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The Clemson Tigers are headed to the Candy 16 for the second time in six seasons. The top coach for each of these journeys? Brad Brownell.
Brownell can now name himself the one Clemson coach to guide his program to a number of Candy 16s, and his gamers need the respect placed on his title.
Many singled out a portion of Tiger followers who referred to as for his job earlier this season.
These sad supporters referenced inconsistency when spewing their vitriol as Brownell’s groups have seen ups and downs all through his tenure (as most do!). Getting into 12 months 14, the Tigers had been to 3 earlier NCAA Tournaments with Brownell on the helm (final 12 months’s 23-win group in all probability ought to’ve made it 4 however was snubbed).
Nonetheless, there have been some who believed 2023-24 to be a make-or-break season with the expertise his group possessed.
Loaded with veterans, Clemson cracked the Prime 25 polls early within the 12 months with a fast 11-1 begin that included wins over eventual March Insanity invitees Alabama and South Carolina.
That was adopted by just a few hiccups in ACC play.
The Tigers completed the 12 months simply 10-10 of their closing 20 video games, capped with a 21-point shellacking within the ACC Match by the hands of 11-seed Boston School.
After that setback, radio reveals in upstate South Carolina erupted with response – with some going so far as to want the Tigers an early NCAA Match exit in hopes that it could result in Brownell’s firing.
However Brad Brownell reset after that loss whereas followers of this system reacted.
And it’s paid enormous dividends!
Not listening to the skin noise, he’s by no means doubted the assumption in his group. And after a pair of NCAA Match wins over three-seed Baylor and classy choose New Mexico, nobody else is doubting them both!
Clemson gamers have been fast to single out a few of these wavering Tiger followers who ripped their head coach just some brief weeks in the past.
“I don’t often do that — all these ‘Hearth Brad’ guys … kiss it.”
Joe Girard and PJ Corridor with ???? drops within the locker room after Brad Brownell grew to become the primary coach in @ClemsonMBB historical past to guide the Tigers to a number of Candy 16s pic.twitter.com/J4O1yn1l1K
— Marc Whiteman (@MarcWYFFNews4) March 25, 2024
Star gamers PJ Corridor and Joe Girard each got here to Brownell’s protection, commending him on his management and data as they proceed their postseason push.
However whereas the coach is definitely getting his reward now – and rightfully so – he desires to see his subsequent weekend be as pleasing as his final.
Clemson will look to increase its season a minimum of yet another recreation in a matchup with two-seed Arizona on Thursday. An Elite Eight look is on the desk, someplace the Tigers have been solely as soon as in program historical past.
