One opportunity lost, underrated Clemson looks to get it right
Hello NIT.
So yeah, the 2006-2007 season was a big disappointment at Clemson, at least the roller-coaster aspect of it. But anybody who takes the time to take a closer look will quickly realize how close it was to being much different. In fact, if you're willing to let me reverse two strokes of luck -- just two moments from a season of countless moments -- I can easily change two Clemson losses into two wins and transform a season of sorrow into one of celebration while making a convincing argument this is a program that could've entered this season ranked in the top 15 of every major poll.
Just hear me out.
Take away the malfunction by the clock operator at Duke, and Clemson forces the Blue Devils to overtime on Jan. 25 and likely wins, if momentum is any indication. Take away a blown 16-point lead in the second half, and Clemson beats Virginia three days later.
I'm not asking for a huge leap of faith, am I?
Both those things could've easily gone that way.
And if they would've, the Tigers would've entered Selection Sunday with no worse than a 23-8 record that included a 9-7 mark in the ACC, which would've certainly been good enough to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament. For the sake of argument, I'll avoid any kind of magical run to the Sweet 16, just concede Clemson would've then lost in the first round as a seven, eight or nine seed. It doesn't matter. Because regardless of how things would've turned out, the Tigers would now be known as an NCAA Tournament team returning four of five starters and nine of its top 10 scorers, giving them credentials similar to those of Louisville, Washington State, Marquette and Stanford.
Those are four consensus top 15 teams.
But you won't find Clemson in anybody's top 15.
And the reason, quite simply, is because the perception of Clemson basketball is shaped by last season's collapse, one that wouldn't seem so bad if the previously mentioned things went its way instead of the other way. That's the difference between preseason hype and preseason indifference, and it's a constant theme around Littlejohn Coliseum, where the Tigers returned to individual workouts Thursday afternoon following three days off after that Labor Day trip.
"People who take the time to look at last season know, but everybody doesn't take the time to look at it," Clemson coach Oliver Purnell said. "But it's important for me to not worry about how people remember last season and just look at what is. We've got four starters back. We've got loads of experience and a good group of freshmen. But we still have to prove it."
Indeed they do. But proving it doesn't mean another 17-0 start, mind you, because it's possible the Tigers could begin much worse even if they're much better thanks to non-conference games at Mississippi State and Alabama. Which is fine, because it doesn't really matter how Clemson starts anyway considering anything great will be dismissed as being just like last season, and nothing more.
If Clemson wants to be viewed fondly, it must string wins late instead of early. Everybody knows that. But on paper there's a strong indication this team with two senior starters is capable of competing with Duke, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech for the right to be labeled the second-best team in the ACC behind North Carolina, and so now they just have to go do it and make the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1998.
"That's the goal," said James Mays, a 6-9 forward who averaged 12.2 points and 6.4 rebounds last season. "We have to go to the NCAA Tournament, and then we don't just want to get there, we want to get there and compete and show the country we are a team to be reckoned with because right now we can't control what people think of us, but we still know we can be a great team."
