Former coach comes home for NCAAs

Brad Brownell and his Clemson Tigers visited with old friends Monday including current Raider head coach Billy Donlon, when the team practiced at Wright State University's Setzer Pavillion/Mills Morgan Center.

Like Norm Peterson making his customary entrance on the television sitcom Cheers, Brad Brownell entered the Setzer Pavillion/Mills Morgan Center on March 14 to loud, familiar plaudits and razzing.

“It’s great. I’m getting to see a lot of good people here, former players, coaches family and friends. It’s a lot of fun to see everybody,” said Brownell.

Donning a neon orange Clemson sweatshirt and gray sweatpants, Brownell, the first-year head basketball coach at Clemson and former coach for Wright State University, has taken his Tigers (21-11, 9-7 ACC) to the NCAA Tournament on the heels of some strong defensive play.

“We’ve kind of done that at most of the places we’ve been, and been pretty good defensively so nothing changes in terms of the philosophy; we just do it with different personnel,” said Brownell.

Clemson is Brownell’s third school he’s taken to the tournament, having been twice with UNC-Wilmington and once with Wright State in 2007.

“Every team’s different, unique, and that’s what’s fun about coaching—they all have their own identity and develop their identity through the course of the season,” said Brownell.

The Tigers will take on the University of Alabama Birmingham March 15 at 9 p.m. at UD Arena, but Brownell feels like his team has an advantage using Wright State’s practice facilities.

“It helps us just in terms of preparation knowing that we can have a place to come today and get what we need to get done and not have to worry about arranging things. We got all that worked out right away,” said Brownell.

The Tigers may be on the road, but for the team’s closed practice at Mills Morgan, they were home and right where Brownell wants to be.

“It’s different but it’s good. It’s great to see everybody. I had a lot of good memories over at the Nutter Center, a lot of long hours here at the pavilion working, getting ready for games. It does feel good to come back and see the place,” said Brownell.