Tigers look to overcome inexperience

TAMPA, FLA. — Playing its first NCAA Tournament game in a decade tonight against Villanova, Clemson will be facing a team that's in the tournament a fourth straight year.

If the No. 5 seed Tigers are fortunate enough to advance, they stand a good chance of facing Vanderbilt. The fourth-seeded Commodores have five seniors who were on the team that advanced to the Round of 16 a year ago.

John Raoux/AP

Clemson guard Cliff Hammonds passes the ball around teammate Demontez Stitt (2) during a scrimmage at NCAA Midwest Regional basketball practice in Tampa, Fla. The Tigers play Villanova tonight.

In that context, it's reasonable to theorize that Clemson's lack of NCAA experience could put the No. 22 Tigers at a disadvantage. The Tigers understand the logic, but they're not necessarily buying into it. Actually, they're definitely not buying into it.

Clemson plays No. 12 seed Villanova tonight at St. Pete Times Forum, 30 minutes following the conclusion of Vanderbilt's game against No. 13 seed Siena.

"These are experienced teams," said sophomore center Trevor Booker, "but we're an experienced team, period. Not just in the tournament, but we're an experienced team and we're very confident right now. Even if these teams have experience, we won't back down from anybody."

The last time Clemson was in the NCAA Tournament, Tommy West was still the Tigers' football coach. The Clintons were still in the White House. And Clemson's basketball program was still considered a force under Rick Barnes, who bolted for Texas after guiding the program to three consecutive NCAA appearances.

After nine seasons of mediocrity and worse — much worse — fifth-year coach Oliver Purnell has the Tigers (24-9) back to being relevant and respected. After last week's run to the ACC Tournament final, Clemson's first appearance there in 46 years, the Tigers are a popular pick to make an extended run in the 65-team tournament.

But just how important is experience in this setting? Will Villanova be able to draw on it tonight if the game is close late, managing to produce a key basket or a defensive stop?

Senior guard Cliff Hammonds doesn't think so.

"Through the course of the season we've played tournament-worthy teams and teams that are in the tournament," he said. "We've proven well against those teams. We've been in tournament atmospheres and tournament situations, late-game situations where the score is tied or it's a close game."

Purnell, who has yet to win an NCAA Tournament game in three appearances with Dayton (2003, 2000) and Old Dominion (1992), said ordinarily a team's lack of experience could present problems. But he thinks the Tigers have been extraordinarily prepared for this setup.

Last year, Clemson fell short of the NCAAs but proceeded to advance to the NIT final before losing to West Virginia. This year, the Tigers went to the ACC Tournament in Charlotte and flourished in the tournament setting. After a 34-point quarterfinal trouncing of Boston College, they upset Duke in the semifinals before falling five points shy against No. 1 North Carolina in the final.

"We've been on the big stage, and we've handled the pressure," Purnell said. "I don't think it is an advantage."

Clemson's leading scorer, junior wing K.C. Rivers, embraced the big-game setting in the loss to the Tar Heels by scoring 28 points, knocking down six 3-pointers and pulling down eight rebounds. He said last weekend's experience will translate once the Tigers take the floor tonight.

"The ACC Tournament has that (NCAA) Tournament vibe," he said. "The loser goes home. Now you get that same mentality here. We're used to it. I don't think experience plays a factor at all."

Despite recent history, Villanova isn't exactly drenched with NCAA Tournament experience. The Wildcats have no seniors, and seven guys on the roster are first- or second-year players.

If tournament experience does afford advantages, Purnell and his players are confident they can offset them with their style of play. Clemson's extensive use of the full-court press is a big reason the Tigers rank third nationally in steals with 9.9 per game, and it could serve them well with little time for opponents to prepare for it.

"If we're able to get into our press, we're going to shock a lot of people," said senior forward James Mays. "I don't think anybody in the country plays defense like we play it the whole game."

And not many teams have gone this long without partaking in the madness of March. But the Tigers, who have won five of seven, say that will matter little when they end that long drought tonight.

"At this point in the season, there are no records," Rivers said. "The seeds play no factor. It's just a matter of who wants it more. Who wants to win and advance?"

Reach Larry Williams at lwilliams@postandcourier.com and check out the new Clemson blog at charleston.net/blogs/ tiger_tracks/