CLEMSON — Head coaches are always anxious for their seasons to begin, and Brad Brownell is the perfect example.
With 11 scholarship freshmen and sophomores populating his Clemson men’s basketball roster, the Tigers’ head coach starts his third season at the program’s helm with far more questions than answers.
He can start answering them – and teaching from lessons learned – at 7 p.m. Monday. Clemson welcomes Presbyterian to Littlejohn Coliseum for both teams’ season opener in what should be an instructive evening.
Clemson will face Presbyterian College in its season opener Monday. The Tigers are 55-18-1 all-time against the Blue Hose and have won the last six contests in the series, all since the 1972-73 season.
The last meeting between the two featured a 43-point margin of victory for the Tigers in 2009-10, also the season opener. Clemson has won each of its last 27 season openers.
Presbyterian is one of six in-state schools out of conference that the Tigers will face on its pre-ACC regular season schedule. Clemson will also play The Citadel, Coastal Carolina, Furman, South Carolina and SC State.
Two members of Clemson's team - Devin Booker and Milton Jennings - were freshmen the last time the Tigers played the Blue Hose. The two combined for 11 points in their first outings in a Clemson uniform.
Clemson has 12 first- and second-year players on its 14-man roster, most in school history since freshmen became eligible in the 1972-73 season.
The Tigers won their public exhibition on Monday, Nov. 5, a 72-42 triumph over Lander. Freshman center Landry Nnoko scored 14 points and was one of four players in double figures, along with senior Milton Jennings (14), sophomore K.J. McDaniels (12) and freshman Adonis Filer (12).
