Joe Girard sets Clemson's all-time record for single-season three pointers
Clemson sharpshooter Joe Girard III has been one of the all-time great shooters in college basketball history during his time with the Syracuse Orange and now, the Clemson Tigers. He’s been a critical piece in guiding the Tigers on a historic run to the Elite Eight in this year’s NCAA Tournament. The Tigers prevailed over the No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats, 77-72, in one of the biggest wins in program history.
Girard only managed to score four points on Thursday night, but he also dished out six assists, leading the team in that stat category.
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).
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.
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 in a massive way 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%).
Up next, No. 6 seed Clemson will face the No. 4 seed Alabama Crimson Tide in the Elite Eight. The winner will punch their ticket to the Final Four.