The questions surrounding Clemson basketball were deafening all offseason.
After a historic 27-win season ended in a stunning first-round NCAA Tournament upset, the program imploded. All five starters were gone. A total of 13 players hit the exit. National pundits and ACC experts wrote them off, predicting a painful rebuild for Brad Brownell's program.
One game in, those predictions already look foolish.
Clemson didn't just beat New Hampshire on Monday night; they dismantled them with a terrifying defensive performance, announcing their presence in the new-look ACC with an 88-38 opening-night blowout at Littlejohn Coliseum.
It was a signature Brad Brownell clinic. The Tigers held the Wildcats to a pathetic 25% shooting from the field and forced 13 turnovers, feasting on the other end with 20 points off those mistakes. The 38 points allowed were the fewest Clemson has given up in a season opener since 1946.
“I’m really pleased with the defensive execution of our gameplan,” Brownell said postgame. “Our staff was on point with that, and I give our guys a lot of credit for executing.”
New Stars Emerge
With the old guard gone, new faces stepped immediately into the spotlight.
The star of the night was redshirt freshman Ace Buckner, who, after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury, exploded in his official collegiate debut. He led all scorers with 18 points, looking every bit like a player ready to take over.
“I was very excited [to play tonight],” Buckner said. “Last year was long. I was happy to see my guys win and be a part of that... I just stayed in the gym. And I was ready to play. I feel like I showed that tonight.”
He wasn't alone. Senior forward RJ Godfrey, stepping into a primary leadership role, set the tone with a near double-double, finishing with nine points, nine rebounds, and three assists.
“We disrupted the ball well,” Godfrey said. “But we still have work to do. [Coach] Brownell’s going to be on us with film. It was a good night on the defensive end.”
A New Era of Depth
The most encouraging sign for Brownell might have been the depth. The Tigers played 12 different players, with 11 of them logging double-digit minutes. Highly-touted true freshman Zac Foster made his presence felt immediately, swatting two shots to go with six points and six boards.
For a team that heard all offseason how they were destined for the ACC's basement, the 50-point margin of victory—the largest in a season opener for the program since 1983—was a deafening statement. The rebuild might just be a reload.
Clemson (1-0) looks to continue its dominant start when it hosts Gardner-Webb on Friday night.