| | Clemson has some big shoes to fill but Tigers head coach Larry Shyatt is eager to build on the sense of success generated by last year's runner-up finish in the NIT.
If you missed out on Shyatt's Nov. 4 chat, an edited transcript follows:
tigrjm76: Could you comment on team speed and free throw shooting? Thanks.
Larry Shyatt: My first comment would be our team speed, on the outside looking in, would be quite wait. We
have six players over 250, and Pasha Bains and Ed Scott are out. However, our free throw
shooting has been at 79.5 percent as a team and we've taken 2,980-plus in practice. We have
only had one practice, as a scrimmage and we went 9-for-11 from the foul line. So, time will
tell. We shot well at the foul line last year, we just didn't "make" well. (laughs).
APM: How competetive do you think the Tigers can be in the ACC this season?
Larry Shyatt: We always feel like we are going to compete wit the very best, because our league is
consistently the very best, top to bottom. Certainly with six out of 10 as newcomers, it presents
an interesting new lineup. but if we can control our level of aggression, our attitude and raise our
level of intellect, we can surprise some people.
Steve Fars: What do you think about Solomon's role this year. Is he going to be the go to man
Larry Shyatt: He separated his shoulder two weeks ago but has come back very strong. He will be one of 3
go-to people, along with Adam Allenspach and Andrius Jurkunas, the lone senior.
Scott in Charleston, SC: Does the fact that Clemson has a very large contingent of NBA players help any with
recruiting?
Larry Shyatt: I think it helps a great deal. Also, the fact that Harold Jamison has stuck, an underpublicized
player from high school. Also, being involved in the recruiting process for Marty Conlon, Eric
Murdock, Michael Smith, Dickie Simpkins. Luc Longly, Austin Croshere, who were not
McDonald All-Americans encourages me that anytime, hard work can pay off at the next level.
TigerFan: Can you build on last year's NIT success even though many of the key players are gone?
Larry Shyatt: Hopefully we've given South Carolina basketball fans, particularly Clemson fans, a positve taste
at what any advancement in postseason play can do for you and your ballclub. To make it to
the finals of the NIT in MAdison Square Garden was a terrific situation and it reminded us that
the field of 64 being the 64 best teams is a fallacy we have created ourselves. It is the best 45
teams, as the point spreads in the first round would suggest. The NIT includes teams from 45 to
75, as indicated by the close point spreads in each round. It was a great finale for the departing
seniors and an excellent opportunity to grow for our five returners.
CuriousClemsonFan: What are the chances of Clemson making it to NCAA Tournment?
Larry Shyatt: I would say that even the seventh, eighth and ninth place teams from the top league in the
country have as good a chance as any teams in the country.
Gary: i dont think that a team like uconn or mich st will win it all i think it will be a sleeper like
syracuse or ucla what do think
Larry Shyatt: So early in the season, difficult ot call it, but certainly with the parity that exists now, a case
could be made for a team from each and every power conference.
Don't blink at those Texas Longhorns, they're awfully good.
Jerry Jabbour: What can you do to ensure the best players in South Carolina end up at Clemson. Does losing
Rolando Howell have more of an impact than just during his time at USC?
Larry Shyatt: By recruiting Edward Scott last year, 4A player of the year from Columbia, S.C., the first
Columbia player in 10 years to be recruited in men's basketball, we feel we have an excellent
addition. Rolando is a fine player, and a great get for South Carolina in their backyard.
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SHYATT'S FILE
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This is Larry Shyatt's second year as Clemson head coach and his fifth
year with the Tiger basketball program overall. But, excuse him if he
feels like he is in his first days with the program. Shyatt has six new faces, over 50
percent of his roster, and just one starter returning from last year's
20-win squad.
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XtremeTiger: What goals have you and the team set for this season?
Larry Shyatt: We have chosen to talk abouty postseason play as a goal in March yet focus on daily
improvement in the three important areas: level of aggression, attitude and intellect.
scott from Columbia: Coach, could you comment on next recruiting...what positions you will be looking to fill
Larry Shyatt: We can only comment as to the positions, and we definitely hope to fill at point guard, wings
and a power player. We have four openings at the moment.
BlueDevil4Life: What does it feel like to coach in the same league with some of the greatest coaches in your
profession?
Larry Shyatt: After being a head coach a little over two seasons, one in the WAC and one in the ACC, my
job description, rules and responsibilities, in terms of hours and importance have not changed
from the first 23 years as a very happy and proud assistant coach. I recognize the excellence in
our league and hope to learn from all of them, as I did from the many excellent coaches in the
WAC.
JJ: What out of conference games are you anticipating to be the toughest
Larry Shyatt: Because we have chosen to play some of our instate rivals who had tremendous seasons last
year, Winthrop University and Appalachian State, we can overlook no one. However, with
South Carolina early, George Washington early,a road game at Penn State early and a
tournament field in Greenville ncluding Old Dominion, Green Bay, Mississippi and Oregon
State, to mention a few, we have more than enough balance for a schedule that has no balance
after January.
TigerStudent: Do you think our three Lithuanian players can make a big impact in the future?
Larry Shyatt: I have no reservations whatsover that all three of our internationl players, as well as Pasha
Bains, a fourth international player, will have a great impact on and off the court for years to
come.
Pete: How is Chucky Gilmore looking? I went to HS with him, and he was a dominant player.
Larry Shyatt: Chucky Gilmore has put himself in position to have a very good sophomore year because he is
in much better condition. He lost 40 pounds, then redistributed 20 of it to make himself that
much better, and much more active.
Dave in Houston: Is Allensbach ready for his huge role this yer?
Larry Shyatt: Adam has had an excellent summer. He is up to 270, he understands his new role in terms of
minutes and production, and the best thing we can say about Adam is he's a born leader by
example. His grade point average is 3.2 and he is an excellent student. I consider him a great
role model.
Clemson in Italy: Coach Wyatt,
What are last year's graduates doing now? I heard that Tom Wideman is playing over here in
Italy or Spain.
Larry Shyatt: Tom was just released from Atlanta's camp and I have not talked to him in the last couple of
days. The last report was that he was going to the Indiana CBA franchise that drafted him.
Tony Christie is currently playing o\verseas in England. Terrell McIntyre is injured, but he is
currently playing in France and Harold Jamison has made the Miami Heat roster.
XtremeTiger: What is your greatest concern about the team going into the season?
Larry Shyatt: Our lack of numbers, simply because of the loss of Vincent Whitt and Ronald Blackshear this
summer, leaving us with a shortage of backcourt players. And Ed Scott's broken foot, which
needs to heal rather quickly.
HJamison: what do you think of the upcoming ACC-Big 10 challenge and what it will do for college
basketball. year in an year out they are the two best conferences.
Larry Shyatt: Going backwards in time and recapping the ACC-Big East Challenge when we were part of
that, I can't help remember some terrific early December matchups. ESPN had the wisdom to
put this together and it should be terrific for everybody.
Rye Tuten (Clemson '99): Can we expect anything from the walk-ons this year?
Larry Shyatt: Walk-ons have a difficult task in that they have to be practice players who are rarely counted
on in games, and that will probably be the case for us. Although, with our numbers being what
they are at the moment, they need to stay ready.
Pawmahawk Dunk: Will the talents of your current players allow you to play the same style of ball as in the last five
years?
Larry Shyatt: Once we get a full complement of players one of our strengths should definitely be that of
strength and size. Hopefully we can combine that and be a balanced team inside and out, but
certainly we hope to be able to rely on our defense, as we have in the past.
Tiger99 from atlanta: Will you use the fact that we are picked to finish last as motivation for the players?
Larry Shyatt: Americans love an underdog and hopefully we will be able to take the persona of cornered rats
during the season, and keep in mind that improvement with this type of club, and taking steps
forward, are important. People miss on predictions in recruiting often, therefore we have to
remain positive that the same oversight has been attached to our predicted finish in league. We
can't control the prediction, but we can control the actual outcome, which is something we hope
to do in a positive fashion.
Thanks for all your questions, everybody. Hope to do it again soon. | |
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