CLEMSON BASKETBALL

Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Marshall wants Clemson basketball to be a consistent winner.

Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better


by - Senior Writer -

Clemson’s Grayson Marshall thinks the Tiger basketball program can, and should, be a consistent winner.

Marshall, who played for Clemson from 1984-88, still ranks fifth in ACC history with 857 career assists, which is also a top 25 number in the NCAA’s record book. He helped the Tigers to postseason play each of his four seasons from 1984-88 and was a key piece to Clemson’s 1986-87 team that set the school record with 25 wins.

Marshall had a 20-assist performance against Maryland Eastern Shore in 1985-86, a school record that still stands today. It is still tied for most in a game by an ACC player. Marshall is Clemson’s career assist-turnover ratio leader with a 2.47 figure. Following his playing days, he has enjoyed success as a high school basketball coach, an entrepreneur, and an inspirational speaker.

Marshall spoke with TigerNet Sunday at WAB Sports’ Celebrity Golf Tournament at Boscobel Golf Club. Warming up before the tournament started, Marshall’s passion, drive, and love for Clemson (and especially Clemson basketball) stood out, and it’s obvious how much he wants what’s best for the program in general.

I asked Marshall about the thought process that some have, that Clemson is a football program and people should be happy with whatever success happens. Marshall said he didn’t agree with that sentiment in the least.

“We did it. We did it during our era. During our era, it was arguably a time where it was a real rivalry with football when it came down to it,” Marshall said. “There was no inner squabble, but they weren’t the big dog for about 8-10 years. It was us. So, we have done it before. And Littlejohn was packed. I mean, there was natural energy about Clemson, there are no two ways about that.”

Marshall said for the Tigers to turn the corner and become a consistent winner, they have to recruit and retain the best players available. Sometimes, that means you recruit against the bigger schools and miss, but you still take your proverbial swing. And eventually, you will start to land those players.

“That’s not what we've done over the last few years, we brought in three stars and two stars and you can't win like that in the ACC, right? I mean, you look at the big football teams, Alabama, Clemson, and Georgia, they win because they go get five stars, right? We don't have a facility issue here,” he said. “We don't have a location issue here. We don't have a weather issue here. The things that would probably deter a kid from coming here don't exist. We're a nationally recognized program and that Tiger Paw is well noticed around the world. I do believe that.”

Marshall also thinks that former players should be utilized in the recruiting process.

“The basketball program, and I've said this openly, hasn't utilized the former players,” he said. “There's not a point guard that should come to visit that doesn't get a phone call from myself, Terrell McIntyre, or Chris Whitney. Any big man that comes here should get a phone call from Elden (Campbell), Dale (Davis), Horace (Grant) Sharone (Wright) and big old Buck (Wayne Buckingham). They should get one because we can tell a story. Satisfaction and complacency is the nature of the world. People get that way. But I think that I've seen it where basketball's been something that people have loved. And just like you I'd love to see it come back.”

Marshall said that Clemson – and by extension Littlejohn Coliseum – will support a winning program that’s fun to watch.

“The 1981 team had a great run, but prior to that, it was very sporadic when it came to it. When we came here in ‘84, we started something for a good eight to 10 years where basketball was something that people wanted to go see,” Marshall said. “We had personalities, we had character. We didn't have problems. We had a bunch of good guys on the team. We weren't in the paper, we were doing good stuff, and Coach (Cliff) Ellis brought a style here. That was fun for the average fan. Right? You didn't have to really figure us out. It was, we're doing this and we're scoring points and you have to stop us. It's energetic. It's fun. The gym is loud. And whether or not you even like basketball, you just wanted to be in the atmosphere.”

Like everyone else, he wants to see the program do better.

“We all want to see it change. You know, we wanna see it get back to that. And if it's through Brad, then that’s great,” Marshall said. “And if not, that's great too. I don't have a problem with Brad, as a person. I don't. But when I look at my team, I have challenges with which way that the program's being built. That's just me. I'm not the head coach. And I'm entitled to my opinion.”

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Subject (Replies: 120) Author
spacer TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
TigerNet News®
spacer Boscobel is a snooty place. I remember a group of us went
76er®
spacer Re: Boscobel is a snooty place. I remember a group of us went
Valley Boy
spacer Re: Boscobel is a snooty place. I remember a group of us went
TexasTiger80
spacer sounds like a you problem***
TD Tigers
spacer When Boscoble was built, it was on a little 2
leo®
spacer Yep, that’s where we swam before Hartwell was built.
DueWest
spacer Re: Boscobel is a snooty place. I remember a group of us went
WarDaddy17®
spacer 25 bucks for 18 holes, can't be too snooty***
Neal in NC®
spacer Wow! Shots fired!
Judge Keller®
spacer Yeah imagine that. We don't have a facilities issue. We
lovingit®
spacer Re: Yeah imagine that. We don't have a facilities issue. We
Clemson mountaineers®
spacer So you agree with him, but just wanted to
Obed®
spacer 6 years ago :)***
GeeVille Tiger®
spacer Hey, it takes time to establish recruiting ties!***
AllOrange247365
spacer We offer scholarships to plenty of heavily recruited players
Judge Keller®
spacer So now it's the players' fault?
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: So now it's the players' fault?
greene®
spacer Sounds like I hurt your feelings, I apologize.
lovingit®
spacer You didn't hurt my feelings at all.
Judge Keller®
spacer Re: You didn't hurt my feelings at all.
Bareftn
spacer Funny Auburn had no problem getting basketball talent...
goclemsontigs
spacer Re: Wow! Shots fired!
TigerzzRoar®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
jstone D329
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Clemson mountaineers®
spacer Buckingham was a HS transcript issue.
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: Buckingham was a HS transcript issue.
shirleyb
spacer I don't think a Clemson admin person
AllOrange247365
spacer We didn't alter anything.
AllOrange247365
spacer It was altered by his high school. And goodness knows it
DueWest
spacer Exactly. LOL at Grayson Marshall for talking about how
Judge Keller®
spacer You are a liar. I was there at this exact moment. BBall
Rocky the Tiger®
spacer Yup, she has no shame.
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: You are a liar. I was there at this exact moment. BBall
3Tigerssofar
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Valley Boy
spacer Do you know why we had good players then?***
Judge Keller®
spacer Are you suggesting Grayson Marshall...
Francis Marion®
spacer Answer:
AllOrange247365
spacer He didn’t hold back.
Clemson_Orange
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
RWILLIAMS®
spacer A-freaking-men! Spot on in every regard.
Smiling Tiger®
spacer Re: A-freaking-men! Spot on in every regard.
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer Hey, if we had a better locker room
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
forbob
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
ESSOCU
spacer There's a reason we don't go after top talent
Obed®
spacer Re: There's a reason we don't go after top talent
Clemson mountaineers®
spacer That's my point.
Obed®
spacer Re: That's my point.
Clemson mountaineers®
spacer Jeez, we have two Brownell fanbois in here now?
Obed®
spacer 4***
GeeVille Tiger®
spacer 4? Are you counting
cutigerbob®
spacer Re: 4? Are you counting
bowlhunter
spacer Is that the "lunatic fringe" I've heard about?***
Anonymous08®
spacer Yes, but I wouldn't ecpect you to know that.
classof1994®
spacer Re: Jeez, we have two Brownell fanbois in here now?
Clemson mountaineers®
spacer professor plumb... lead pipe.... library
GeeVille Tiger®
spacer So clearly you have a massive knowledge base of
Obed®
spacer Re: Jeez, we have two Brownell fanbois in here now?
allorangeallthetime52®
spacer There are two they both just have multiple usernames***
nkickha
spacer Brownlee's offense is very offensive***
1portroyalty®
spacer So true, but unfortunately the Brownell Bashers don't
Judge Keller®
spacer Please list the "facts", and note
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: So true, but unfortunately the Brownell Bashers don't
greene®
spacer Re: That's my point.
Ridgeland Booster®
spacer Have you ever watched us in end-of-game situations?
AllOrange247365
spacer Offensive philosophy
Cobbox®
spacer Except in close games?***
lovingit®
spacer Well, that and he has the personality of a doorknob.***
Rocky the Tiger®
spacer Judge Keller ain't gone like this.***
Obed®
spacer Excuse of the Day:
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
westerntigerfan
spacer Bless your tiny little heart.
Chuckston T-Man®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Tigerthing59®
spacer We can't help you are young and dumb to the history
Rocky the Tiger®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
WarDaddy17®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Clemson mountaineers®
spacer Win and they will come.
AllOrange247365
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
alfredtiger
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
nctiger622®
spacer Marshall's suggestion that our coaches are timid and lazy
Chuckston T-Man®
spacer "We all want to see it change"...
wyletigr
spacer I have a former player, who is in the Clemson and ACC...
Francis Marion®
spacer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5uamDMoW4o
GeeVille Tiger®
spacer Re: I have a former player, who is in the Clemson and ACC...
ColumbiaTiger66
spacer Re: I have a former player, who is in the Clemson and ACC...
WarDaddy17®
spacer Interesting, he says what many of us have thought/said
clemzn1981®
spacer Thank you Grayson Marshall... my sentiment....
nctigs
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Anonymous08®
spacer I think what he is saying is...
Francis Marion®
spacer But it's not Brads fault, right? I mean we've had 3 or 4
Anonymous08®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
nctigs
spacer I think most us agree 110%
HumbleServant®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
baker5801®
spacer So is this guy a turd fan?
ThornhillVillageDweller®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
smittyta
spacer Nice first post...
cutigerbob®
spacer So basically he said what we’ve been saying for 8 years
nkickha
spacer Re: So basically he said what we’ve been saying for 8 years
nkickha
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
twentytwofifteen
spacer Former players making phone calls to recruits
Cobbox®
spacer During the Contact period? Completely legal.***
Obed®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
jm1959®
spacer THIS!***
Judge Keller®
spacer I didn’t get any NIL money either…
Francis Marion®
spacer We’ve been beating this dead horse for the past 8 years.
colberttiger®
spacer Yep. Check rating matchups of acc-big10 challenge....
nctigs
spacer Grayson obviously isn't aware of our 100 years of
wildblulou®
spacer You're right.
Judge Keller®
spacer That's a fair point.
wildblulou®
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Harley®
spacer Yes, I'm sure our fans would love to go back to
Judge Keller®
spacer Re: Yes, I'm sure our fans would love to go back to
jdtiger98
spacer Re: Yes, I'm sure our fans would love to go back to
nctigs
spacer Grayson Marshall, if you`re reading these comments,......
TigerRick
spacer Well done David Hood
sbrooks
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
Ridgeland Booster®
spacer Doesn’t sound like Marshall is a Brownell fan***
97TigerPaw
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
warren
spacer The best statement. .
FORESTTIGER
spacer Re: TNET: Clemson hoops legend says basketball can, and should, do better
ILuvBrittany®