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Expectations: Football vs Basketball
Oliver Purnell has done some unbelievable things in his five and a half seasons in Tigertown and one of the biggest is changing the expectations of the program.

On my morning radio talk show this morning the discussion turned to long term and short-term expectations for Clemson basketball under Purnell. I found it fascinating that callers on my show that are not Clemson fans have the idea that Tiger football fans are always too optimistic in their expectations but have a different point of view when it comes to Clemson basketball.

Two callers this morning tried to convince me that Clemson football fans talked about a national championship in August. Maybe I just missed it but I did not hear that talk. I remember most Clemson fans, including myself, were talking ACC title but did not talk national title. We all felt Clemson was the best team in the ACC and the time had come for a conference title or at least a conference title game appearance. The Tigers were a pre-season top ten team and I can agree that this season was one of the biggest disappointments in Clemson football history.

As a side note, I would point out the 1984 team was ranked as high as number two in the country and ended the season at 7-4. To me that was a bigger disappointment because the record was similar but the ranking was higher.

But the idea that Clemson football fans have unrealistic expectations is valid by some standards. However, I think most schools’ fans have a higher image of their programs than the general public so this is not uncommon.

The fascinating part of this topic comes from outsiders’ point of view of the Clemson basketball program compared to Tiger fans expectations.

Today my last two callers chimed in on the subject. One was a Florida fan and the other was an FSU football fan and a Duke basketball fan. These callers disagreed with my statement that Clemson basketball should not have national championship aspirations. The two outsiders made a case that Purnell is building the program and no one thought Florida or UConn would ever compete at that type of level before Billy Donovan and Bill Calhoun accomplished it at their schools.

After the show I wondered why we get overrated in football but underrated in basketball. Maybe it is because we have had more success in football. Maybe it is because Clemson basketball history has been so bad that the fan base has been scarred.

In yesterday’s blog I made a case that 10-6 or 9-7 can be done in conference this year for this team. I received some e-mails saying I was being too cautious and this team will only be heavy underdogs at North Carolina and at Wake Forest. The e-mailers made valid points.

Clemson’s road schedule includes games at North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Boston College, Virginia, Georgia Tech, Florida State and Wake Forest.

I think even the most optimistic Tiger fan will concede losses at number-one North Carolina and number-six Wake Forest but anyone want to tell me how Clemson has no chance in Blacksburg, Boston, Charlottesville, Atlanta or Tallahassee? I have not been overly impressed with any of those five. Also remember the Tigers have already beaten Miami in Coral Gables. Is 4-4 totally unreasonable? 5-3?

Home games this year in the ACC come against NC State, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Duke, Florida State, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Virginia.

Wake and Duke will be ranked when they visit Littlejohn but at this point I don’t see the other six having big years. Is it unrealistic to think Clemson can go 6-2 at home? 7-1? 8-0?

Clemson football fans seem to think the Tigers are the superior program to Georgia Tech but the Yellow Jackets have been a thorn in the Tigers’ paws in recent years. When the football schedule comes out each year I wonder how many Tiger fans automatically count Maryland as a win? How about Wake?

Basketball fans in Tigertown take a guarded approach when it comes to predicting the future outcomes. In basketball the best team does not win as often as football. Things happen in basketball that makes it easier for upsets. However, I have seen Virginia play this season and am not scared. Virginia Tech or Georgia Tech impress any viewers on the hardwood this season?

Looking back at it, maybe we should have downplayed expectations because some of Bowden’s teams underachieved. This is Purnell’s sixth team and someone please tell me a season where his teams have underachieved.

So why don’t we have unrealistic expectations of Purnell and this basketball program?

If Purnell continues to build this program there will come a point in time where Clemson basketball fan turns into Clemson football fan. There will be a point where we will be disappointed in “just 20 wins” or “just making it to the ACC semifinals.”

Maybe that is the biggest compliment we can pay Purnell. Maybe the idea of Clemson being disappointed in a loss in Durham will happen in some minds at some time. I know the Tigers have only won four times in Durham but at this rate there will be a point where it will become expected by a certain segment of Tiger fans to win in Cameron.

In football we look at recruiting rankings and we think Clemson continues to put out NFL talent each year but the Tigers are not near the top of the league in recent years in producing NFL talent. However, as Clemson fans we always seem to think we are ultra-talented every year. When was the last time Tiger fans thought Clemson’s basketball talent at top 25 levels? Sure the perception of the ACC is different in football but in my opinion the bottom half of the league has not been too good in basketball lately. In fact, you can make an argument that the ACC is deeper in football this year than it is in basketball.

If Dabo's boys open the ACC season next year by having their second largest margin of victory on the road in the ACC, what would happen to expectations?

Perceptions take a long time to change. Will we see Clemson basketball fans change their perceptions and expectations to match the Clemson football fans anytime soon?

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Comments:

Good blog. I must admit that I was looking over the basketball schedule yesterday and thinking to myself that 9-7 or 10-6 in league play would be a letdown because we only play Duke and UNC once each, and we get Duke at home. The rest of the games are all very winnable...not sure if we will win all of them, but I certainly think we can win most of them. Honestly, I expect to get a first round bye in the ACC tournament and a high seed in the NCAA tournament, just because I have ultimate faith in OP's coaching ability.

Posted by Locotiger on December 23, 2008 at 11:07 AM EST #

Not sure why so many are assuming more success for this basketball team. This is a typical pre January performance for basketball over the last 4 years. As I see it the loss of Hammonds, Mays and Perry has not been replaced. The ACC overall is down it appears but that does not mean were up.

Having said that I am starry eyed about the team as well but the basis for determining if we have progressed will come in March!

Posted by Rebel Yell on December 23, 2008 at 12:59 PM EST #

Rebel Yell...obviously, there is a lot left to the season but one thing you are saying is completely against what everyone else seems to believe - the ACC, all indications are, is improved overall from last year. There will be more than the 4 NCAA teams from conference, possibly even 6 or 7. The strength is way up in conference, with Wake being much improved along with the possibility that Miami FSU and MD will all be markably better with more mature teams.

Posted by Justwannaread on December 23, 2008 at 02:01 PM EST #

One thing keeping expectations dampened just a bit was last year's one-and-done appearance in the NCAA. Despite the promise of "this time will be different", a first-round exit happened again. Until Clemson can become a perennial Sweet 16 team, it's hard to change perception.

Posted by TigerEE91 on December 23, 2008 at 02:23 PM EST #

OP has been improving us every year, but last year was the break through. If we can finish in the Top 4 or 5 in the ACC this year and return to the NCAA tourney after losing the guys that we did, plus Milt Jennings coming in next year, then I think CU fans will start having much higher expectations. So far there has been guarded optimism because of past disappointments.

It's different with football. We've been on top before and with everything we have to offer, plus the opinions of knowledgeable outsiders, we should expect and demand better.

Posted by flatiger66 on December 23, 2008 at 02:33 PM EST #

Good blog, Mickey. I agree that we should feel confident about our chances in the ACC this year. However, I disagree that we should concede away games at UNC and Wake Forest. We have shown over the last couple of years that we can compete with anyone in basketball. While we have not won in Chapel Hill, we are obviously capable of hanging with the Heels as evidenced by last year. And while Lawrence Joel Coliseum is a tough place to play as well, Wake is far from unbeatable. We should expect to be competitive in EVERY game this year, and have a right to be disappointed in a loss. We have reached that level.

Posted by Judge Keller on December 23, 2008 at 03:54 PM EST #

JWR
You may be right about my ACC comment if based on last year to this year. I intended to imply the ACC is down from years previous. FSU is more mature but based on PITT game look to be about as good as last year. Miami is not any better than last year. haven't seen MD. Wake is yet to prove they deserve the hype IMO. Duke looks vulnerable from what I have seen.

Posted by Rebel Yell on December 23, 2008 at 03:57 PM EST #

So basically, just like in football, Clemson can only be expected to do well when the conference is down.... not a lot to be proud of there.

Posted by RU4GOD2 on December 24, 2008 at 08:11 AM EST #

You don't remember pre-season national title talk? Really Mickey? You must be getting old...I PROMISE you heard that talk from callers to your show.

Posted by PokerTiger on December 24, 2008 at 08:46 AM EST #

12-4 is reality

Posted by butternut on December 25, 2008 at 07:03 PM EST #

Basketball might be the best thing we got going at Clemson now.Oliver is really building a strong program.We will have to wait and see how strong football can get under Dabo.