Brownell, Tigers point to future

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell now turns his attention to next year when the Tigers will have 10 players on a squad that will be either sophomores or freshmen. Photo by Rex Brown

By Will Vandervort

CLEMSON — When looking at his team following last week’s loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament, Clemson Head Coach Brad Brownellfigured it was time for his team to rest. So with that, he and the rest of the coaching staff decided it was in the best interest of the program to close shop on the 2011-12 season and start building toward next year.

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No postseason for Tigers

Clemson guard Andre Smith (11) looks over the Virginia Tech defense during the second half of Thursday's loss to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Young scored 13 points and made three shots from behind the arc in his last game at Clemson. Photo by Rex Brown

Clemson says goodbye to its seniors

By Will Vandervort

CLEMSON — It came as no surprise that in the one moment it was okay for Tanner Smith to shed a tear or two, the Clemson senior did not.

Like he has all these years in supporting his father’s fight with cancer and with all the totes he has handed out as part of his Tanner’s Totes organization for kids that are fighting the same disease, Smith stood strong in the face of elimination following last Thursday’s first-round loss to Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament even though he knew his college basketball career was over.

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Coleman’s explosion a long time coming

Brad Brownell has been up front with fans and the media about his expectations of freshmen in year one of learning his system.

There aren’t any.

Because of the way the Clemson men’s basketball coach likes to play on both sides of the court, freshmen are not counted on to do very much in the Tiger program. The stat sheet reflects the reality, as no freshman scored as many as four points per game this season and none of the five first-year players were in the top five on the team in scoring average.

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Clemson’s season ends on missed opportunities

Clemson's Tanner Smith reacts as the horn goes off to end Clemson's 68-63 loss to Virginia Tech last Thursday in the first round of the ACC Tournament at Philips Arena in Atlanta. Photo by Rex Brown

By Will Vandervort

ATLANTA — There was not a word to be heard in the Clemson locker room following Thursday’s 68-63 loss to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC Tournament, other than the mumbled sounds of Tanner Smith and Andre Young as they talked to the members of the media who had to journey into the Tigers’ sanctuary.

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Tigers play Va. Tech in ACC Tournament

Clemson's Andre Young and Devin Coleman celebrate after the Tigers beat Virginia Tech last Thursday at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Tigers and Hokies will meet again this Friday in Atlanta in the first round of the ACC Tournament. Photo by Rex Brown

CLEMSON — It’s not where they wanted to be, but it’s where they are. After falling to No. 22 Florida State, 80-72, in the regular season finale Sunday, the Clemson men’s basketball team ended the ACC season in seventh place, meaning the Tigers will be the No. 7 seed in this week’s ACC Tournament in Atlanta.

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Brownell shares a special moment with his seniors

Clemson head coach Brad Brownell, center, with his four seniors: (left to right) Andre Young, Tanner Smith, Catalin (Bobo) Baciu and Bryan Narcisse. Photo by Rex Brown

By Will Vandervort

CLEMSON — The last time Brad Brownell shared anything with Tanner Smith and Andre Young was last October when he and his two seniors shared a car ride to Charlotte, NC while on their way to ACC Media Days.

Following Thursday’s 58-56 victory over Virginia Tech on Senior Night at Littlejohn Coliseum, Brownell shared the podium with his two captains – a moment he enjoyed by taking jabs at the two of them or by rubbing their heads or patting them on the back a time or two during the press conference.

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Freshman presence unmistakable on Senior Night

Clemson freshman Devin Coleman scored six points and had three steals in helping his senior teammates leave their Clemson careers at Littlejohn Coliseum on a winning note. Photo by Rex Brown

By William Qualkinbush

CLEMSON — Senior Night is, fittingly, about seniors. The presentations before the game honor their contributions over a four-year period. The fans applaud for a bit longer and with much enthusiasm for every play they make. If the game is out of hand either way at the end, the ceremony continues with a ritualistic removal from the game for each senior.

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Young’s threes in overtime rally Tigers past NC State

Clemson's Andre Young runs back up the court while fans at Littlejohn Coliseum celebrate his game-winning shot in the Tigers' 72-69 overtime victory against NC State on Saturday. Young made two threes in the final 73 seconds, his only two of the game, to lift the Tigers to an important ACC win. Photo by Rex Brown

By Will Vandervort

CLEMSON — Bernard Sullivan was not going to have any of it. Despite Andre Young’s pleas not to be carried off the court, the 6-foot-7, 225-pound Sullivan did it anyway, throwing the much smaller Young over his shoulder and carrying him off the court.

“I told him not to do it, but those freshmen are hardheaded,” Young said.

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