Clemson enjoying 1st trip to Sweet 16 in 21 years

CLEMSON, S.C. — The formula for Clemson’s run to the Sweet 16 is simple — when the Tigers hit shots, they’re difficult to beat.

Clemson (25-9) has made plenty of baskets its past two NCAA Tournament games to advance to its first Sweet 16 in 21 years. The Tigers will try and shoot their way into the Elite Eight when they take on No. 1 seed Kansas (29-7) in the Midwest Regional in Omaha, Neb., on Friday.

Don’t count the fifthseeded Tigers out, either, if they play like they did in defeating New Mexico State (79-68) and fourth-seeded Southeastern Conference champion Auburn (84-53).

“Why not more?” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said Tuesday.

Clemson hit better than 50 percent of its attempts (62of-120) last weekend. Senior guard Gabe DeVoe went 18 of 33 in those games, earning the nickname “Bobby Buckets” on social media for his output.

“I started hunting shots,” said DeVoe, perhaps better known until now as the “mini-me” version of Tigers defensive tackle Christian Wilkins for their similar beards and hairstyles. “It’s a zone you get into.”

Clemson’s been in the zone this season for quite some time.

Brownell had made the NCAAs his first season in 2010-11, then missed the tournament the next six seasons.

Before this season, he took the team overseas for an exhibition tour to Spain. The Tigers were at their Barcelona hotel in August when a fatal terror attack took place just outside when a van drove into pedestrians, killing 14 people and wounding at least 130 others.

No one in Clemson’s party was hurt. Browell believes it brought the players closer, something essential during their run to the school’s fourth-ever trip to the round of 16.

“When we got back from Spain, I had no doubt about this team’s spirit,” the coach said.

Of course it doesn’t hurt when Clemson is making shots.

The Tigers, picked for 13th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in October, had long been known as a defensive powerhouse that could not keep up with most teams on offense. But Clemson has shot .457 percent this season (seventh best in the ACC and tops in Brownell’s eight seasons) while maintaining its defensive tenacity (third in ACC in points allowed).