After Friday’s listless 67-61 loss to Iowa, Clemson’s season ends in the opening round of the NCAA tournament for the second straight year. Just like last year, the first half offensive performance doomed the Tigers. They scored 13 points last year against McNeese State, and this year just 25.
Clemson finished the season 24-11 with an appearance in the ACC Tournament Semi-Finals and a 12-6 record in the ACC.
Should Clemson fans feel good or frustrated with the basketball season?
Clemson did suffer two major injuries. G Zac Foster was a strong contributor when playing their best basketball of the season in November and December before a season-ending injury. Carter Welling, arguably Clemson’s best rebounder, went out during the ACC Tournament.
On the other hand, who isn’t dealing with a key player being out in the NCAA tournament? I’m not even remembering them all, but here we go – Louisville, Duke, UCLA, UConn, Texas Tech, BYU, Alabama, SMU, UNC, Michigan, and the list goes on and on. It happens, and some teams have managed to adapt and have others fill in, while others have not. Clemson falls into the latter category. With Welling out, Clemson’s big 6’10 Nick Davidson came up small with just 1 rebound in 30 minutes of basketball against Iowa.
Clemson was out-rebounded 40-27, and the season was over.
Brad Brownell has led Clemson to the NCAA Tournament 4 of the last 6 years. and has averaged 25 wins the last 3 years. He can flat-coach, but if Clemson fans are to be frustrated, Brownell deserves some criticism, but he’s clearly not the root of the problem.
Clemson has to find a way to simply get better players in the portal. Clemson didn’t have one player on their current roster who’s going to get significant NBA minutes. That creates razor-thin margins of error when things go sideways.
Georgia Tech once thought that Paul Hewitt’s 5 NCAA appearances in 11 years weren’t enough. Georgia Tech hasn’t won an NCAA tournament game since 2010. Nebraska football felt like Frank Solich didn’t win enough, and Nebraska football hasn’t been heard from in 20 years.
I don’t think I’d look too hard in Brownell’s direction, though he didn’t coach a great game Friday, but something has to be done.
If Clemson wants to move beyond being merely good, they are going to invest in their basketball program more than they are.
As a whole, Clemson fans should feel like it was a solid season, but they don’t have to act like this is the ceiling.
Clemson basketball can be better.
