NCAA Basketball: Ranking state of South Carolina programs for 2019-20

GLENDALE, AZ - MARCH 30: Head coach Frank Martin of the South Carolina Gamecocks speaks with the media during a press conference for the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium on March 30, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /

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DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 05: Aamir Simms #25 of the Clemson Tigers reacts against Jack White #41 of the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on January 05, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

4. Clemson – ACC

A year ago, Clemson began the season ranked, then failed to reach the NCAA Tournament after advancing to the Sweet 16 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. Clemson held onto that Sweet 16 achievement to the point where it cost them last year and will continue to do so this season.

The truth is, for Clemson to remain consistently good in college basketball, Brad Brownell is going to have to be let go. Not many positive things have come while he has been Clemson’s Head Coach and the Tigers really seem to lack a much-needed identity. Just like South Carolina, I feel like Clemson is incapable of handling Mid-Majors that come in looking for a fight. They are not a very strong team in the clutch and smaller schools could very easily make them pay.

To make things worse for Clemson, their three leading scorers from last year have all graduated. On the bright side, they do return Aamir Simms. Simms is a great guard and averaged 8.1 ppg last season, and he will definitely have a much larger role this year. In addition to having a great player in Simms, Clemson was given a much-needed victory when they acquired Tevin Mack as a graduate transfer from Alabama. Mack averaged nine ppg last season for the Crimson Tide.

This transfer will unfortunately not be enough, and I do not see things getting better very soon for the Tigers. I’m confident they can handle the Gamecocks, but I’m not so sure they would be as fortunate if forced to play against the strong Mid-Majors of the state.

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