Clemson begins a new season Monday night in Clemson, S.C., with the same destination in mind: another deep March push.
The Tigers are trying to build on the standard they set in 2024, when they reached the Elite Eight, even though the last two NCAA Tournaments have ended with first-round exits. Brad Brownell’s group enters this opener against Stetson with a mix of returning pieces and new faces, and the veteran coach believes there is more upside to come.
Clemson finished 24-11 last season and was picked to land sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference preseason poll. Even with standout big man Carter Welling unavailable after a March knee injury, the roster still carries plenty of punch. Welling averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds a year ago and is expected back around the start of conference play.
Ace Buckner returns after averaging 8.3 points, and the transfer class adds several more scoring options. Cole Certa arrives from Notre Dame after putting up 12.8 points per game and shooting 37.4% from 3-point range.
Dylan Faulkner comes over after posting 17.2 points and 8.6 rebounds at Samford. Liutauras Lelevicius also joins the mix after scoring 8.0 points per game at TCU while hitting 38.0% of his 3s.
That group had some time to start building chemistry during a 3-0 trip to Italy over the summer.
"We have been battling some injuries this summer," Brownell said. "So we're probably a little bit behind schedule ... but I think we've got great potential."
Stetson, meanwhile, comes in off a 12-21 season and is still trying to regain the footing it had when it reached the NCAA Tournament in 2024. Donnie Jones’ team showed some fight in an exhibition against preseason No. 1 Florida on Tuesday, trailing by only two at halftime before losing 85-68.
The Hatters lean on Collin Kuhl, who averaged 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds last season and was named the preseason Atlantic Sun Player of the Year. Alex Doyle provided a spark in the Florida exhibition by knocking down six 3-pointers, while FIU transfer Thiago Sucatzky matched that output and led Stetson with 18 points.
"We are excited about the challenge in front of us," Jones said. "It will be one of the toughest non-conference schedules in college basketball, but we see that as an opportunity to grow, test ourselves and prepare for what we know will be another demanding ASUN season."
In Other News...
Clemsons Offensive Mess May Not Be On Chad Morris After All
The conversation around Clemsons offense has turned into a familiar one, but Eric Mac Lain is pushing back on the easy explanation. The former Tigers player and current ACC Network analyst says the struggles are less about offensive coordinator Chad Morris and more about the way the unit is executing on the field, with breakdowns up front and around the passing game making everything look harder than it should.
Mac Lain also points to the situation at quarterback as part of the problem, saying freshman Tait Reynolds is being asked to start before he is ready because of injuries and a lack of transfer options. He says the offensive line has regressed in a major way, with communication and physical play both becoming issues, while the receivers are limited by an attack that is not giving them much help. [Read more 🡒]
Clemson Still Needs One Piece For Tait Reynolds To Find Rhythm
Freshman wide receiver Gordon Sellars III was sidelined last week with a concussion, and his status for Clemsons game against Florida State is still up in the air. The Tigers also have seven other players listed out, which was expected, but Sellars availability carries a different kind of weight because of what it means for the passing game and for quarterback Tait Reynolds as he keeps settling into the offense.
Reynolds has been asked to grow up quickly, and having another young target available would give him one more reliable option as Clemson tries to find a steadier rhythm through the air. If Sellars can return, it would give the Tigers a useful boost in both depth and timing, especially in a matchup where every rep matters for a quarterback still building comfort and confidence. [Read more 🡒]
Dillon Hunter Just Put Clemsons Backcourt In A Tense Spot
Dillon Hunters status has quietly become one of the more complicated offseason questions around Clemsons backcourt. The point guard is currently ineligible to play because of a stay granted by a Georgia appellate court in the Godfrey v. NCAA case, but he has now chosen to remove himself from that lawsuit and look for another path to eligibility. For Clemson, it leaves a point guard who is still on campus, still practicing and still part of the programs daily work, even if he cannot take the floor right now.
Brad Brownell confirmed the situation without getting into the legal weeds, which is about all a coach can do when the issue is working its way through the courts. Hunter may end up pursuing eligibility through another route, including the Williams lawsuit in Texas, but for now the Tigers are left waiting on a resolution that could shape how their backcourt looks once the season picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]