Fresh Face in the Paint: Steinour’s Surprise Call-Up
In the lead-up to their NCAA Tournament opener against Iowa, Clemson coach Brad Brownell announced that freshman forward Trent Steinour—out since February with a shoulder injury—would be available to play. His return offers depth after the ACL tear suffered by Carter Welling, pushing Chase Thompson, RJ Godfrey and Nick Davidson into their usual rotation spots. Steinour’s minutes remain uncertain, but the Tigers are relying on “everybody all the time” to step up as they face a formidable Hawkeye squad.
Nothing says “March Madness” like panicking over a freshman you forgot existed. After months of wondering where Steinour’s been—was he hiding in the equipment closet?—he magically reappears just in time to save Clemson’s season. Because if there’s one thing college basketball needs, it’s a player whose only documented college highlight was a rebounding cameo against Cal back in January. On the bright side, at least Brownell nailed the inspirational speech: “everybody all the time.” Profound. Next up: motivational posters featuring water coolers.
First-Half Fiasco Sends Tigers Home Early
Clemson’s season ended in Tampa with a 67-60 first-round NCAA Tournament loss to Iowa. The Tigers trailed by double digits within seven minutes, thanks to Iowa’s offensive rebounding and Bennett Stirtz’s sharpshooting. Although Clemson closed the first half on a high and cut the deficit in the second, foul trouble and a 9-0 Hawkeye run kept them at bay. RJ Godfrey scored a team-high 15 points in his final collegiate game, and Butta Johnson added 11, but the slow start proved decisive.
In Tampa, the Clemson faithful got a masterclass in how to play catch-up from the opening tip. It turns out the secret to a “slow start” is simply showing up late—like you would to a Friday morning lecture after hitting snooze. Iowa tripped on every loose ball, gave 15 second-chance opportunities, and Clemson thought an 8–26 shooting first half was “just warming up.” Now that the Tigers’ dance card is blank again, Brownell can swap March Madness for March long facepalms. Better luck in 2027—if they can find the calendar.
Senior Send-Off: Five Stars Exit Tiger Territory
Clemson must replace five seniors—RJ Godfrey, Dillon Hunter, Nick Davidson, Jestin Porter and Efrem “Butta” Johnson—after they exhausted their eligibility. Godfrey led the team at 12.0 points per game, Hunter anchored the backcourt with 3.0 assists, Davidson provided scoring off the bench, Porter disrupted defenses with 1.2 steals per game, and Johnson supplied timely three-pointers. Each plans to pursue professional careers, leaving a sizable gap for returning coach Brad Brownell to fill via transfers and recruits.
Five Tigers walk out of the stadium and into the transfer portal of the unknown. It’s like losing half your class project group right before the presentation. Godfrey’s off chasing pro glory, Hunter’s joining the proud alumni club, Davidson’s hitting Vegas for summer league, Porter’s hustling in Europe, and Butta’s rolling the dice on three-point auditions. Meanwhile, Brownell’s left with a roster that resembles a game of Jenga—remove enough blocks and the whole thing collapses. Here’s to next season’s version of “new-look Tigers,” starring the Portal Five Replacement Squad.
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