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Clemson Basketball: Tigers Team Preview and Season Prediction 2018-19

Home / College Basketball / Clemson Basketball: Tigers Team Preview and Season Prediction 2018-19

By Athlon Sports, 10/3/18, 10:30 AM EDT



Strong backcourt keys Tiger hopes

Clemson doesn’t have much history of sustained basketball success, but its chances of continuing last year’s taste of prominence increased greatly with the decisions of Marcquise Reed and Shelton Mitchell.

The two dynamic guards could’ve easily chosen to forgo their final season of college eligibility and headed overseas to turn pro. Reed is 23 years old. Mitchell has dealt with multiple knee surgeries. Both players earned their degrees in May, making a reasonable case for moving on to the next stage of their lives.

“It’s not like they had to come back to finish their education and get their degrees,” coach Brad Brownell says. “They had already accomplished that, which was a pretty significant goal for these guys. And they had already played in the Sweet 16. They’d already done a lot of really good things. So now, do you want to go start your professional career, start working toward your next lifelong goal? Or do you want to try to come back and do even more?”

Reed and Mitchell chose the latter option, and it means Clemson should be a force once again after last year’s breakthrough in Brownell’s eighth season.

Clemson looks potent and poised for more after snapping a six-year NCAA Tournament drought and advancing to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1997.

Losing explosive scorer Gabe DeVoe hurts, but the Tigers have a formidable offensive nucleus with Reed and Mitchell joining frontcourt weapon Elijah Thomas.

At a Glance

HEAD COACH: Brad Brownell

2017-18 RECORD (ACC): 25-10 (11-7)

2017-18 POSTSEASON: NCAA: Lost to Kansas 80-76 in the Sweet 16

KEY LOSSES:

G Gabe DeVoe (14.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.1 apg)
F Donte Grantham (14.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg)


Frontcourt

Thomas is back for his senior season after averaging 10.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game last year.

The Tigers had to work through the second half of last season after star Donte Grantham was lost to a blown-out knee. But the positive from that was the development of Aamir Simms, who had to play more minutes as a freshman.

Thomas and Simms should form an imposing duo. Simms was a physical specimen when he arrived at Clemson, and with added confidence he looks like a future star.

Brownell secured a big coup on the transfer market by snagging Oral Robers graduate Javan White from LSU’s clutches. White gives Clemson a 6'10", 230-pound presence who averaged 10.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game last season. Incoming freshman Trey Jemison holds intrigue.

Backcourt

Reed led the Tigers in scoring last year with a 15.8-point average while pulling down 4.7 rebounds a game and handing out 3.3 assists. He can stretch a defense to create space for others to make plays. Mitchell averaged 12.2 points and 3.6 assists per game, and his ability to break down defenses off the dribble both in the halfcourt and in transition will create plenty of headaches.

The return of David Skara, who announced plans to play overseas before reconsidering and returning for his final year of eligibility, gives Brownell his best defensive player from last year.

Combo guard Clyde Trapp and wing Anthony Oliver showed flashes last season as freshmen, and the return of Reed and Mitchell will allow them to continue developing in backup roles.

Final Analysis

The rare air of the Sweet 16 will be extremely hard to improve on, and Brownell knows that. But it’s absolutely realistic to think this team can build on 25–10 and 11–7 in the ACC, records that no one expected entering last year. If it’s true that success in the college game is all about guard play, Clemson finds itself in good hands with Reed and Mitchell ready to go through their third season in the ACC. This is a veteran team that is hungry for more, and Clemson fans should prepare for more excitement.

Postseason Prediction: Two & Out

ACC Prediction: 7th

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6gC6jkxOZo

C.B. knows 4/5 starters. I'm guessing the PG position is still up for grabs. Must be a good competition going on. I like that. Also, no injuries too. Great to hear.

(10-23-2018 03:31 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  C.B. knows 4/5 starters. I'm guessing the PG position is still up for grabs. Must be a good competition going on. I like that. Also, no injuries too. Great to hear.

Makes sense. The 3 starters back from last year + Cylla leaves the PG as a question. Might still be a question after Saturday. Should be fun to watch!

We know one thing is for certain among all the other uncertainties. Clemson is going to bring a very tough, in your face defense to Trask. Our shooters are going to HAVE to make their open looks when they get them b/c they will be few and far between when facing a Brownell squad. Can we improve our defense while not getting in foul trouble? It's going to be a slugfest, but one that the community, fans, etc are all reeeeaally looking forward to.

Outside of the actual game, I'm hoping Brownell gets the warm welcome he absolutely deserves here -- especially for his and McGrath's ability to make this game happen.

Hope our PGs are up to the task and ready, they're our key this year.

Go Seahawks.

(10-24-2018 06:47 AM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  Outside of the actual game, I'm hoping Brownell gets the warm welcome he absolutely deserves here -- especially for his and McGrath's ability to make this game happen.

I'd bet he will, 90% of our fan base still loves him, and rightfully so!

Brownell will definitely get a warm welcome. It would also be cool if maybe we put up a video with some Brownell highlights perhaps? Since its a charitable, good-feelings type of exhibition game, I think this would be the type of atmosphere for that.

As for the Clemson roster, they may not be as good as last year, but they're still loaded. If they use their starters for solid minutes I imagine this will be a double-digit L. But the result won't be all that important for us. We have a lot of new faces, as well as Elmore coming back from injury. All that matters on Saturday is seeing how these guys are beginning to mesh together. And most importantly, I'd like to see some improved man-to-man defense, both in intensity and skill.

(10-24-2018 09:40 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Brownell will definitely get a warm welcome. It would also be cool if maybe we put up a video with some Brownell highlights perhaps? Since its a charitable, good-feelings type of exhibition game, I think this would be the type of atmosphere for that.

As for the Clemson roster, they may not be as good as last year, but they're still loaded. If they use their starters for solid minutes I imagine this will be a double-digit L. But the result won't be all that important for us. We have a lot of new faces, as well as Elmore coming back from injury. All that matters on Saturday is seeing how these guys are beginning to mesh together. And most importantly, I'd like to see some improved man-to-man defense, both in intensity and skill.

Elmore is having issues with his other knee. It doesn't seem to be anything like the other knee, but it has limited his practice time.
Toews played for the Japanese National team. And while it should be a good thing overall, he has not had a lot of time with the team. Hopefully he is a quick learner of our system. I think he will be special for us at pg. The question may be when will that happen.

(10-24-2018 11:14 AM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  

(10-24-2018 09:40 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Brownell will definitely get a warm welcome. It would also be cool if maybe we put up a video with some Brownell highlights perhaps? Since its a charitable, good-feelings type of exhibition game, I think this would be the type of atmosphere for that.

As for the Clemson roster, they may not be as good as last year, but they're still loaded. If they use their starters for solid minutes I imagine this will be a double-digit L. But the result won't be all that important for us. We have a lot of new faces, as well as Elmore coming back from injury. All that matters on Saturday is seeing how these guys are beginning to mesh together. And most importantly, I'd like to see some improved man-to-man defense, both in intensity and skill.

Elmore is having issues with his other knee.

Geeeeez. He's like the Greg Oden of UNCW. Hope it's something they can get figured out and get the young man on the court.

(10-24-2018 02:00 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(10-24-2018 11:14 AM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  

(10-24-2018 09:40 AM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  Brownell will definitely get a warm welcome. It would also be cool if maybe we put up a video with some Brownell highlights perhaps? Since its a charitable, good-feelings type of exhibition game, I think this would be the type of atmosphere for that.

As for the Clemson roster, they may not be as good as last year, but they're still loaded. If they use their starters for solid minutes I imagine this will be a double-digit L. But the result won't be all that important for us. We have a lot of new faces, as well as Elmore coming back from injury. All that matters on Saturday is seeing how these guys are beginning to mesh together. And most importantly, I'd like to see some improved man-to-man defense, both in intensity and skill.

Elmore is having issues with his other knee.

Geeeeez. He's like the Greg Oden of UNCW. Hope it's something they can get figured out and get the young man on the court.

They are not considering it an issue. Expecting resting it to do the trick. It just puts him a bit behind in practice.

Saw an interview from late last week where CB said everyone was healthy and practicing. He said it is the first time since he has been there that everyone was healthy.

(10-24-2018 02:31 PM)surfsalot Wrote:  Saw an interview from late last week where CB said everyone was healthy and practicing. He said it is the first time since he has been there that everyone was healthy.

Apparently something happened since last week. He told us Monday. But he still doesn't think it will be an issue going forward.

Apparently something happened since last week. He told us Monday. But he still doesn't think it will be an issue going forward.
[/quote]

It was yesterday this week is obviously dragging on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6gC6jkxOZo

(10-24-2018 02:43 PM)surfsalot Wrote:  Apparently something happened since last week. He told us Monday. But he still doesn't think it will be an issue going forward.

It was yesterday this week is obviously dragging on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6gC6jkxOZo
[/quote]

Then I guess what coach was saying Monday was just that Elmore has missed a number of practices resting his knee. The issue wasn't not being able to play because of his knee, but that he has been resting it and may not be in the shape they want him to be. But we still have time to correct that as long as the knee doesn't act up again.
Something else coach mentioned was that Cylla is very good, but right now he fouls more than Cacok. They are emphasizing to him that he is too good and athletic to be fouling so much.

WECT : C.B. McGrath raw interview

WECT's Jon Evan interviews with McGrath and Brownell

Hawks have to come out and play their game. We will know more about us tomorrow at this time. Can we matchup with a college heavyweight right now? We shall see but I'd bet that the Hawks will show up.

Don't be surprised if at least part of the game is more of a scrimmage. Both coaches want to work on half court offense for at least one ten minute stretch. But I hope they can keep it in a game situation. And keep it competitive. Along with keeping the fans in it.

Hey guys, it might only be a scrimmage... but UNCW plays a basketball game today!

In the first game of today’s exhibition doubleheader, the Lady Hawks lead Catawba 49-27 at the half.

ODU transfer guard GiGi Smith scored the first 8 points of the game for the Hawks and looks very good.