Dabo Swinney facetimes Joe Girard after Clemson advances to Elite 8
Clemson basketball just had one of the biggest wins in program history on Thursday night in the 2024 NCAA Tournament. The No. 6 seeded Tigers ousted the No. 2 need Arizona Wildcats with an impressive showing, prevailing 77-72 in their Sweet Sixteen matchup.
Clemson sharpshooter Joe Girard III made some history in the contest, shattering the school record for most three-pointers made in a single-season. After the win, Tigers head football coach Dabo Swinney facetimed Girard, celebrating the first time the program has been back to the Elite Eight since 1980.
An exceptional athlete and former signal-caller in high school, Girard led Glen Falls to New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B state titles in football (2016 and 2018) and basketball (2019).
He hit a deep three-pointer in the second half from the March Madness logo, giving him 100 threes for a single-season. Girard now has the all-time record in Tiger basketball history for the most three-pointers drained in a single year, according to the CBS television broadcast. He passed other Clemson greats such as Terrell McIntyre (99) and Will Solomon (95).
Girard only managed to score four points on Thursday night, but he dished out six assists, leading the team in that stat category.
Clemson got a balanced scoring effort from three of their biggest stars when they needed it the most: Ian Schieffelin, PJ Hall, and Chase Hunter. The talented trio combined for 49 of the Tigers’ 77 points. A team is only as good as their superstars will take them in the NCAA Tournament, and Clemson’s showed up against a high-level opponent.
Arizona shot miserably, only connecting on five of their 28 shots from beyond-the-arc (17.9%). They only shot 37% from the field too, connecting on 25 of their 67 shots. Caleb Love has been one of the nation’s streakiest players in recent years and he once again was ice cold in the biggest game of the year for the Wildcats. Love didn’t hit a single three, going 0-for-9 from beyond-the-arc. He also only hit five of his 18 shots from the field (27.7%).
Clemson also managed to pull out the win despite getting beat handily on the glass by Arizona, 44-36. PJ Hall (eight rebounds) and Ian Schieffelin (seven rebounds) led the way on the glass for the Tigers, as they’ve done for the past few years.
Up next, Clemson will face the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Elite Eight for the chance to punch their tickets to the Final Four.