New-look Clemson Basketball Team Dominates Season Opener
The Clemson men’s basketball team, under coach Brad Brownell, featured its highest number of transfers ever in the 2025-26 season opener. In Monday’s game at Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson used 12 players, with only one returning from last year's roster.
The Tigers crushed New Hampshire 88-38, a team that finished 8-24 last season and ranked 355th out of 364 Division I schools in the NET rankings. While the opponent’s low standing limited big-picture insights, Clemson showcased clear superiority as expected, covering the 41.5-point spread by a wide margin.
Fresh Faces Making Their Mark
About 76% of Clemson’s roster consists of new players, making game experience vital for team chemistry. Coach Brownell commented after the win,
“We’ve still got to figure everybody out.”
- Transfers debuting for Clemson included Nick Davidson (Nevada), Jake Wahlin (Utah), Carter Welling (Utah Valley State), Jestin Porter (MTSU), and Butta Johnson (UAB).
- RJ Godfrey, a former Clemson player, returned after spending a season at Georgia.
- Freshmen making their first appearances were Zac Foster, Chase Thompson, and Trent Steinhour.
- Redshirt freshmen Ace Buckner and Dallas Thomas also saw their debut action.
Season Outlook
The significant influx of transfers and young talent marks a clear rebuilding phase for the Tigers, setting a foundation for growth as they adapt to new roles and develop team dynamics through the season.
Author’s summary: Clemson's basketball team begins the 2025-26 season with a dominant victory featuring a roster mostly new to the program, highlighting a transformative rebuilding phase under coach Brownell.