2008 Clemson Tigers Basketball Predictions & Season Preview
Written September 30, 2008 by Jack Jones
Head coach Oliver Purnell seemed a little bit crazy at the beginning of last year when he mentioned that his team’s goal was to win the national title. However, after finishing up at 24-10 and 10-6 in the ACC we think he gained a lot of respect for his team on a national level. After five seasons, this Clemson team has gotten better each year under the direction of Purnell. Last year was the team’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998 and followed three straight solid showings in the NIT. Purnell thinks he can keep building on the team’s recent success, but getting over the hump and betting last year’s record might be difficult. Three seniors in Cliff Hammonds, James Mays, and Sam Perry are gone. Hammonds scored 11.4 ppg form the guard spot while Mays scored 10.7 ppg and grabbed almost seven boards per game from the forward spot. Replacing those three is going to be difficult, but if you think they can do so then take a look at the +10,000 odds to win the national title at BetUS, where a $100 bet could net you $10,000.
The frontcourt lost a lot with the graduation of Mays, but there is still a lot of potential here. Trevor Booker really shined, but part of that was due to the spotlight being on Mays. Can Booker hold down the fort in the post as the main target? That’s a question the Tigers will have to answer. He did have 11 ppg and 7.3 rpg a year ago and the way he worked in the off-season we wouldn’t be surprised if he landed on the All-ACC team. Senior Raymond Sykes seems to be getting better and better each year, and will be asked to contribute to fill part of the hole left by Mays. Purnell got some big news in the off-season when 7′1″ center Catalin Baciu signed with Clemson. He can shoot and run the floor which should make him an immediate threat. Jerai Grant is a sophomore who could be poised for a breakout season. He did get some playing time as a freshman.
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The backcourt should still be dangerous for opposing team, even with the graduation of Hammonds. KC Rivers was the team’s leading scorer at 14.7 ppg, and can shoot the three. Also a threat from behind the arc is sophomore Terrence Oglesby. Rivers and Oglesby shot better than 40% from behind the arc a year ago while nailing 165 3-point attempts. At point guard the team is going to need more consistent play out of Demontez Stitt. Stitt struggled with his shot, but is quick off the dribble and a good defender. He’ll be pushed by Andre Young, who is a better shooter but not as fast.
This Clemson team we see as a real threat once again in our ACC basketball predictions. Even with a lot of losses we see the potential for them to finish in the first half of the conference and make the NCAA Tournament again. However, we don’t see them being a real threat to go deep unless someone steps up defensively in a big way.
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