Clemson Tigers (22-12, 9-7)
Projected starting five:
Sr. G Andre Young
Sr. G Tanner Smith
Sr. F Bryan Narcisse
Jr. F Milton Jennings
Jr. F Devin Booker
Important departures:
Demontez Stitt: 14.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.3 apg
Jerai Grant: 12.4 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.8 apg
Percent returning scoring and rebounding:
Scoring: 57.7 percent
Rebounding: 66.1 percent
Additions:
Bernard Sullivan, No. 83 Rivals.com and ESPNU four-star freshman power forward from Davidson, N.C.
Schedule highlights:
Best non-conference game: at Arizona
Toughest conference stretch: Jan. 31-Feb. 4 (at Virginia, at Virginia Tech)
Outlook:
Clemson returns a very talented lineup and faces a relatively favorable conference schedule that should help the Tigers return to the NCAA Tournament this season. The Tigers must replace the contributions of Demontez Stitt in the backcourt and Jerai Grant in the frontcourt. However, their absence will give Tanner Smith and Milton Jennings a chance to shine this year.
In addition to Jennings and Smith, coach Brad Brownell will count on Devin Booker to anchor the Tigers’ offense. Booker was second on the team in rebounds last year, and he’ll need to continue to grab six to eight rebounds per game while boosting his 8.1 ppg closer to 12 or 13 ppg.
