After sweeping early ACC trips to Syracuse and Pittsburgh, head coach Brad Brownell said the Clemson Tigers are beginning to show the mental and defensive identity he’s been searching for with a retooled roster.
“I think we’ve got a little bit of mental toughness about us,” Brownell said during the ACC’s first coaches call of the season. “I think we’re improving a lot defensively, especially over the course of the last month.”
The Tigers’ 2–0 ACC start marked the first time in program history Clemson opened league play with two road wins — a milestone Brownell believes reflects real growth.
Defense and Composure Trending Up
Brownell noted that Clemson’s improvement has been fueled by extra practice time and clearer self-evaluation by the coaching staff.
“We’ve done a good job of identifying some things we need to improve,” he said. “I think that’s gotten better.”
He also pointed to offensive comfort in tight games — an area that often separates wins from losses in conference play.
“I’m hopeful that offensively, we’re settling into how we play and getting more comfortable with each other,” Brownell said. “Understanding each other’s games and what guys do well is huge.”
Adjusting Without Zac Foster
That growth has come despite a major early-season setback. Freshman guard Zac Foster was lost for the year with an ACL tear, forcing Clemson to redistribute minutes and responsibilities.
The response, Brownell said, has been encouraging — particularly from Ace Buckner and Butta Johnson.
“As a team, we’ve tried to adjust,” Brownell said. “Ace has gotten more minutes — sometimes he scores, sometimes he defends and helps run the team. That’s what we need him to do.”
Johnson, a veteran presence, has filled multiple roles.
“Butta is an older player we trust,” Brownell said. “He can make shots, handle the ball, help against the press, and get us into offensive schemes. I think both of those individuals are doing well.”
Built on the Road
The early ACC results have reinforced something Clemson is starting to believe: this group doesn’t shrink away from difficult environments.
And that, Brownell suggested, may be the most important takeaway of all.