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Jan. 23, 2005
VIRGINIA HEAD COACH Pete Gillen
We played an excellent game. To have only six turnovers against a team that is very athletic is a good part of the game. Shooting 57 percent in the ACC is a really good thing. We just have to close out better against the three-pointer. I thought our defense was good tonight. It was a good game and fortunately that last shot didn’t go in.
I’m thrilled with the victory, but we’re trying to get some consistency. We’re trying to develop a rhythm and stuff to do when you have injuries and other situations.
I was nervous that Clemson’s final shot was going to go in. I think he stepped back to take the three–that’s courage–give him credit for that. It wasn’t pretty, but it was a great victory. I have to give Olu Babalola a lot of credit, he was great tonight.
Elton Brown did a good job tonight against the tremendous player Sharrod Ford. I thought Elton did a good job keeping the ball from him and slowing him down.
It’s important to get this ACC win tonight. You can’t win a couple of games in a row until you win one in a row. Obviously we have a very tough game at Virginia Tech. We’ll enjoy this win and worry about Tech tomorrow.
CLEMSON COACH OLIVER PURNELL
This was a strange game when you look at the stat sheet trying to figure out where you came up two points short. Virginia’s ability to score off our turnovers during the first half was a key to the first half. The second half, we played hard on the offensive end of the floor; we missed a few shots, but hung in there. Defensively, we were unable to stop Virginia. We had a shot to win or tie the game, but couldn’t make the shot.
I thought our guys played with a sense of urgency down the stretch and played hard all game, but we didn’t get it done.
We obviously shot the three better tonight than in previous games. We made some shots, but we gave up 67-percent shooting in the second half, it negates our three-point shooting. Tonight we put together a pretty good shooting night, our defense wasn’t on.
Virginia had good balance tonight. Sean Singletary did a good job, Virginia was able to knock down some threes, they drove it, and got it in to Elton Brown. On defense they showed their characteristic multiple defenses.