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Outlook For 2016 Men’s Basketball: Return of Blossomgame, reopening of Littlejohn good for Clemson basketball

Senior+forward+Jaron+Blossomgame+%285%29+has+decided+to+return+to+Clemson+for+his+final+season.
Ashley Stout, Contributor

Senior forward Jaron Blossomgame (5) has decided to return to Clemson for his final season.

With a new semester underway and a new football season already kicked off, it is never too early to start talking about basketball.
The big news this offseason for the Clemson Tigers men’s basketball team was the return of Jaron Blossomgame. Off the court, Blossomgame graduated this summer with his degree and his First Team All ACC selection. He looks to lead the Tigers this season.
Although Blossomgame will be the go-to guy this season, this may be one of the deepest teams Clemson has had in recent years so he will not go at it alone.
When asked about this year’s team, Blossomgame said, “It’s the most talented team I’ve been on.”
Taking a closer look at this year’s team, Clemson will be returning nine players from last year along with three transfers who had to sit out this past season, bringing the total to 12 players returning from last season’s team.
With the team being mostly made of upperclassmen, the Tigers are one of the most experienced teams in the ACC this upcoming season. Although experience doesn’t always translate into success, this year’s Clemson team will be hungry after finishing last season with a 17-14 record, 10-8 in ACC play.
The Tigers were up and down throughout the season last year, with big wins against Syracuse, Louisville, Duke and Miami but losing in a blowout to Georgia, and losing close games to Alabama, Virginia, NC State and Georgia Tech.
For Clemson to be a threat in the ACC to top contenders like Duke, UNC, NC State, Virginia, Syracuse and Florida State, the Tigers will need to be consistent.
One thing that will help the Tigers in consistency this season is the newly renovated Littlejohn Coliseum following the past season playing at Bon Secours Wellness Center in Greenville.
With Littlejohn now being complete, there is sure to be more students, fans and excitement in the stands to see the new arena and the Tigers in action.
This offseason Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports stated that “Brad Brownell led the Tigers to 10 ACC wins without a true home court advantage and he’ll have that and several other talented newcomers at his disposal next season.”
Clemson will be back in action against Georgia on Friday, November 11 for the first time in the newly renovated Littlejohn Coliseum, where they’ll be looking to build off of last year’s season.

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