Tigers seek fast start against Blue Hose

By Sports Network
The Sports Network
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The 24th-ranked Clemson Tigers have won 26 straight games in the month of November and they should have no trouble continuing that run against the Presbyterian Blue Hose tonight at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Under head coach Oliver Purnell, Clemson has enjoyed several fast starts to a season and it hasn't dropped a game in the month of November since 2004. The Tigers are also coming off three straight 20-win campaigns and enter this season with lofty expectations. Clemson, which earned a ranking in the preseason poll for the first time since 1997, returns a wide variety of talent from last year's 23-win club, giving it the opportunity for another successful campaign.

As for PC, it went 12-17 overall and 9-9 in the Big South in 2008-09 under the direction of head coach Gregg Nibert. The Blue Hose are in their third year of the NCAA Division I transition process and won't be eligible for the postseason until the 2011-12 season. With that said, coach Nibert and his staff decided to redshirt the team's top three players, so they would be around for the 2011-12 campaign, leaving PC with one of the youngest and least experienced squads around.

PC and Clemson are meeting for the 74th time, with the Tigers holding a 54-18-1 edge in the rivalry, including five straight wins.

As mentioned early, PC decided to redshirt its top three performers from a year ago, leaving gaping holes to be filled. Juniors Al'Lonzo Coleman, Josh Johnson and Pierre Miller combined for nearly 33 ppg in 2008-09, but they have been redshirted to benefit the program in the long run. Kevin Davis, a sophomore that saw limited time a year ago, will now be asked to take on a starting role in the backcourt after averaging just 4.6 minutes per game a year ago. A pair of freshman in Khalid Mutakabbir and Travis Smith will also be counted on to produce immediately at the perimeter. In the frontcourt, Chase Holmes will assume a starting role after a solid rookie campaign in which he averaged 7.8 ppg. Walt Allen sat out last season and is looking to make an impact in his return, and freshman Jake Troyli will see plenty of time in the frontcourt as well.

The Tigers lost three productive starters from a year ago, but the cupboard is by no means empty. Trevor Booker is one of several talents that will help overcome the team's losses and the 6-7, 240-pound forward is a double-double threat every night. Last season, Booker led the team in both scoring (15.3 ppg) and rebounding (9.7 rpg), while also providing a presence on defense, recording 47 steals and 63 blocks. Joining him in the front will be David Potter and Jerai Grant. The 6-6 Potter provided 4.9 ppg and energy off the bench last season, while the 6-8 Grant is a good athlete that netted 4.7 ppg a year ago. At the perimeter, Demontez Stitt returns to his starting role and he chipped in 8.7 ppg, while running the offense, with 3.8 apg. Tanner Smith averaged 3.6 ppg and showed potential as a freshman last season and he will assume a larger role this time around.