And Now The Questions Begin

Clemson basketball’s offseason could be as much of a roller-coaster ride as any during Oliver Purnell’s tenure.

A second half of ACC play in which the team seemed to have issues offensively will obviously be evaluated.

Is Terrence Oglesby’s role in need of an adjustment? Were some of those late season meetings the team held prior to the NCAA Tourney targeted to a player or two who’d flocked from the reservation and is Oglesby one of those players?

With three recruits coming in who are each expected to make an immediate contribution it will be interesting to see how the coach tweaks things.

One thing for certain is that some changes will be have to be made to the offense so that undersized big man Trevor Booker is given more ability to get open in the paint against the bigger teams. That was a critical flaw with the ballclub this season.

I also think you’ll see quite a battle early next season at the point guard spot as freshman Andre Young showed as the season went along that his game is more complete than starter Demontez Stitt. Stitt is a better penetrator but Young is adequate and is a significantly better outside shooter and slightly better defender than Stitt.

Will David Potter or Tanner Smith be given a chance to start, especially in place of Oglesby? And Jerai Grant has likely earned the starting role vacated by Raymond Sykes graduation but is he a 30-minute player?

They have a seven-footer, Bobo Baciu, who rode the bench most of the season but they’ll be compelled to further develop his skills as you need that kind of size in this league.

Those are just a few of the questions that the head coach and his staff have likely been pondering since the final buzzer against Michigan.

A question that could be posted to Clemson’s administration is will others with an opening be coming hard after their head coach? Three straight 20-plus wins seasons and back-to-back NCAA Tourney appearances look good on any resume especially when you’ve proved you can win at each stop, which Purnell has. It goes without saying what that could mean in tough economic times.

While this season took on a much different look over the final four weeks and then ended much more abruptly than many expected it would back in early February the months ahead could provide their own share of madness and this particular “bracket” could have a much different look on the other side of it.