BY TRAVIS SAWCHIK The (Charleson) Post and Courier
CLEMSON -- One of the season's interesting subplots was how Trevor Booker's production was to be influenced by the loss of Clemson's zone-busting shooters.
Entering Sunday, the star forward's shooting percentage was 10 points below his mark from last season. His scoring was down 15 percent. The production declines can be traced to increased defensive attention, namely zones, which have become more common without 3-point threats Terrence Oglesby and K.C. Rivers.
In an 82-53 rout over Furman, Booker looked like the Booker of old, recording game-highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds.
The preseason All-American was surprised, likely along with Oliver Purnell, that he was rarely double-teamed by the Paladins (5-3), especially with Clemson (8-2) enduring a cold shooting night.
Purnell said he's not concerned with Booker's numbers.
Despite Sunday's performance, Booker is still a full point (14.1) below hi scoring average last season (15.3) and Clemson hasn't yet arrived into rugged ACC play.
Purnell said he can be a force in other ways, noting Booker's seven assists against South Carolina last week.
"Obviously he can score for us but he has value in so many other ways," Purnell said. "Blocking shots, rebounding and just being a dominant force like against South Carolina. He was one off the record (for assists) by a post player."
Averaging a career-best 2.1 assists per game, Booker says he isn't disappointed by the lack of touches.
"I wasn't too frustrated," Booker said. "I pass the ball well and my teammates have done a good job scoring the ball. We have done pretty good as a team so I'm not too frustrated."
Clemson entered having allayed some concerns about perimeter shooting, making 38.7 percent of 3s. But on Sunday, Clemson (8-2) finishing 0-11 from beyond the arc, and made just 12 of 25 free throws.It snapped a 162-game streak of making at least one 3.
"We have to be up for that challenge like we had been until tonight," Purnell said. "We didn't shoot the ball well at all."
Had Trevor Booker shot better at the free throw line - the 6-7 forward made just 1 of 6 attempts - he could have challenged his career high of 32 points established against Charlotte in January.
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