lacene
03-23-2007, 07:14 AM
Clemson NIT Run Putting USC In The Spotlight
By DOUG NYE
dnye@thestate.com
IT WASN'T EXACTLY what Clemson fans had in mind, but the Tigers' NIT run is giving rival South Carolina extra publicity.
During Clemson's 74-70 victory againstSyracuse on Wednesday, ESPN2 announcers Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes kept referring to the Gamecocks' NIT titles in 2005 and ’06. When the Tigers went up by 17 points, Nessler said, "Clemson wants to keep the NIT trophy in the Palmetto State."
To top it off, ESPN showed clips from the past two NIT championship games. First came Tarence Kinsey's last-second shot that gave the Gamecocks the 2005 title. Then there was a clip of Renaldo Balkman leading USC to the 2006 championship.
Nessler and Dykes had all but conceded victory to Clemson, when Syracuse went on an 18-5 run and turned what should have been a runaway into a cliffhanger. With 18.5 seconds remaining, the Tigers led by one. They weathered the Orange's comeback and are headed to Madison Square Garden.
You can bet during Tuesday night's semifinals, ESPN will continue to emphasize the Palmetto State story line. That means those clips of USC's back-to-back NIT titles will get more air time. That's not bad national exposure for a team that didn't even make the post-season this season.
via thestate.com (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/16955420.htm)
thanks, Clemson. I never knew you cared! :thumpsup: :laugh:
By DOUG NYE
dnye@thestate.com
IT WASN'T EXACTLY what Clemson fans had in mind, but the Tigers' NIT run is giving rival South Carolina extra publicity.
During Clemson's 74-70 victory againstSyracuse on Wednesday, ESPN2 announcers Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes kept referring to the Gamecocks' NIT titles in 2005 and ’06. When the Tigers went up by 17 points, Nessler said, "Clemson wants to keep the NIT trophy in the Palmetto State."
To top it off, ESPN showed clips from the past two NIT championship games. First came Tarence Kinsey's last-second shot that gave the Gamecocks the 2005 title. Then there was a clip of Renaldo Balkman leading USC to the 2006 championship.
Nessler and Dykes had all but conceded victory to Clemson, when Syracuse went on an 18-5 run and turned what should have been a runaway into a cliffhanger. With 18.5 seconds remaining, the Tigers led by one. They weathered the Orange's comeback and are headed to Madison Square Garden.
You can bet during Tuesday night's semifinals, ESPN will continue to emphasize the Palmetto State story line. That means those clips of USC's back-to-back NIT titles will get more air time. That's not bad national exposure for a team that didn't even make the post-season this season.
via thestate.com (http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sports/16955420.htm)
thanks, Clemson. I never knew you cared! :thumpsup: :laugh: