Orange Post Defense: F
What’s new! The team without a true center gets dominated in the paint. PJ Hall took the game over in the first half with 21 points in the first 20 minutes. The senior leads the Tigers with over 18 points a game and found a way to cross that threshold in the first half. Maliq Brown tried his best but there was just nothing he could do. The threat of Ian Schieffelin meant SU’s big man couldn’t fully focus on Hall and there was just no response. This is what hurt the ‘Cuse all throughout the year so of course, in a must-win game it’s what haunts the Orange the most.
Justin Taylor: D
In the last three games, Taylor has looked like an entirely different player on offense. He’s scored more than 10 points in two of the last three and at least five in each of those games. The sophomore did that just once before in ACC play. Tonight, he just looked lost again on the defensive end. Taylor didn’t attempt a single field goal.
Chris Bell: C-
Over the past month, it’s felt like Bell continues to get more and more consistent. Tonight, it just wasn’t there. Give a lot of credit to Clemson for guarding him well and not giving up any open shots, but for this team to be successful he has to be a threat from deep and just wasn’t today. When he does get the chance, he has to be more efficient. The issue with Bell all year has been when he doesn’t start off strong, he can’t rebound in the second half. Today that wasn’t the case with all of his points coming in the last 20 minutes. Still, you wish he took more than three shots in the first 20.
SU’s Backcourt Play: C
Judah Mintz and JJ Starling played fine tonight. They were the reason the Orange lost whatsoever, but they definitely could have done more. The three-point shooting just wasn’t there for the young backcourt. They combined to go 1-8 from beyond the arc. When Bell isn’t shooting the three, one of them has to step up and simply no one did tonight.
Quadir Copeland: B+
The ‘Cuse needed Copeland to show up on the offensive end today with Taylor and Bell both being quiet and luckily he did. The guard knocked down three three-pointers but was maybe a little too aggressive at times when he drove, trying to force acrobatic shots. Copeland picked up two fouls in the first half and did a good job of staying on the court but just didn’t make any game-changing plays.
