Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell hears higher expectations 'loud and clear'

CLEMSON – Clemson men's basketball coach Brad Brownell, while praising his team's accomplishments this season, said he also hears higher expectations from athletics director Graham Neff "loud and clear."

Neff, in a letter last monthto season-ticket holders and other supporters, stated that Clemson did not meet expectations in 2021-22. The Tigers finished 17-16, including 8-12 in the ACC.

"I know there is some level of frustration with us and our program, wanting more and more," Brownell said Wednesday. "And believe me, the guy who wants it most is me. ... I hear it loud and clear from Graham. I agree with it. I want to be as good as we can be. I'm excited that we're getting more and more resources for basketball support. I'm not going to shy away from expectation. I want to go for a Final Four here."

Clemson ended the regular season with three consecutive wins, including an upset of eventual ACC Tournament champion Virginia Tech. In the league tournament, they beat N.C. State and lost to Virginia Tech in overtime on a buzzer-beating shot.

Leading scorer P.J. Hall played most of the season despite an injured foot, was sidelined for three of the last four regular-season games and ultimately needed surgery. Senior captain Hunter Tyson missed a month because of a broken clavicle.

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Neff's postseason letter to supporters read in part: “This year’s men’s basketball season did not meet our expectations, nor those of head coach Brad Brownell and student-athletes. There were a number of reasons for the results, but we realize this is a bottom-line game. In the days following the ACC tournament, Coach Brownell and I met several times to discuss the state of the program, potential offseason changes and plans for next year that would return us to the NCAA tournament.” 

Clemson went to the tournament in 2021, losing in the first round to Rutgers. The Tigers reached the Sweet 16 in 2018, their first tournament berth since Brownell's debut season in 2010-11. There was no postseason in 2020 because of the pandemic.

"There's an element of consistency that I'm proud of," Brownell said. "I'm proud of the fact that we probably overachieved a little bit compared to where we were picked sometimes. But I'm not satisfied or happy. I'm not happy with being 17-16. We need to do better."

Prior to Brownell's arrival, Clemson went to the NCAA Tournament three straight times under previous coach Oliver Purnell. The 2008 team, a No. 5 seed that lost to No. 12 seed Villanova, was the first in 20 years to make the field.

In 12 seasons, Brownell is 218-166 (.568) overall and 103-111 (.481) in ACC play.

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During the past few weeks, Clemson has lost guard Nick Honor and Al-Amir Dawes to the transfer portal and added guard Jaelin Llewellyn, who averaged 15.7 points last season at Princeton. In addition, Tyson has declared he will return for a fifth year of eligibility.

Brownell said he feels Graham is trying to do what he can to help and his message was not mean to be an ultimatums on next season.

"If you're going to raise the level of expectations, you've got to meet it in every other thing," Brownell said. "Your facilities, your salaries for your staff, your salaries for your coaches. 

"I'm excited because Graham recognizes it. And Graham wants to be good. Graham and I have been in the weeds together for a long time. He and I have fought a lot of great battles together. We don't always agree on everything. But he and I have a a good relationship and we can speak candidly with one another.

"I know he's trying. He wants to continue to help us take our program to the next level, which is exciting for a coach. That's what you want."

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.