Tigers' hardcourt step back won't last long

BLACKSBURG, Va. — 22 games into the 2011-12 season, Brad Brownell’s second Clemson men’s basketball team is 11-11. 3-5 in ACC play.

They’re the very definition of average, and unless the Tigers go on a miraculous run at next month’s ACC Tournament, the program-best streak of four consecutive NCAA Tournaments will come to an end this year.

Only the least knowledgeable of fans would begrudge Brownell for not pushing this team into the field of 68 this March.

After watching him for the better part of two seasons: I’ve come to a conclusion: the man can coach.

Clemson fans are better off taking a deep breath and having a little patience, considering what Oliver Purnell left behind when he bolted for DePaul two years ago.

A year ago, Brownell took a team that lost two guards to transfer in December and a one-man recruiting class (guard Cory Stanton, who has since wound up at Tennessee via Lipscomb) and brought home the program’s first NCAA win since 1997.

This year, he has four seniors, two juniors and five freshmen (all of whom are learning on the job).

He has good pieces, but here’s the problem: they never seem to be working on the same night.

Maybe one night, Andre Young is pouring in 3-pointers. Another night? He misses a last-second look to tie at No.16 Virginia.

Freshman guards T.J. Sapp, Rod Hall and K.J. McDaniels have all had their moments this season – McDaniels carried Clemson with a career-high 14 points and eye-popping athletic moves Saturday – but they’re all inconsistent. For all McDaniels’ ‘wow’ moments, he’ll remember missing two free throws down two with 3.3 seconds left.

Freshman forward Bernard Sullivan has excellent range and athleticism, but is only now conquering asthma issues which have limited his playing time.

Young and fellow senior Tanner Smith are both capable of carrying a team on a given night – and they’re both fine young men and true examples of student-athletes – but neither is a go-to player.

The one five-star talent that Purnell left behind – junior forward Milton Jennings – is a mercurial player currently serving an indefinite suspension for academic reasons.

Still, Brownell’s teams almost always play excellent defense. And they never, ever give up.

In 56 games under Brownell, the Tigers’ largest margin of defeat is 13 points – to UTEP in Hawaii’s Diamond Head Classic.

They’ve lost by double digits just four times under his watch.

They’re clearly on the right track.

A solid recruiting class – led by Rivals 150 prospects in forward Jaron Blossomgame and guard Adonis Filer – will help tremendously.

And anyone who thinks Brownell and his staff can’t develop players should pay attention to the progress made by senior center Bobo Baciu. Written off as a recruiting bust, Baciu has developed into a serviceable post man in the waning moments of his career.

Just think about what Brownell can do with players he actually recruits.

This year has been a step back for Clemson hoops. It won’t last long.