Tuesday March 18, 2008

How Did He Do It?

How Did He Do It?
What Oliver Purnell has done to the Clemson basketball program is nothing short of amazing. So, it is worth examining just how he accomplished this feat and what is ahead.

First I think it needs to be looked at on the conference scene and the national scene.

Clemson has been a difficult job and one of the reasons is a lack of tradition. However, there are other examples out there today of schools with very little basketball tradition that have made a run recently. The best examples of this are Tennessee, Wisconsin, Butler, Xavier, Drake, Vanderbilt and Washington State. All of those programs finished in the top 25 despite a lack of tradition.

It should also be pointed out that most of the schools in the top 25 have negatives about their program and issues that make job a challenge. With the exception of North Carolina, Duke, Indiana, Kentucky, Kansas, UCLA and a couple of other schools, many face difficult situations in certain areas.

Memphis, Butler, Xavier, Drake, Gonzaga and Davidson do not play in a major conference. Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Washington State have very little tradition. Stanford and Vanderbilt have extremely difficult academic requirements.

Clemson is a rural school in a small state and that presents more problems in basketball than football but I think there is another similar school that seems to have done well recently. Clemson and Virginia Tech look like the same program because the Hokies have the same challenges. The Hokies seem to play extremely hard though and their scrappy nature is exactly what Clemson has portrayed at times under Purnell.

I am a firm believer that you can win anywhere despite the uphill battles. Tech and Clemson will not win too many recruiting battles against North Carolina but they can play as hard or harder. The can project as well and evaluate as well. The Tar Heels sign players that my mother could tell are great players in high school. Clemson and Tech have to project but it is not impossible.

On the conference scene Clemson has shown consistent improvement and they have taken advantage of other programs’ issues. Georgia Tech has had instability because they recruit high profile athletes that have options to go to the NBA early. Last year Georgia Tech lost two players to the NBA after only one season in Atlanta.

Miami and Florida State have had bad facilities and a lack of interest because each is a football power. Miami has built a new building and is in the NCAA tournament but the Noles and Canes still have a lack of interest in their fan bases.

Boston College has issues and the transition to the ACC is a geographical reach. Virginia has had a lack of stability in coaching staffs. Wake Forest had a tragedy in its staff. NC State has stagnated and appears to still have coaching issues.

The one I can’t figure out is Maryland. The Terps have a great tradition and a terrific facility. Few schools across the country have the fan support Maryland has in basketball. They have a top-notch coach and an incredible recruiting base. How Maryland has fallen is beyond me but Clemson is a benefactor.

It has also helped Clemson locally that South Carolina has not been a recruiting force locally. Clemson does not recruit the state exclusively but it is nice to have Trevor Booker and Sam Perry.

How has Purnell pulled of this incredible accomplishment?

*I think he has done it by being himself. There are no smoke and mirrors. He is a positive personality and that resonates throughout his team and program.

*He has also been very consistent in his style and his message. Clemson plays a 94-foot game by being able to pressure the ball in a full court defense and push the tempo offensively.

*He has branded Clemson basketball to prospects. Players looking at Clemson know what to expect from the program. They know that if they come to Clemson they will play in a fast-paced offense and defense. They will able to run the floor and play in a fun system.

*He has changed the image of Clemson basketball. The program is receiving national respect from ESPN analysts and former and current coaches. I mentioned in yesterday’s blog how nice it was to hear such kind words about the Clemson program this past weekend from the likes of Bobby Knight, Mike Krzyzewski and Roy Williams.

*Purnell and his staff have given a consistent message to potential recruits and have been able to show them tangible evidence of improvement each year. It is easy to tell recruits what they can expect if they come to your school but most still want to see it. Thousands of coaches for many years have made promises to prospects but have not been able to follow through with results. Purnell and his crew can show players what they have done as opposed to telling them what they want to do.

So we have seen former Clemson teams make decent runs and have short-terms of success but can the program go to new heights and can they sustain success longer?

The task is still tough but much less difficult than when Purnell first took over. The ACC has not been at its peak in recent years but this morning on my radio show Ken Tysiacs of the Charlotte Observer said he expects six teams in the league to be down next year. Duke, UNC, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech are not in that six but Clemson definitely has a chance to add another good year in the conference to the resume.

The key is recruiting. UNC won Sunday because they signed Tyler Hansbrough, Wayne Ellington and Ty Lawson a couple of years ago. Clemson can continue to improve the program by signing the same type of players currently in the system but a marquee player or two would help the Tigers get to the next level.

The fans can continue to improve the program by showing more support for the program and the administration can continue the improvement by continuing to support Purnell with a new contract.

I am not sure Clemson can sustain the program at its current level or if the Tigers can elevate to another level. I just know I don’t want to have to try without Oliver Purnell at the helm.

864-834-6060

The Brad Hughes All-State Insurance Agency