Clemson Men's Basketball Opens Season with Dominant Win
The Clemson Tigers showcased strong defense and balanced scoring in their season opener against the New Hampshire Wildcats, securing an 88-38 victory.
Defensive Prowess
Clemson’s defense was impressive, limiting New Hampshire to only one successful 3-point shot in the first half out of 18 attempts.
Balanced Offensive Effort
The Tigers distributed their offensive contributions widely, with 10 players logging at least 15 minutes on the court. Clemson scored 43 points in the first half, achieved by nine players, although none scored in double digits during that period.
Coach Brownell’s Strategic Rotation
Brad Brownell, head coach of Clemson, employed an early and extensive rotation strategy, pulling all five starters within the first five minutes and continuing to rotate players throughout the game.
Six players finished with between 7 and 11 points, and every player who played scored, except freshman Chase Thompson. In total, 12 players appeared, which is atypical for a Brownell-led team.
“I think you see that a lot of guys can contribute,” Brownell said. “I thought our starters did some really good things establishing the tone and the way we were gonna play.”
Top Performer
Redshirt freshman Ace Buckner led Clemson in scoring with 18 points in 20 minutes on the court.
Milestone Victory
The 50-point margin marked the largest season opening win in Coach Brownell’s tenure at Clemson.
Author’s summary: Clemson’s basketball team opened the season with a commanding win, driven by stout defense and a deep, well-utilized roster, highlighting contributions from nearly the entire squad.