Syracuse in ACC play. Hall had 21 points in the first half and finished 11 of 19 shooting from field.

Joe Girard added 21 points and made four 3-pointers, and Chase Hunter contributed 17.

Jack Clark returned to the starting lineup after missing Saturday’s game against Notre Dame. The NC State transfer played 28 minutes and held Syracuse’s Chris Bell to seven points all night.

The Tigers (21-9 overall, 11-8 conference) played solidly on both sides of the ball in Tuesday’s victory, which moved them one step closer to clinching a double bye in this month’s ACC Tournament. They can do that with a win at Wake Forest Saturday.

Hall, Hunter, Girard, and Ian Schieffelin met with reporters after Tuesday’s game to discuss Senior Night, the win over Syracuse, and more. Here’s a look at everything the players said.

Clemson seniors power Tigers past Syracuse in home finale, 90-75

PJ Hall had 21 points in the first half and finished with 25, Joe Girard added 21, and Clemson picked up a crucial 90-75 victory over Syracuse in ACC play Tuesday.

Senior Night at Littlejohn Coliseum had to include a little fun from Clemson’s senior class.

PJ Hall had 21 points in the first half and finished with 25, Joe Girard added 21, and Clemson picked up a crucial 90-75 victory over Syracuse in ACC play Tuesday.

The win was critical for a Tigers (21-9 overall, 11-8 ACC) team that is hoping to finish in the top four in league standings to earn a double bye in the ACC Tournament later this month in Washington, D.C.

On this night, they certainly played like one of the ACC’s four best.

Clemson jumped out to an early 11-point lead after senior Chase Hunter sank the Tigers’ fourth 3-pointer of the first eight-plus minutes of the game.

When Hall made a jumper with 1:28 to play in the half, he had 21 points and the Tigers had upped their lead back to double digits after it had dwindled to just two earlier.

And on Clemson’s last possession of the half, Ian Schieffelin shot a thrilling no-look pass to Hunter, who had cut under the basket for a dunk to close the half with an exclamation point. The Tigers led, 42-30, at halftime following a 12-2 run.

“We got a bunch of open shots (early),” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said afterwards. “PJ was getting some open looks. He didn’t make many at Notre Dame, but boy was he making them tonight. I just felt like he gave us a shot in the arm.”

Hunter sank his third 3-pointer of the game with 8:01 to play in regulation, and the Tigers had their largest lead of the night to that point at 68-54.

Girard, a late-arriving member to Clemson’s senior class after transferring from Syracuse a year ago, made a four-point play against his former team with 5:42 left. Girard drew a foul from Kyle Cuffe Jr. while connecting on a 3-pointer.

Hall made a two-handed slam with 2:53 to play to cap his performance, and Hunter followed with a dunk of his own on the Tigers’ next possession. Hunter had 17 points, one of four Clemson players to finish in double figures.

Schieffelin finished with 16 points to go with 16 rebounds. He was 6-of-6 from the field and 5-of-5 from the foul line.

“Offensively, we were just really good,” Brownell said. “We took care of the ball for the most part. We went inside a lot to Ian and he was able to deliver. We just had a really good mix to our game.”

Hall, Hunter, Girard, and Jack Clark all checked out of the game with 31.5 remaining. They received a standing ovation from an appreciative Littlejohn crowd.

“Great performance and I’m certainly happy for our seniors,” Brownell added. “I thought Chase, Joe and PJ all played great. They were really locked in.”

Judah Mintz had 20 points to lead Syracuse (20-10, 11-8).

Tuesday’s win moved the Tigers ahead of Syracuse for fourth in conference standings. Clemson can clinch a double bye in the ACC tournament with a win over Wake Forest Saturday in Winston-Salem.

Clemson Tigers vs. Syracuse Orange: How to Watch/Stream/Listen

A look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, stream and listen to Tuesday’s game against Syracuse.

Clemson picked an inopportune time for an upset loss when it fell 69-62 to Notre Dame on Saturday in South Bend.

Now, the Tigers (20-9 overall, 10-8 ACC) will look to rebound when it hosts a streaking Syracuse team Tuesday on Senior Night at Littlejohn Coliseum.

For PJ Hall and Chase Hunter, it will be the last time that two of the more decorated players will suit up before what’s sure to be an electric home crowd. (The Tigers close the regular season Saturday at Wake Forest before the ACC Tournament begins March 12 at Washington, D.C.’s Capital One Arena.)

Hall has led the Tigers in scoring this season and had 21 points in the team’s loss at Notre Dame over the weekend.

Hunter has had plenty of memorable moments as a Tiger, including a season-high 20-point performance against Miami three weeks earlier at Littlejohn. He also drained a clutch 3-pointer with 38.5 seconds remaining in his team’s 69-62 victory over Pitt last week that essentially put the game out of reach.

Joe Girard is another senior, though he’s played only one season for the Tigers after transferring from Syracuse. Girard has nevertheless been a team leader and averages 15.5 points per game.

NC State transfer Jack Clark is also a senior. Clark didn’t play in Saturday’s game due to illness. Alex Hemenway and Bas Leyte are also members of the Tigers’ senior class.

Clemson is facing a must-win situation if it hopes to finish fourth in conference standings and earn a double bye in the ACC Tournament. To do so, they’ll have to hold off a Syracuse team that has won four straight games and five of its past six.

The Orange (20-10, 11-8) moved one game ahead of Clemson for fourth in ACC standings when they defeated Louisville over the weekend. Judah Mintz leads Syracuse with an average of 19 points per game, and JJ Starling is second with 13.5.

Tuesday’s matchup will mark the second meeting of the season between the Tigers and Orange. Clemson defeated Syracuse 77-68 at JMA Wireless Dome (Carrier Dome) back on February 10. In that game, Girard scored a game-high 18 points in his return to Syracuse.

Series Notes and Recent History

Clemson leads the all-time head to head series with Syracuse, 9-6. All but two of those meetings have occurred since the Orange joined the ACC in 2013-14. Clemson has won six of the seven games played against Syracuse at Littlejohn Coliseum, including 91-73 last season.

How To Watch

Here’s a look at how and where Clemson fans can watch, listen, and stream Tuesday’s game.

Date: Tuesday, March 5

Time: 7 p.m. EST

Where: Littlejohn Coliseum

TV Channel: ESPN2

Live Stream: ESPN+

Radio: Clemson Athletic Network | TuneIn App | SiriusXM (Channel 382)

Broadcast Teams

ESPN2: Rece Davis, Sean Farnham

Clemson Radio: Don Munson, Tim Bourret

Joe Girard talks importance of Clemson’s seeding, ACC standings

It’s the time of year when some of the more fortunate basketball programs are focusing less on making the NCAA tournament and more on things like seeding — both for the Big Dance and for conference tournaments.

It’s that time of year when some of the more fortunate basketball programs are focusing less on making the NCAA tournament and more on things like seeding — both for the Big Dance and for conference tournaments.

In Clemson’s case, the Tigers are hoping to finish in the top four of league standings in order to earn a double bye when the ACC Tournament begins March 12 at Washington’s Capital One Arena (home of the NBA’s Washington Wizards among other teams).

The Tigers (19-8 overall, 9-7 conference), who are projected as a No. 5 seed in the NCAA tournament by many bracketologists, are currently fifth in the ACC standings, one game behind Wake Forest (18-9, 10-6).

The Demon Deacons pulled an 83-79 upset over No. 9 Duke on Saturday, while Clemson earned a 74-63 victory over Florida State. Clemson will travel to Winston-Salem for the regular season finale March 9 in what could be a pivotal game for both teams. Not only for conference seeding, but for a Wake Forest team that entered this weekend on the outside of the NCAA tournament bubble.

For Clemson senior Joe Girard, it’s more of a standard fare “one-game-at-a-time” approach. Still, Girard admitted after Saturday’s game that Tigers coach Brad Brownell had spoken to his team about the importance of conference seeding and the possibility of not having to play until Thursday of the ACC Tournament.

“We’ve lost to some of the teams at the bottom of the ACC, and we beat some of the teams at the top of the league,” Girard said. “The double bye obviously really helps in the ACC Tournament to get to that (No. 4) spot. But you can’t really worry too much about what other teams are doing and what’s going on with their schedules. You’ve just got to beat the ones in front of you. If that happens, we’ll be in a good spot.”

Clemson has just four games remaining on its regular season schedule. The Tigers face Pitt Tuesday night before traveling to South Bend to take on Notre Dame. After that, Clemson gets Syracuse at home before the regular season finale with Wake Forest.

Tipoff for Tuesday’s game against Pitt is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST at Littlejohn Coliseum. The game will be televised by ACC Network.