The Clemson Tigers (24-10, 10-6) need to break a couple of trends start fast, finish weak and make free throws. The Tigers reached the ACC Championship game for the first time since 1962 season and played North Carolina well but eventually succombed. Clemson will miss F- James Mays who had been the team leader for the past several seasons. Head Coach Oliver Purnell will rely on a stong backcourt led by do everything player KC Rivers and hope from a strong sophmore season by Demontez Stitt who played very well as a freshman a year ago.
Leading the way up front will be Trevor Booker who at 6'7'' is undersized but very physical and able to pull opposing post men out of the paint by mid range jump shots. The key down low will be continued development of Jerai Grant at the small forward spot he was a big surprise last year off the bench and could be an All ACC canidate in next couple of years.
Another catalyst to Clemson, last season, was the play of Raymond Sykes who filled in for Mays during a stretch last season when Mays was unable to play.
What Clemson lacks is consistent outside scoring this team will have to play in your face defense and create turnovers to win consistently. The Tigers are always tough in Littlejohn Coliseum and will have to steal a few on the road to repeat last years success.
Final outlook for the Tigers look for a repeat trip to NCAA Tournament in March but probably will be shortlived. If incoming Freshman center Catalin Baciu pans out to man the paint at 7'1'' and allows Purnell to slide Booker to power forward that could give Clemson some much needed balance and a possible second round berth.
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