3 things we want to see from Clemson basketball vs. Radford

Coming off of the season's first loss, the Clemson basketball team returns to action tonight when the Tigers host Radford in what should be another route for head coach Brad Brownell's team. But that doesn't mean that the Tigers can't make some strides in the season's fifth game.

In fact, given how bad Radford is, Clemson had better look like it is moving forward. Yes, Radford is 4-1 on the year. However, that record is deceiving.

Their wins have come against William and Mary, Old Dominion, Evansville, and Southern Virginia. However, the only time they have faced a team from a power conference was in the opener against Pitt and they lost that game 95-56.

The ESPN.com matchup predictor gives Clemson a 97% chance at prevailing. Still, this is an opportunity for the Tigers to get back on the right track and clean up some of the things that have been issues thus far. Let's look at three of the areas in which the Tigers need to improve.

Clemson must be better at the free-throw line

There is no doubt that Clemson must be concerned by its free-throw shooting thus far. Through four games, the Tigers are only hitting at a 66.% clip this year. That's good for only 273rd in the country.

What's ironic is that the Tigers were actually rater effective at the line in this last game, an 84-71 loss to Boise State. That game, they hit 15 of their 20 free throws (75%).

However, that's the only game thus far in which the Tigers have shot over 70% from the line. Only three players on the roster (Jake Heidbreder, Jaeden Zackery, and Chase Hunter) are shooting over 70% at the free-throw line this year. But Heidbreder has attempted only two free throws all season.

Against an opponent like Radford, many aspects of the game can be inflated given the talent disparity between the two teams. However, free-throw shooting is something that is independent of the opponent's quality so that is an area in which Brownell's team can make meaningful strides tonight.

The Clemson bench needs to be more impactful

Against Boise State, the Clemson scoring attack was far too one-sided. In fact, guard Chase Hunter scored 30 of his team's 71 points.

Meanwhile, the bench contributed only eight points. Only three reserves scored a point and none of them made more than one field goal attempt.

Freshman Del Jones scored only three points in 15 minutes of action. What's more, he committed four personal fouls in that brief time on the court.

Meanwhile, senior Myles Foster managed only two points in 12 minutes. As for Heidbreder, he was 0-2 from the floor and he contributed no other stats.

That trio can't go 2-11 in games against quality opponents if Clemson is going to have any hope of winning. Look to see if they can find their scoring touch again against Radford.

Clemson must be better at defending without fouling

Finally, the Tigers need to figure out how to start playing defense without fouling. That's been a problem thus far.

In two of the Tiger's four games this season, their opponent has gone to the free-throw line 20 times or more. Nationally, Clemson ranks 179th by giving up an average of 19 free throws per game. However, that number is aided by the Eastern Kentucky game in which the Colonels got only 5 total trips to the line.

Meanwhile, Boise State was 27-30 from the line in Clemson's last game. Considering that the Tigers were able to make just 15 free throws of their own, that 12-point disadvantage at the line proved to be pivotal in what was a 13-point loss.

Now, some may chalk that up to home cooking for the Broncos. That might be partially true but the reality is that Clemson is going to have to play in several tough opposing arenas this year and they can't give up that many foul shots and hope to win very many of their away games.

It will be imperative that Clemson starts to play solid defense without sending Radford to the line tonight. The Tigers have to be in the correct position and they must stop hacking at the ball.

Three Tigers had four or more fouls in Boise including Chauncey Wiggins who fouled out after scoring only six points in 30 minutes of action. So keep an eye on how many trips to the line Radford is awarded tonight. That's because it will be important for Clemson to play a clean game on defense after struggling in that area in the season's first loss.