Leading up to the 2009 NIT Season Tip Off on November 16th, Pickin’ Splinters will be counting down the top 25 of the college hardwood nation.
By Paul Gotham
‘o8 – ’09 Results: 24 – 9 (9 – 7 ACC) Lost first round of NCAA Tournament to Michigan, 62 – 59.
Coach: Oliver Purnell 117 – 77 (6 years at Clemson) 350 – 261 overall
Key Returners:
Trevor Booker – 15.3ppg, 9.7rpg
Demontez Stitt – 8.7ppg, 3.78apg
Jerai Grant – 4.7ppg, 3.2rpg
David Potter – 4.9ppg, 2.2rpg
Tanner Smith – 3.6ppg, 1.8rpg
Notable N0n-Conference Tilts: 11/26 vs. Texas A&M, 11/27 vs. West Virginia or Long Beach State, 12/2 vs. Illinois, 12/6 vs. South Carolina
Stat of Identity: 9.3 steals per game, 7th in the country
Oliver Purnell’s Clemson Tigers know well how to get out of the blocks from the starting line. The challenge this year for the seventh-year coach and his Tigers lies in where they stand at the finish line.
Over the last three season Clemson has won 72 games – none of those in the NCAA tournament. The Tigers have made a habit of starting the season on a streak (’08 – ’09 / 16-0, ’07-’08 / 10-0, ‘06-’07 / 17-0) only to finish short of expectations ( first round losses in the NCAA tournament each of the last two seasons, and an NIT appearance appearance in ’07 after losing 10 of 14).
No player knows this plight better than Trevor Booker. The senior has more rebounds (792) and blocks (204) than any active player in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Last year, Booker led the ACC in field goal percentage (.571) and rebounds (9.7). The last player to accomplish such a feat was Tim Duncan. Booker combined with Jerai Grant as the Tigers led the ACC in blocks. Grant finished eighth in the ACC in while playing less than 15 minutes per game. David Potter joins Booker and Grant in the front court. Freshmen, Milton Jennings and Booker’s younger brother, Devin will get a chance to make an immediate impact off the bench.
Demontez Stitt has played over 20 minutes per game in each of his first two seasons. Last year, the point guard averaged 1.5spg to go with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.49. He will be counted on to step up and knock down shots this year. Clemson led the ACC in 3 pointers made a year ago, but Terrence Oglesby left unexpectedly and Stitt will need to fill the gap. Andre Young and Tanner Smith will each get a chance to prove their worth from long range.
Clemson traditionally gives opponents a steady diet of full court pressure. Early in the season this method reaps rewards. When teams figure out the pressure and force a half-court game, Clemson’s offense rarely responds. If Purnell’s troop wants to advance further, they will need an efficient half-court offense.
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