Tag: PJ Hall

PJ Hall wouldn’t change a thing after Clemson’s historic Elite 8 run

PJ Hall wouldn’t change a thing.

The Clemson men’s basketball team fell in the Elite 8 to Alabama, ending their historic run in the NCAA Tournament.

Following the loss, emotions ran high for the team and multiple Tigers whose time with the program has come to an end. One of these players was star PJ Hall, who has been a centerpiece of this program for years.

While Hall or any of his teammates didn’t want the season to end this way, the program accomplished a lot this season, much of it due to Hall’s work.

“It still stings a lot right now. Probably will for a couple of days,” Hall said. “I don’t think that it will really set in what we’ve accomplished because we had our eyes set on big goals. And obviously we’ve achieved great stuff, but we came up a little short of what we really wanted to do.”

This team achieved a lot, including their first Elite 8 appearance since 1980. After the way their regular season and ACC Tournament ended, few believed the Tigers could make a run like this. The veteran talents on this team really came together and proved what Clemson basketball is made of.

“Like Coach (Brad Brownell) said, these guys, we’re all loving. We love each other. We’ve been through a lot this year, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of people doubting us.

“But it’s just been about us. We’ve been just about us. And to end like this, it definitely stings, but we accomplished a lot. We did a lot of great things this year, and I’m definitely proud of our guys, and I love our guys.”

It’s important to note that success comes in different shapes and sizes. While there is no denying this team would have liked to advance to the Final Four, they worked hard and put together a tremendous season. It is something to be proud of, and Hall wouldn’t change a thing.

“I’ll say that obviously it stings to the core that we lost the basketball game, obviously,” Hall said. “But on top of that, it hurts even more, like Coach said. ‘You’re not going to be with the same team next year.’ Especially the older guys like me and Chase and Joe (Girard).

“I mean, it was such a fun group, man, from top to bottom, from redshirts to fifth-year seniors. It was an incredible group. And there’s nothing I’d change about it.”

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 

Clemson holds a commanding lead over Arizona at halftime in the Sweet 16

Clemson came to play as Brownell’s Tigers lead Arizona at the half.

Brad Brownell and the Clemson men’s basketball team lead the Arizona Wild Cats 39-31 in a fierce Sweet 16 battle.

It was a strong half for the Tigers, who entered the matchup as nearly seven-point underdogs. It’s been a game of small runs, with Clemson finding ways to hold on to some solid leads through good defense and some excellent shooting behind the arc.

At the half, the big different between these two teams is shooting percentage. Clemson is shooting 53.3% from the field and 45.5% from three, while Arizona is hitting 40.6% from the field and 18.2% from behind the arc. Clemson’s defense has been smothering, but the Wildcats shooting woes from three have played a major factor.

The Tigers have had a nice spread of offense across the team, led by Ian Schieffelin’s 9 points, Chase Hunter’s 8, and PJ Hall’s 7. If Clemson can continue to play like this, an Elite 8 appearance could be on the way.

Watch: PJ Hall emotional following Clemson’s huge win over Baylor

After Clemson’s win over Baylor, PJ Hall was emotional, showing everyone how much Clemson means to him.

The Clemson men’s basketball team scored a massive win in the Second Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament, beating Baylor 72-64 and advancing to the Sweet 16 to face the Arizona Wildcats.

Clemson advances to the Sweet 16 for just the second time since 1997, which should tell you enough about how big of a win this is for the program. While Clemson’s star big man PJ Hall hasn’t been playing his best basketball in the tournament, his emotions after the game showed how much this win meant to him and the program.

“It is special. It is what I came here for,” Hall said after the game. “It has been a dream of mine to get to this tournament and then advance far in it and just take another step in that.”

“I love these guys to death man. There are so many guys that care, from the managers to 15 guys on the bench,” Hall said. “It is just a special group. Golly, this is fun.”

Clemson was struggling before entering the tournament, but that doesn’t matter if you get hot at the right time. The Tigers are hot right now, when it matters the most.

“After the BC game, we got punched in the mouth by just about everybody you could think of and that shows the resilience and depth of this team to stick together and to know none of that mattered,” Hall said. “None of the favorites matter. None of that mattered. All that mattered was in this room, this staff and the heart we have been showing for two games straight.”

Clemson faces a tough Arizona team in the Sweet 16, but we can expect them to bring their best.

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.

PJ Hall named All-ACC First Team

Clemson’s PJ Hall was one of the best players in college basketball this season.

HALL BECOMES 15TH FIRST TEAM SELECTION; SCHIEFFELIN EARNS PROGRAM’S SECOND MOST IMPROVED

CLEMSON, S.C. — Clemson University men’s basketball center PJ Hall (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) has been named to the All-ACC First Team, while junior forward Ian Schieffelin (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) was named the league’s Most Improved Player, announced by ACCN’s ACC PM this evening.

This mark’s Hall’s second postseason honor from the ACC after earning Third Team recognition last season. Schieffelin earned his first postseason accolades.

Hall’s honor makes it back-to-back seasons that Clemson has produced an All-ACC First Team player (Hunter Tyson, 2023). It marks the only occurrence in program history. Both Dale Davis and Elden Campbell landed on the First Team in 1990.

Schieffelin joins Jaron Blossomgame (2016) as Clemson’s Most Improved winners – an award that started in 2014.

Hall is one of just four players in America averaging 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. He has posted 13 20-point games this season and has scored in double-figures 30 times. Hall has totaled seven double-doubles.

Hall finished third in the ACC in scoring with 18.8 points per game, while ranking 12th in rebounding (6.8 per game). He is shooting at a very high clip this season, eighth in the league (49.0 percent). Defensively, Hall is tied for fourth in the ACC blocks per game (1.58) and has 49 blocked shots this season.

Recently named a finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (Nation’s Best Center), he is 10th on Clemson’s all-time scoring list (1,625 points). He is just the fourth Tiger to amass 1,600 points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocks in a career (Trevor Booker, Elden Campbell and Dale Davis).

He has posted seven double-doubles, including a career high 31 points and 17 rebounds against Georgia Tech (Jan. 16).

Schieffelin turned in a career year for the Tigers en route to the Most Improved Player award. He averaged 9.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game, while totaling 19 steals and 15 blocks. He shot 57.9 percent from the field, 52.8 percent from three and 76.7 percent at the line.

He is one of 13 players nationally averaging at least 9.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He finished with a career high 17 rebounds in a win at Pittsburgh (Dec. 3) and posted nine double-doubles and 15 double-digit rebounding games.

Schieffelin became the first player in the country to post a stat line of at least 16 points, 11 rebounds, five steals and four blocks in a single game (vs. North Carolina, 1/6). Only six others have accomplished that this season.

Schieffelin joined Joseph Girard III (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls) on the All-ACC Honorable Mention list. Girard had career highs in field goal percentage (43.7), 3-point percentage (42.5), free throw percentage (95.6) and rebounds per game (3.2).

Girard secured the 2,000 career-point plateau in his return to Syracuse. He netted 18 points, the exact amount he needed, to lead Clemson. He posted nine 20-point games and made multiple threes in 27 games, including 13 where he made four or more.

The Tigers open the ACC Tournament on Wednesday, March 13 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2 or ESPNU. Clemson will face the winner of Boston College vs. Miami (Fla.).

Get the latest news on all things Clemson men’s basketball by following us on Twitter (@ClemsonMBB), Facebook (/ClemsonMBB) and Instagram (@clemsonmbb).

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications 

PJ Hall named Top 5 finalist for the Naismith Basketball Center of the Year Award

Clemson’s PJ Hall is one of the top players in the country.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Clemson University men’s basketball’s PJ Hall (Spartanburg, S.C./Dorman) has been named a Top 5 finalist for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year Award.

The annual Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, named after the Class of 1995 Hall of Famer and three-time NCAA Champion, celebrates its 10th year by honoring the top centers in Division I men’s college basketball.

2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award Finalists
PJ Hall Clemson
Ryan Kalkbrenner Creighton
Hunter Dickinson Kansas
Armando Bacot North Carolina
Zach Edey Purdue

Hall is one of just four players in America averaging 18.5 points, 7.0 rebounds 1.5 assists and 1.5 blocks per game. He has posted 13 20-point games this season and has scored in double-figures 29 times.  Hall has totaled seven double-doubles.

Hall is second in the ACC in scoring with 18.8 points per game, while ranking 12th in rebounding (7.0 per game). He is shooting at a very high clip this season, eighth in the league (49.4 percent). Defensively, Hall is third in the ACC blocks per game (1.63) and has 49 blocked shots this season.

Fans can support their favorite player by participating in Fan Voting, presented by Dell Technologies, starting today on hoophallawards.com. The Fan Vote will count as one committee vote during the finalist selection process.

Later this month, the finalists will be presented to Abdul-Jabbar and Leslie and the Hall of Fame’s selection committees. The Selection Committees for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards are composed of top men’s and women’s college basketball personnel, including media members, head coaches, sports information directors, and Hall of Famers.

The winner of the 2024 Abdul-Jabbar and Leslie Awards will be presented on a to-be-determined date, along with the other four members of the Men’s and Women’s Starting Five. Additional awards being presented include the Bob Cousy and Nancy Lieberman Awards (Point Guard), Jerry West and Ann Meyers Drysdale Awards (Shooting Guard), Julius Erving and Cheryl Miller Awards (Small Forward), and the Karl Malone and Katrina McClain Awards (Power Forward).

Previous winners of the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award are Zach Edey, Purdue (2023), Oscar Tshiebwe, Kentucky (2022), Luka Garza, Iowa (2020-21), Ethan Happ, Wisconsin (2019), Angel Delgado, Seton Hall (2018), Przemek Karnowski, Gonzaga (2017), Jakob Poeltl, Utah (2016), and Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin (2015).

For more information on the 2024 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lisa Leslie Awards and the latest updates, visit hoophallawards.com and follow @hoophall, #KareemAward, and #LeslieAward on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

Get the latest news on all things Clemson men’s basketball by following us on Twitter (@ClemsonMBB), Facebook (/ClemsonMBB) and Instagram (@clemsonmbb).

– Via Clemson Athletic Communications