Catching up with Brownell

Here we are, three days away from the season opener, and basketball isn't on the minds of many Clemson fans. That's usually the way it works here; football is king, and only when it is over do people really start talking about and thinking about basketball.

Brad Brownell is thinking about basketball a lot right now, and last night he talked about basketball to the Cherokee County Clemson Club in Gaffney.

It was my privilege to speak before Brownell to the exceedingly good folks over there, and that's about like a garage band opening for Led Zeppelin. The guy certainly can work a room with a mix of humor, optimism and sober analysis that helps make him a good and embraceable leader.

A few notable items that came from his state-of-the-program address:

-- Slow going with Jaron Blossomgame, and that's definitely disappointing because Blossomgame is talented enough to be an instant contributor. His recovery from a broken leg suffered in April hasn't been as rapid as Jaron predicted to TI over the summer. He's still walking and running with a very pronounced limp, and the hope is that he'll be ready by October. If he is not, it would be my guess that a possible redshirt would enter the equation.

-- No news on Demarcus Harrison. Clemson is at the mercy of the NCAA here, and the NCAA doesn't usually give many details until it makes its decision. Harrison is practicing with the team and doing everything everyone else is doing. If Clemson hears something by mid-October, they should be fine as far as planning and such. If Harrison's waiver is granted, he's going to need to get into better shape between now and the season.

-- Point guard is going to feature an interesting battle, and Brownell thinks Jordan Roper is good enough to make it a three-way race with Rod Hall and Adonis Filer. He has a quiet confidence that Brownell likes.

-- Filer is a gregarious, personable guy who won't be afraid to speak up. Has a distinctly urban-Chicago way of carrying himself, and Brownell thinks that adds something this team needs.

-- The loss of Devin Coleman was just a huge blow. Number one, because Coleman finally started to grasp things late last season. Number two, because T.J. Sapp needed the competition in practice at the 2 guard spot.

-- Josh Smith brings a physical presence that Brownell really likes. The coach said Smith isn't afraid to bang.

-- No revelations with Milton Jennings and Devin Booker. They just need to be more consistent, and that's pretty obvious to everyone.

-- Brownell encouraged the crowd to get behind the push to improve basketball facilities. The program is way behind in that area, and as of now best-case scenario for the planned indoor facility is two years from now. That's a long time.

LW