The 2016-17 basketball season started out up and down with Clemson going 3-2 in November, with wins over Georgia, Davidson and High Point. In December, the Tigers went undefeated including a win over South Carolina, who appeared in the Final Four last April. Heading into January 2017, there was optimism that this program might be turning a corner.
However, the Tigers struggled in the month of January, losing six consecutive games, where the margin of defeat was by five points or less — with the exception of two games against Louisville and Georgia Tech. Clemson rebounded to beat Pittsburgh at the end of January to head into the month of February this time last year, 12-8.
Looking back at this time last year for Clemson basketball, it was safe to say it was tough going for Brad Brownell and the Clemson basketball program. Things got a little better as last season went on, but the Tigers still struggled and finished the 2016 season with a record of 17-16 with a 74-69 loss to Oakland in the NIT.
Brad Brownell made staff changes at the end of last season and brought in Antonio Reynolds Dean, who was most recently at the University of Rhode Island, who won last year’s Atlantic 10 Championship. Dean replaces longtime assistant coach Mike Winiecki, who left the program. On the court, the Tigers returned five players including Gabe DeVoe, Shelton Mitchell and Marcquise Reed who averaged at least 7.5 points a game . The pieces of the puzzle were certainly in place to make this season better for the Tigers.
Fast forward a year later, Clemson basketball is off to their best start since the 2008-09 season and is also in the top 25. When it comes to close games, the Tigers have shown that so far, they have overcome last season’s Achilles heel: with wins over North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio St., and Miami, three at home and one on the road. Clemson is currently unconquered at Littlejohn Coliseum with the exception of an exhibition loss to Tennessee.
There’s still a long way to go in the 2017-2018 season but looking back to where Clemson was a year ago, they have come a long way While losing Donte Grantham to an injury against Notre Dame hurts, Clemson has the ability to prove to themselves — and everyone else — they can win with the team that they have.
With all of the current success of the basketball program, the Tigers can certainly make a run in the ACC Tournament. After that, is a potential NCAA Tournament appearance and run in line for this team? Only time will tell.
