Wednesday March 26, 2008

Clemson Basketball 2008-09-A Different Look?

Clemson Basketball 2008-09-A Different Look?
Former Clemson football assistant coach Burton Burns and I had an interesting conversation a few years ago. Burton said you can look at personnel on a board and try to figure out how good you are going to be next season or the following season but you can never get a real feel until that team comes together for the first time. Burton said that after the bowl game and the break before the next semester he would always try to figure out how good the following team would be but there was really no way to tell until you saw them together and how they bonded together.

Burton added that next season’s team would have to start becoming a team the first day of the new semester. He said the seniors were no longer around and the new leaders would have to emerge. He is a firm believer in that each team is different and each team has a different personality. Burton said that he has been around some very good teams and teams that he loved to coach and to be around and some he did not enjoy as much but you could never tell until you started watching them gel as early as the first day they are together as the “new” team.

I the next few days the Clemson basketball team will stop being the 2007-08 team and will begin to become the 2008-09 Tigers. It is hard to imagine but Cliff Hammonds, James Mays, Sam Perry and Matt Morris will not be part of this new team and will not be a part of the workouts.

In looking forward to this “new” team I wanted to see where Clemson would be better and where they would be worse. There are also some areas where they might not be better or worse but will be different.

The point guard situation will be different. Demontez Stitt and Andre Young will handle the point guard duties and the Tigers will have two true point guards instead of having Hammonds run the point and shooting guard during different times in the game. I think it is safe to say Stitt will be improved coming off an impressive freshman season. His quickness is an asset and he will continue to develop as he gets more experience. Stitt will continue to improve his shooting and should be a threat offensively next season.

Young is only 5-8 but he is a terrific offensive prospect. His development will depend on his defense and his adjustment to the college game.

The two and three positions will be manned by K.C. Rivers, Terrence Ogelsby, Tanner Smith and David Potter.

Rivers will be one of the conference’s premier players next season. His scoring will be a big key to this team but I also believe his rebounding and leadership will be equally as important. Rivers may be the heart and soul of this group of Tigers.

Oglesby showed flashes of brilliance this past season. His range is incredible and free throw shooting should also be a factor. I think Oglesby is the best passer on the team also. He needs to improve his shot selection and his defensive development will be a key. One thing is certain though, no one will out work this freshman.

Smith is probably more like Rivers than Oglesby. He is an outside threat but can also rebound and is a smart player. There should be significant minutes for this true freshman next season.

Potter will play some three and some four again next season. When the Tigers want to go small he can play the four but he is a big matchup issue for some teams when he plays the three. Potter will continue to get better with more experience and his offense was a great improvement this past season. He is also a terrific free throw shooter.

The post should be patrolled by Trevor Booker, Raymond Sykes, Jerai Grant and Catalin Baciu.

Booker could be one of the premier post players in the ACC next season. When he is confident and assertive no one can stop this force. He developed more offensive skills this past year and his power presence will be a major key next season. I think Booker’s defense and rebounding will be keys also. The staff and Booker have to find a way to keep this big man from foul trouble next season.

Sykes has made tremendous strides in the program. This past year he developed into an offensive threat from 10 feet and he might have been the best finisher on the team. He will continue to get stronger and I think Sykes is set for a bigger season as he will get more minutes in 08-09.

I love the upside of Grant. In my opinion he is a very smart basketball player who is fundamentally sound. Grant is a very good rebounder because he moves his feet and boxes out well. When he gets stronger, I expect more out of this rising star.

Baciu is the highest profile big man the staff has signed in recent years. At 7-1, Baciu is a highly skilled post player with good offensive skills. It will be fun watching his development over the next four years.

A Different Look?
Due to personnel, I think Clemson could be a better offensive team but not as good defensively. The Tigers will miss Hammonds and Perry’s athleticism on the defensive end and will also miss Mays at the top of the press. I could also see Clemson being a team that does not press as much due to the personnel. The Tigers will have a seven footer who should get playing time for the first time in a few years.

I would not be surprised to see Clemson be more of a half-court team next season and I think they could turn into a good half court defensive team. Some I talk to insist that the full-court pressure wears down the opponent but it also wears down the Tigers and affects their half court defense.

Next year’s team should be a better free throw shooting team because Mays, Hammonds and Perry’s minutes will go to better free throw shooters.

The ACC should be good as Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have continued to upgrade their talent. UNC and Duke will again be picked for the top of the league as well. However, this Clemson program should not fall into the bottom half of the league.

The 2008-09 Tigers will be better in some areas and worse in others but I think you could see a different looking squad in some areas.

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