Re: The hatred for Brownell is baffling...

easleytigr · 2025-03-22T12:58:05.851Z

I want to ask you, why? Some will say, he cant coach. That's laughable... He's sent guys to the NBA, developed players into pivotal roles playing in the ACC that were not even ready to step on the floor as freshmen. He's brought players to Clemson from other D1 schools that could have chosen to go anywhere but chose here. Some will say he gets consistently outcoached or cant win the big game... umm, over the last several years we have beaten Duke, UNC, Kentucky, Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, Arizona, etc. and has knocked off legendary coaches left and right. We also have won 5 straight games vs top 5 teams, so that argument is out. Some will say, hes not tough and hes just a nice guy.... If you talk to actual basketball people and see practices, he's as hard nosed as it gets and demands excellence from players. He consistently coaches our best players hard and gets in their faces when they don't perform. We ALL are disappointed we lost to Mcneese. We didnt perform well and he could have done more to help us overcome the terrible start, but... At the end of the day, he wins. At the end of the day, he graduates players. At the end of the day, he puts us on the national stage. (top 15, elite 8, sweet 16, etc.) At the end of the day, he adapts and has used the portal as well as anyone. At the end of the day, he represents our school with class. At the end of the day, he LOVES Clemson.

I grew up in VA and followed ACC basketball including MD, NCSU, UNC, other ACC programs, and college hoops heavily from 10 yrs old. Applied to and went to Clemson for two main reasons - ACC Basketball and warm weather. What a great school! What great people! It was so much more than I could have ever dreamed it could be.

Started at Clemson in 1979, enjoyed Tigers under Bill Foster winning every home game in 1979-80 including thriller vs. #1 Duke. Attended (almost) all basketball games as an undergrad arriving early. Pulled hard for the team against Gmniski, Worthy, Jordan, Bias and so many stars. I've attended countless NCAA Sweet 16's, opening rounds, ACC tournaments and three Final Fours (Duke over Fab Five in Mn/StP, UNC/Montross win in New Orleans, UCLA in Seattle). Supported the Tigers in Ellis and Purnell eras.

I know basketball and after 3 years of watching Brownell and the team consistently implode in big games and big moments of games, I saw a pattern of a boring style of play, a lack of motivation from the coach, and confusion among the players resulting in unexplainable play in big and new situations.

From a distance, I saw it in the NIT home loss a few years ago and the 1st half complete lack of player interest vs. McNeese State. The team and the coach have improved over 15-16 years at Clemson, but the pattern continues.

Props to Judge and all who support the hoops team through thick and thin every year and best wishes to the program. But for 12 years, I have been out on basketball. 45+ years following graduation, I remain all in on football, soccer, softball and golf. Excited for lacrosse and gymnastics. Go Tigers!

OIBTiger3

Team Captain [473]

TigerPulse: 83%

Posts: 607

Joined: 2012

Mar 22, 2025, 10:26 AM

easleytigr®

While everything you stated is absolutely true and no doubt he should receive credit, support, and appreciation for all of those things...there is one caveat...

If football or baseball were to have the same resume as our basketball program has, even over the past 5 years, would we still have the same coach in either sport???

Are we serious about being the BEST in everything or are we ok with being decent to good in basketball only??? Sure hes done some things that basketball has never accomplished but weve also had years where our basketball team accomplished greater feats than he has in 15 years.

Hes good...there is no doubt...but at some point we have to the same expectations for basketball as we do football and baseball or just admit we are ok with being good to decent to mediocre most years!!!

Now ill admit our basketball job is much tougher than the other two jobs traditionally but still...he has been here 15 years and no regular season ACC championship, no tourney Championship, and makes the NCAA about 1 out of every 3 years!

Is that what we deem as Best??? Are we serious about being the Best in all??? Are we committed to it in basketball as fans, as an athletic department, as a university??? Or are we ok with basketball just being a placeholder between football and baseball seasons??? Thats what our track record indicates!!!

Pretty sure the SEC or someone made Auburn, Bama, Tenn, ole miss etc start caring and making it a priority with high expectations...they didnt just settle for UK, Arkansas, Fla being the elite...no reason why we cant do the same if we truly want that...otherwise lets accept being fair to midland with some good years because thats what weve been doing for 15 years now and probably for the entire history of our program!!!

Just food for thought!!!

flag link

military_tech

thumb_down

thumb_up

The hatred for Brownell is baffling...

Exactly. Haters gonna hate, it's easier to do.***