Storylines heading into the NCAA Tournament are always fun, especially when you consider matchups between old friends. Clemson basketball got one of those matchups.
We could have seen battles between Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino in the Sweet 16 (that would have been fantastic), Michigan's Danny Wolf vs. his old school (Yale) in the second round (still possible), and there was even potential for some transfers to face their former programs elsewhere like Frankie Fidler of Michigan State and Omaha who made the tourney for the first time right after he left.
Clemson got a matchup in round one that's actually flying a bit under the radar.
The Tigers got McNeese, but what could possibly be the connection here? The Cowboys' assistant coach used to be a star for Clemson about 20 years ago. In fact, Vernon Hamilton posted about his excitement to face his alma mater when the matchup was revealed.
What are the odds 🤯 Midwest Region 1st Round. Clemson vs Mcneese St pic.twitter.com/AHhHtjOdYP
— Vernon Hamilton (@vernonhamilton3) March 17, 2025
Hamilton played for Clemson from 2003-07 and scored 1,238 career points with 399 assists, 397 rebounds, and an impressive 271 steals, even leading the ACC in that category in 2005-06. While he never made the NCAA Tournament as a Tiger, his senior year was his best as he helped lead Clemson to a 25-11 record, just missing out on the Big Dance.
The 6-foot-0 guard also averaged a career-best 12.3 points that season along with 3.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per game. He was a stat sheet stuffer.
And now he'll be on the opposite sideline, trying to lead his new school over his former one (he was also an assistant under Brad Brownell) in upset fashion.
Brownell won't let this happen without a fight.