Tigers always trust Brownell’s preparation will give them chance to win

photo by: Nick Krug

Clemson guard Gabe DeVoe (10), Clemson forward David Skara (24) and Clemson guard Marcquise Reed prepare to run through a drill during a practice on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Neb.

Omaha, Neb. — Through the course of any given season, when Clemson coach Brad Brownell isn’t preparing his Tigers for the next opponent on their schedule, he inevitably checks in on other college basketball games.

During the past several months it wasn’t uncommon for Brownell to find himself watching Kansas, his Tigers’ Sweet 16 opponent Friday night at CenturyLink Center.

“I’ve seen them because they’re on TV so much. And again I watch games a lot. So I had seen them play multiple Big 12 games,” Brownell said. “I don’t sit there and watch from start to finish. But I’ll peek at games that interest me for 20, 30 minutes a night and just kind of follow some things.”

As a result, Brownell had a bit of a scouting report on coach Bill Self’s top-seeded Jayhawks long before he even knew they would be in the same NCAA Tournament region as No. 5 seed Clemson (25-9).

“And so I kind of had known that he was playing four guards and they were doing a mix of some dribble-drive and some pick-and-roll and really spacing the floor,” Brownell said. “And I think it’s just really good stuff. He’s done a terrific job of figuring out the best way to use his personnel.”

As Clemson’s eighth-year coach really dove into more thorough review of the Jayhawks this week, he saw a refined version of what he had casually observed earlier this year.

“They just look like, in the last couple of weeks, that they’re playing really high-level basketball,” Brownell said.

The Tigers, coming off a 31-point throttling of Auburn, seem to be clicking, as well. Junior guard Shelton Mitchell said Brownell has made that possible.

“He’s intense,” Mitchell said, when asked to describe his coach’s style. “I think he’s one of the best basketball coaches out there as far as scouting and being able to give us a game plan and giving us a chance to win.”

As Brownell and his staff have prepared Mitchell and his teammates for KU, the point guard said he couldn’t even pick one or two things that stood out to him about the Jayhawks.

“Everything about them. They have a beast inside,” Mitchell began, referring to 7-foot sophomore Udoka Azubuike. “Everybody knows how great a player Devonte’ (Graham) is, and the rest of their guards. Just everything.”

Similarly, senior Tigers guard Gabe DeVoe referred to Azubuike being “a load” in the paint and the need for Clemson to limit his paint touches and chances around the rim. In general, DeVoe added, the Jayhawks know how to win, and are used to playing at this stage of the postseason.

With 3-point shooting such a vital part of KU’s offense, DeVoe said Clemson’s perimeter defenders will have to lock in and try to limit those chances.

“Not getting caught ball-watching and over-helping,” he said of key elements involved in defending the arc. “Just trying to eliminate their easy baskets.”

The Jayhawks and Tigers are scheduled to tip off at 6:07 p.m. (CBS), with a spot in the Elite Eight on the line.

Clemson leading scorers

Marcquise Reed, 6-3, jr., G — 15.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 66 of 187 on 3-pointers (35.3%)

Gabe DeVoe, 6-3, sr., G — 13.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 83 of 208 on 3-pointers (39.9%)

Shelton Mitchell, 6-3, jr., G — 12.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 49 of 132 on 3-pointers (37.1%)

Elijah Thomas, 6-9, jr., F — 10.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 56.7% FGs