Up until the start of the season, we will be taking a look at each team in the ACC and what you can expect from them. Today we will be looking at our second school of the summer, Clemson University. If you missed any of the previous previews, you can find them listed below.

ACC Roundup

Boston College

Last Season

Clemson went 17-14 last season with a record of 10-8 in conference. Although that record was good enough for a tie for seventh in the conference it wasn’t enough to get to the NCAA tournament. This marks the fifth straight season that Coach Brad Brownell’s squad has missed the Big Dance. The Tigers had multiple chances to pick up resume-boosting wins throughout the non-conference schedule, but failed to convert in games against the likes of Alabama, South Carolina, and Georgia. None of these teams were powerhouses last season, but each represented a game against a recognizable foe who would’ve given the committee something more to look at when it came time to fill out the field.

Last season’s star player for Clemson was first-team All-ACC member Jaron Blossomgame who entered his name into the draft. After going through the NBA Combine he pulled his name out of consideration to return to school for his final season of eligibility. Blossomgame was also voted the most improved player in the conference after upping his scoring by over five points a game while also improving his overall efficiency across the board.

Coaching

Brad Brownell has been coaching basketball for 25 years and has put together a stellar track record together at each stop. Coach Brownell broke into coaching in 1991 when he spent a single season as an assistant at Evansville before moving on to Indianapolis for a pair of seasons. Brownell then accepted an assistant position at UNC Wilmington where he would serve under Jerry Wainwright for eight seasons. When Wainwright left to become the head coach at Richmond, Brownell stepped up and took charge of the program for the next four seasons. Under his guidance, UNC Wilmington qualified twice for the NCAA tournament in 2003 and 2006. In both seasons, Brownell also won CAA Coach of the Year.

Once the 2005-2006 season concluded, Brownell took the vacant head coaching position at Wright State where he never won less than 20 games in a season. In his first year at the helm of Wright State, Brownell led a team to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years.

Finally, in 2010, Coach Brownell made the jump to a major conference school in Clemson and for the third time led his team to the NCAA Tournament in his first season at the university. Unfortunately for the Tigers, they have not returned since, although this could be the year that changes. Over the course of his 14 years as a head coach, Brad Brownell has accumulated a record of 107-87 and has only had a single losing season in his career.

Returning Players

Clemson returns arguably the most talent they have ever had under Coach Brownell with six of their top eight players returning. Leading the way is a trio of double-digit scores in Jaron Blossomgame, Donte Grantham, and Avry Holmes. Blossomgame will be one of the best players in the conference and has proven he can handle being the Tigers’ number one option by averaging 18.7 points per game last season. On top of that, he was the team’s leading rebounder last season as well with 6.7 a game. Blossomgame’s stats and size are similar to former Clemson star K.J. McDaniels who has carved out a nice career in the NBA since leaving the school.

Donte Grantham is a lengthy forward at 6’8″ and does a little bit of everything for the Tigers. He has shown the ability to get out and finish in transition as well as an improved three-point shot. He also led Clemson in free throw percentage and ranked third in assists proving he is much more than just a scorer on offense. On the defensive side of the ball he shows a knack for getting in the passing lanes and came away with 31 steals last season.

The final double-digit scorer from last season is senior guard Avry Holmes. Holmes started his career at the University of San Francisco before transferring to Clemson after his sophomore campaign. In his first year as a Tiger, Holmes showed flashes of what he could do but was inconsistent over the course of the season. Holmes stands just 82 points shy of one-thousand career points and should reach the milestone sometime during the non-conference schedule. If Holmes can increase his efficiency back to where they were while at USF, he could provide a scoring punch out of the backcourt to complement the Tigers’ frontcourt.

Incoming Players

Clemson only brings in one freshman this year, but also has three transfers eligible for action after sitting out last season. Scott Spencer was a late bloomer that may just be one of the biggest recruiting steals in the conference this season. At 6’6, Spencer is a capable scorer who could push for playing time on the wing from day one. He has all the physical tools to be effective at both ends of the court as his body continues to grow and has an excellent shot to complement his physical tools.

Both Marcquise Reed and Shelton Mitchell are guards who sat out all of last season after transferring in from Robert Morris and Vanderbilt respectively. In his lone season at Robert Morris, Reed led the Colonials in scoring on his way to being named the NEC Rookie of the Year. Reed gives the Tigers another proven shooter to help spread the floor and will be a solid defender from day one. In his season at RMU he racked up 67 steals in 35 games. The main thing he must work on is controlling the ball, he led Robert Morris in turnovers as a freshman.

Shelton Mitchell is a pass first point guard who tallied 103 assists as a freshman at Vanderbilt. Mitchell uses a quick first step to draw defenders to him before making the right pass or finishing in the lane. Coming out of high school, Mitchell was a consensus top-100 thanks in large part to his ability to lead a team. He will bring a fantastic work ethic to the Tigers and provide quality point guard play all season long.

The final transfer for the Tigers is big man Elijah Thomas who will be eligible for the second half of the season. Thomas was a top-50 recruit that will provide a boost to the Tigers heading into conference play. He uses his big body to establish position deep in the post, and has great footwork around the hoop. His soft hands make him a force on the glass where he pulled down over 14 rebounds a game as a senior in high school.

Season Outlook

The Tigers have all the pieces to be a surprise team in the ACC this year and will look to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2011. However, if the Tigers miss the Big Dance again this year, the seat may begin to get a little warm under Brad Brownell. A trip to Puerto Rico will give Coach Brownell a good idea of where his team is before for heading into conference play.