Clemson's Historic Collapse Complete

A Late Free Throw By Thornton Leaves Clemson Speechless, Florida State Prevails 67-66

Game after game the streak contiuned...8...9...10, next thing they knew it was 15...16...and 17. The Clemson Tigers started the season 17-0 before falling 92-87 at then no. 25 Maryland on January 13th. It was not a drastic lost by any means. Winning on the road in college basketball is tough no matter what conference you play in, especially the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Unfortunately, the Tigers had no idea what would follow.

In an instance their Tiger instinct had been snatched from their claws. At 17-1, the Tigers would begin one of the biggest collapses in NCAA history. Clemson proceeded to go 4-9 in their last 13 games, including the controversial lost at then no. 10 Duke 68-66 on a last second shot by Dave McClure. The clock was set to 4.4 seconds when it should have been set closer to three seconds. This error enabled McClure to hit the game-winning lay-up as time expired. This time keeping error may have a part in the biggest collapse in NCAA, but so does the phantom call that cost them their most recent game against Florida State. There is no way that Al Thornton was fouled, but Clemson put themselves in that position with an undisciplined over and back call in the final seconds of the game.

Luckily for the 2007 Clemson Tigers they are a young bunch with only two seniors. However, the two seniors: starting guard Vernon Hamilton and back-up guard Chris Poole will never forget this forgettable season. It is hard to completely understand a collapse of this proportion. The Tigers were the last undefeated team in division I NCAA basketball at 17-0, yet they finished their season at 21-10 and 7-9 in the ACC.

Yes, they suffered from poor calls, timing errors, and close, heart wrenching losses, but the real question is how did they allow themselves to even get mentioned as a "bubble" team.

Having to play in the ACC doesn't help the Tigers, as it has become arguably the toughest conference in college basketball. Yet, starting the season 12-0 at home and then finishing 3-4 down the stretch is not acceptable. However, may be this squad of Tigers is too young to understand the magnitude of their collapse. At least that is what we all hope because starting a season 17-0 and failing to make the tournament will go down as one of the greatest collapses in sports history, college or professional.

In most sports, winning early becomes a means to an end; however, with these Tigers the only result of Thursdays lost to Florida State was the end of their NCAA tournament dreams. In one whistle, Clemson's worst nightmare had become a reality. Come selection Sunday, the Clemson Tigers have no need to watch, their season ended when they lost their killer instinct.