Clemson's in Cali to legitimize November reign

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Everywhere you look -- on the Web, in the local newspaper, on Page 1 of the school's official game notes -- there's a passage detailing how Clemson has won 30 consecutive games in November, unofficially making the Tigers one of the nation's best early season teams.

Or so it seems.

But a closer look shows Clemson's string of November wins is a lot like that 53-game home winning streak BYU carried well into last season, in that the details are mostly unimpressive. BYU never played a ranked opponent in that streak, just like Clemson hasn't played a ranked opponent in this streak. And that's partly why the next four days are huge for the Tigers, because they've traveled 2,300 miles here, to the home of Disneyland and Vladimir Guerrero, to try to add substance to their November streak and quiet some critics along the way.

The Clemson Tigers are good.

They know they're good.

But they also know much of the nation -- particularly fans of other schools -- don't completely take them seriously, even though they have an All-ACC performer (Trevor Booker) and McDonald's All-American (Milton Jennings) in the frontcourt, a third-year point guard (Demontez Stitt) in the backcourt, and one of the nation's more consistently solid coaches (Oliver Purnell) on the bench. Put those same characters in Tar Heel blue, and they get the benefit of the doubt. But Clemson's inability to advance in the NCAA tournament has folks skeptical despite three consecutive seasons of at least 23 wins, and perhaps for good reason.

Either way, that can all change over this Thanksgiving holiday.

The 19th-ranked Tigers open the eight-team 76 Classic with Texas A&M on Thursday, where a win would bring a probable game with No. 8 West Virginia on Friday, then a possible championship game with No. 12 Butler on Sunday. In other words, if people are talking Monday about how Clemson has now won 33 consecutive November games, nobody will question the Tigers any longer.

Running this streak to 33 November wins would be undeniably impressive.

Clemson's Trevor Booker: 'I just hope the other teams are ready to play. Because we're bringing it.' (US Presswire)

It could cause some to wonder if an ACC title is possible.

"If we do get it done it will quiet the skeptics for a while, but until we make a run deep into the NCAA tournament they're going to always be there," Purnell said during a break from dinner Tuesday night. "But I do look at this as an opportunity to showcase our program, showcase our style of play, and then find out some things about our basketball team. I think we will be pretty good. The question is are we pretty good now? I think we'll find out in this tournament."

The key to a nice run in this tournament is Booker, a 6-foot-7 forward who is the best college big man not enough people know about. He's kind of short for his position, not too fancy. But Booker is physical and tenacious around the basket, always dunks like he's trying to break something. He's averaging 13.8 points and 10.0 rebounds in Clemson's 4-0 start. He's the biggest concern Thursday for Mark Turgeon, who is probably a win or two in this event away from getting his Aggies into the Top 25.

"Obviously, Booker in the middle is quite a player," Turgeon said. "Tough matchup. Not very tall, but just real strong and quick and fast. Knows how to play. ... And the thing that makes him special is how quick he jumps, how explosive he is. ... He's a great athlete, explosive, and he looks like he's having a lot of fun out there."

But that fun will turn to frustration if Clemson doesn't leave California with a nice showing. The goal is three more November wins and a 76 Classic championship, though 2-1 would be respectable given the strength of the field. But anything less than that, and the skeptics will have additional ammo. Avoiding that scenario should be, and is, a motivating factor.

"I know some people say we play a bunch of easy teams early in the season, and that's why we have such a good record," Booker said. "I recognize it, and I think my teammates also recognize it. So we're definitely coming out here with something to prove, and I just hope the other teams are ready to play. Because we're bringing it."