Additions coming to Clemson's basketball facilities

Feb 5, 2023, 7:26 PM

I read where Littlejohn is set to have additions of another practice court, coaches offices, recruiting area, and nutritional area.

"Neff said the project’s primary purpose is to add an additional practice court that will essentially give the men’s and women’s teams their own courts. Swann Pavilion, a practice facility built as an add-on to Littlejohn Coliseum in 2016, has smaller side courts but just one full-sized practice court."

"With the school’s recent addition of a gymnastics program, Neff said an additional court was needed. Both basketball teams also practice inside Littlejohn Coliseum, which is where home gymnastics meets will be held once the program begins competition during the 2023-24 academic year."

"The project will also add a nutrition area and expand recruiting areas and coaches’ offices, which are housed inside Swann Pavilion."

It just strikes me Clemson spends a lot of money on redoing stuff that seemingly could have been anticipated with better planning on the front end. Clemson built the first practice facility at Littlejohn 2003 that was wholly inadequate and had to be torn down not too many years after it was built. It was replaced with the current facility in 2016. Could they not have anticipated it would be best to have a practice court for both the women's and men's program when the Swann Pavilion was built?

It seems they were relying on using the court in the Coliseum as a second full court for practice. I know they are saying this is needed now because the arena will soon be hosting gymnastic meets. But doesn't the arena host other events that could make the court unavailable for practice long before Clemson decided to add a gymnastic program.

They are also adding coaches offices and recruiting area. Again could this not have been anticipated in 2016 when the new Swann Pavilion was added?

I am happy to have great facilities for our basketball program. What seems wasteful to me is the approach that seems to cut corners on the front end only to have to redo the facilities not long after they are built.