Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE: Clemson hoops poised for rise in 2009-10

CLEMSON -- When Clemson's Oliver Purnell talks about the Tigers reaching a higher level, pay attention.

Point guard Demontez Stitt found that out last week after the coach rappelled down from the Littlejohn Coliseum's rafters to kick off the team's fall camp.

"It was a surprise to me, I can tell you that," Stitt said of his camo-clad coach who expertly descended about 75 feet for his entrance to the team's Midnight Madness event earlier this month.

"It just shows that our program's really going to another level; coach's getting involved in everything," Stitt said. "It's been exciting since I've been here. Hopefully, we'll take it to another level this year."

Purnell has steadily increased Clemson's profile his first six seasons. The Tigers reached the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament finals in 2008, breaking a 46-year drought between appearances and went to the NCAA tournament the past two seasons - a back-to-back feat that hadn't been done in 11 years.

"It's certainly been tough in the ACC, at Clemson, getting our team to the top 25 and all of that, but it's been a lot of fun, and certainly we want to continue that fun this year," Purnell said. "And we want to continue the climb, because we feel we've got a lot of climbing left to do."

Most notably in finishing strong.

In 2007, the Tigers were the country's last undefeated team at 17-0, then lost nine of its next 11 to slide into the NIT. A year ago, Clemson followed its first run to the ACC tournament title game since 1962 by losing to 12th-seeded Villanova in the NCAAs.

Last winter, Clemson's highlight was a 74-47 victory over Duke at Littlejohn. The Tigers struggled at the end again, going 4-5 to finish the regular season. Then the team lost to last-place Georgia Tech in the ACC tournament's first round and bowed out quickly in the NCAAs with an opening game defeat against Michigan.

Stitt, a junior, said the Tigers were flying high after beating the Blue Devils and might have become complacent down the stretch.

"We let our guard down at the end of the season," Stitt said. "We sort of fell apart."

As point guard and one of four juniors and seniors in the Tigers regular rotation, Stitt knows it's on his shoulders to prevent such splintering this year.

"It's going to be a challenge, but I'm ready for it," Stitt said. "Ever since the last year, I've been hearing it from coach and I've even been hearing it from the players about stepping up into a leadership role."

The Tigers will need steadying with their two biggest outside threats from last season gone in K.C. Rivers and Terrence Oglesby. The two combined for about 60 percent (161 of 256) of Clemson's three-point baskets and more than a third of their points (27.4 combined average of Clemson's 78.3).

Also gone is starting center Raymond Sykes, who chipped in five rebounds a game last season.

Even without the 6-foot-9 Sykes, Clemson figures to have one of the strongest inside games in the ACC with 6-7 senior Trevor Booker as the centerpiece. He finished as the first player since Wake Forest's Tim Duncan in 1996-97 to lead the ACC in both field goal percentage and rebounding in the same season.

"I feel he is a legitimate all-America candidate and is one of the top players in a great league," Purnell said.

Add to that a group of newcomers that includes 6-9 Milton Jennings, Clemson first McDonald's All-American recruit in 18 years; former Southern Cal signee Noel Johnson; and Booker's "little" brother, 6-8 Devin.

Purnell says his goal this and every year is to win at a higher rate than the season before. "I think if we do that this year as we look around the ACC, we've got a chance to win it," he said. "I believe it. Our guys believe that. But we've got a lot of hard work."