For Clemson basketball head coach Brad Brownell, longevity and adaptability have defined his 15 years at the helm. As he enters another season leading the Tigers, Brownell faces one of his biggest coaching challenges yet — molding a completely retooled roster into a cohesive and competitive unit.
Coming off a 27-7 campaign that exceeded expectations and secured a top-two finish in the ACC, Brownell’s program now looks drastically different. Fourteen players departed in the offseason — through graduation, the transfer portal or professional opportunities — leaving just three returners: Dillon Hunter, Ace Buckner and Dallas Thomas. Each player must step into a larger role as Clemson integrates a group of newcomers that includes both freshmen and transfers.
The new-look roster shares one thing in common: a hunger to prove oneself. The Tigers remain motivated by last season’s heartbreaking tournament loss to McNeese State, a game that left fans and players stunned.
Nearly two years removed from the program’s Elite Eight run, Brownell and his team are determined to return to that level of success.
At the ACC Tipoff event in Charlotte, North Carolina, Brownell discussed his approach to blending the group and emphasized that the Tigers plan to play at a faster pace this season.
“(The tempo) probably ended up being by design last year, because we had such a strong starting five,” Brownell said. “So this year’s team will be different. We’re going to get up and down the floor more. I think we’re going to extend our defense, try to be a bit more aggressive, play with high hands and great activity and energy.”
While much of the roster has changed, leadership remains a strength. Senior forward RJ Godfrey returns to Clemson after a one-year stint at Georgia, bringing maturity and experience to a young team.
Godfrey spoke about what it means to him to don the orange and white again:
“I think Clemson holds a special place in my heart,” Godfrey said. “I found that out on day one last year.”
He also reflected on how Brownell’s guidance has shaped him as a player and person.
“I think just focusing on the things I need to work on. I think Coach Brownell, just his philosophy, has just helped me in life,” Godfrey said. “It’s something that I took for granted my first two years here, and when things got hard at my last place, that’s kind of what I tried to have backbone on.”
For Hunter, one of the three returning Tigers, this offseason has been about leadership and helping the team build chemistry on and off the court.
“I would say one of the main challenges is … it’s a whole group of guys, new guys. They don’t really know each other, like a new environment,” Hunter said. “A lot of guys coming from different places, Utah, around the country. It’s really about … spending time outside of basketball off court, just getting to know each other.”
Hunter said the team made a point to connect over the summer.
“Starting in the summer, that was our main thing. We would go out, go fishing with RJ or go out to the lake, go out to get something to eat, getting to know each other,” he said. “I feel like now going into the start of the season, we’re starting to see the gel and form during practice, and everything is becoming simple after that.”
Now entering his fourth year in the program, Hunter, the younger brother of star guard and recent graduate Chase Hunter, has seen his role steadily evolve — from bench contributor to vocal leader.
“Coach’s motto is grit, perseverance of a long-term goal,” Hunter said. “With Chase being at the school and everything he’s went through and showing me how, like, man, you can come back from these battles. He was fighting injury. I wasn’t really having injuries, but just not being able to play as much time as you want. You just got to put the time in the gym.”
Hunter believes that everything will work out how it’s meant to be, and that having his brother helped him in his basketball career.
“Offensively, we’re trying to push and play with tempo, and start the offense with a little more thrust. I’m excited for that. I think our players are, and I do think that that’s the best way for this team to play.”
Brownell’s steady leadership continues to define the program and foster a strong locker room culture, something he’ll rely on as the team works to build chemistry and compete this season.
The Tigers will open the 2025-26 season on Nov. 3 against New Hampshire at Littlejohn Coliseum.
