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The Clemson Tigers are headed to the Sweet 16 for the second time in six seasons. The head coach for both of those trips? Brad Brownell.
Brownell can now call himself the only Clemson coach to lead his program to multiple Sweet 16s, and his players want the respect put on his name.
Many singled out a portion of Tiger fans who called for his job earlier this season.
Those unhappy supporters referenced inconsistency when spewing their vitriol as Brownell’s teams have seen ups and downs throughout his tenure (as most do!). Entering Year 14, the Tigers had been to three previous NCAA Tournaments with Brownell at the helm (last year’s 23-win team probably should’ve made it four but was snubbed).
Still, there were some who believed 2023-24 to be a make-or-break season with the talent his group possessed.
Loaded with veterans, Clemson cracked the Top 25 polls early in the year with a quick 11-1 start that included wins over eventual March Madness invitees Alabama and South Carolina.
That was followed by a few hiccups in ACC play.
The Tigers finished the year just 10-10 in their final 20 games, capped with a 21-point shellacking in the ACC Tournament at the hands of 11-seed Boston College.
After that setback, radio shows in upstate South Carolina erupted with reaction – with some going as far as to wish the Tigers an early NCAA Tournament exit in hopes that it would lead to Brownell’s firing.
But Brad Brownell reset after that loss while fans of the program reacted.
And it’s paid huge dividends!
Not listening to the outside noise, he’s never doubted the belief in his team. And after a pair of NCAA Tournament wins over three-seed Baylor and trendy pick New Mexico, no one else is doubting them either!
Clemson players were quick to single out some of those wavering Tiger fans who ripped their head coach just a few short weeks ago.
“I don’t usually do this — all those ‘Fire Brad’ guys … kiss it.”
Joe Girard and PJ Hall with 🎤 drops in the locker room after Brad Brownell became the first coach in @ClemsonMBB history to lead the Tigers to multiple Sweet 16s pic.twitter.com/J4O1yn1l1K
— Marc Whiteman (@MarcWYFFNews4) March 25, 2024
Star players PJ Hall and Joe Girard both came to Brownell’s defense, commending him on his leadership and knowledge as they continue their postseason push.
But while the coach is certainly getting his praise now – and rightfully so – he wants to see his next weekend be as enjoyable as his last.
Clemson will look to extend its season at least one more game in a matchup with two-seed Arizona on Thursday. An Elite Eight appearance is on the table, somewhere the Tigers have been only once in program history.