ACC: How Will Clemson Replace K.J. McDaniels?

When thinking about ACC basketball, it’s easy to forget some of the teams in the middle of the conference. The national media tends to focus on the teams with proud histories like Duke or North Carolina, or upstart programs that have a surprise winning season like the Miami Hurricanes in 2012-13. However, the battle in the middle of the conference for those last few NCAA tournament spots can be just as exciting.

More from NBA

One school that frequently finds itself in that conversation is the Clemson Tigers. During Oliver Purnell’s tenure the Tigers made the NCAA tournament three times and were just on the cusp several others. After the 2009-10 season Purnell left to take the head coaching position at DePaul. Purnell had reached three straight NCAA tournaments, so his departure looked like an unsettling halt of momentum for the program.

Following Purnell’s departure Clemson hired Brad Brownell from Wright State to take over the team. Brownell’s tenure has been a mixed bag. He reached an NCAA tournament in his first season, then suffered back to back subpar seasons. In 2013-14 he got the Tigers back on the right track with a 23-13 campaign that saw the team just miss the NCAA tournament.

They were one questionable no-call away from upsetting Duke and meeting NC State in the ACC tournament semifinals. That win likely would have gotten them to the big dance.

The season would ultimately end in the NIT semifinals, but it should be considered a successful season for the program. The team saw a 10-win improvement from the previous season and their highest win total in five years. However, there is just one thing that tempers all the optimism for this upcoming season. Star junior forward K.J. McDaniels somewhat surprisingly left for the NBA.

Jun 26, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; K.J. McDaniels (Clemson) shakes hands with NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected as the number thirty-two overall pick to the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

McDaniels absolutely made the right decision to take his talents to the NBA (he is already impressing in preseason games), but it still seemed to surprise Clemson fans. McDaniels was the heart and soul of last season’s Clemson team. He led them in scoring at 17.1 points per game and was a monster defensively, locking down the other team’s top scorer on a nightly basis, and averaging 1.1 steals and 2.8 blocks per game.

McDaniels is gone and Clemson has no time to fret about his absence. They still return a talented mix of players including point guard Rod Hall who averaged 9.7 points and 4 assists per game last year. Hall will be counted on for more scoring and will have to be more active as a playmaker.

Jaron Blossomgame is another player to keep an eye on. He had a modest freshman year, but he is a 6-foot-7 wing player that showed flashes of potential last year. He has the body type, the athleticism, and the ability to be a McDaniels type slasher, and solid wing defender. He will have to continue to rebound the ball well and raise his scoring this season if he is going to become more of a factor in the offense. Blossomgame tapping into his potential will be important for Clemson.

Damarcus Harrison and Jordan Roper return on the wings. Harrison will be a senior and averaged 7.8 points per game while shooting 35 percent from 3 last season. Roper suffered a bit of a sophomore slump in 2014. After scoring 7.9 points per game and shooting 41.4 percent from three point range as a freshman, his production dipped to 7.4 points per game and 32 percent from 3.

Though he did increase his overall field goal percentage and his free throw percentage, it was a weird season for Roper. He will still be a big part of the offense this year, especially if he can raise his shooting percentage from outside.

Talented big men Sidy Djitte and Landry Nnoko also return. Both players are of African descent and at 6 feet 10 inches tall make up an imposing front line. Nnoko was Clemson’s second leading rebounder last season, behind McDaniels, but Djitte received limited minutes during his freshmen season. Djitte was a prized recruit, so much more will be expected of him this season as he develops. If he develops too slowly, Josh Smith may get more playing time down low.

Mar 8, 2014; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson Tigers guard Rod Hall (12) on a fast break during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at J.C. Littlejohn Coliseum. Panthers won 83-78 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports /

Austin Ajukwa also returns as a guard, though he played very little last season, and freshman guard Gabe DeVoe from Shelby, N.C., could factor into the rotation. Freshman wing Donte Grantham is the most exciting new addition to the squad. He is a small forward from Hargrave Military Academy and a high motor, high upside prospect. He is raw but should provide energy off the bench.

After last season Brad Brownell’s job is far from in jeopardy. He has not replicated the success of his predecessor, but last season was a step in the right direction. The season McDaniels had could raise the profile of a middling program like Clemson. If McDaniels finds success in the NBA that may even help Brownell recruit in the future.

It is tough to envision where Clemson will be at the end of this season. The ACC is only getting more difficult to navigate with the addition of Louisville, so reaching last season’s win total could be a stretch. They clearly have some talent and a solid coach in place, but filling the K.J. McDaniel’s sized void in their lineup is something they will have to address if they are going to win big this season.