What Clemson Tigers Must Do to Extend Their Season Late into March

It’s getting close to crunch time for Oliver Purnell and his Tigers.  If Clemson basketball wants to extend their season past the ACC Tournament in a fashion other than the NIT, the season starts now. 

Here is a list of what the Tigers must do to make the NCAA field as an at-large.

1. Key Games

The win against North Carolina is losing its luster by the minute.  Wins against Butler, South Carolina, and Maryland are working against the losses to Illinois and Boston College.  Clemson has four big games remaining on their schedule in Virginia, Maryland, Georgia Tech, and Wake Forest.  They must win at least two of those.

2. High Screens

David Potter must decide to become a factor by setting ball screens.  Solid, high screens are the only way that a hobbled Demontez Stitt and reserve Andre Young can get the space to create any sort of drive momentum.  Teams have realized that they can force the Tigers to play half court offense.  This is the only way for this lineup to remain effective in that set.  Period.

3. Outside Threat

Stitt, Young, and Tanner Smith must connect on the occasional three-pointer.  Not only does this compute favorably on the scoreboard, but it will allow the defense to immediately set up the press.  In addition, some threat of long range scoring can only loosen Trevor Booker underneath.

4. Discipline

Booker must stay out of foul trouble.  While the maturation of Jerai Grant as a scoring factor has been a nice surprise, Clemson’s post play cannot yet be considered a two-headed monster.  When Booker sits, offensive production comes to a grinding halt.  A repeat of the Virginia Tech fiasco does not bode well for a deep run into the ACC or NCAA tournaments.

5. Important Homestand

Clemson must use Littlejohn Coliseum as the asset that it is.  The next three games are at home, including the big tilt with Virginia.  Following the games against Florida State and Miami, Stitt will have nearly a week to rest that all-important ankle before the Cavaliers come to town.  The Tigers need to use the noise and the press to create confusion in these three games.  Let’s hope they will have a healthy point guard (and a winning record in the three) by the end of the homestand.

This was supposed to be the year that Clemson established itself as a premier team in the ACC.  Booker’s senior season, coupled with a return to earth for North Carolina and Wake Forest, was supposed to lead to, at the very least, a first round bye in the conference tourney.  At this point that bye and a guaranteed spot in the field of 65 are both very much in doubt.