Clemson Tiger Basketball: Senior Sendoff

Oliver Purnell's first recruiting class at Clemson has transformed the Tiger Basketball program from the doormat of the ACC to an elite program in the league.  The final game in Littlejohn Coliseum for these four seniors was most certainly a memorable one.

With third place in the ACC on the line, the Clemson Tigers and Virginia Tech Hokies played down to the wire.  Fortunately for the Tigers, the two things that have haunted them all year long were the things that were the difference in the game.  

Freshman Demontez Stitt sank two free throws with 3.8 seconds to go, after being fouled on a controversial reach in foul. 

The free throws gave the Tigers the lead 70-69 and an errant three-point attempt by Deron Washington sealed the win for Clemson.

Now, as the No. 3 seed in the ACC Tournament, which begins this Thursday in Charlotte, the Tigers are preparing for something they haven't EVER had to deal with.

That would be a first round bye in the ACC Tournament.

The Tigers will play on Friday night at 9:30 against the winner of the No. 6 vs. No. 11 game between Maryland and Boston College. 

Clemson defeated both teams this season in the only game that they played against each of them.  

The most memorable of those was about two weeks ago on Senior Night in College Park, Maryland when the Tigers came from 20 down with 11:21 to go to defeat the Terps 73-70. 

The win was the greatest comeback in Clemson history and was what most figured to be the signature win for the Tigers in earning an NCAA Tournament berth for the first time in a decade.

Check back more Thursday night or Friday morning for a preview of the Tigers first game.