Nov. 5, 2001
Head Coach Jim Davis is in a race for time. He hopes that the veteran backcourt can carry the team until the young frontcourt matures and gains valuable experience.
“Inside play will be our greatest concern,” said Davis who is entering his 15th season at Clemson. “We have young, talented players, and it will take a while for them to get used to our system.
This coaching staff will need to be patient. Our perimeter game, I believe, is good enough to help us ‘get it done’ until we can get experience inside.
“One of the keys to the season will be how quickly our inside game matures, especially offensively. Our experience on the perimeter has to carry us to allow our young post players to develop. Turnovers should be down from last year. We should be very good at taking care of the basketball.”
Clemson has three starters and eight letterwinners returning from a team that finished 21-10 and 10-6 in the ACC. The Tigers also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finished 22nd in both the AP and USA Today polls.
“We obviously want to win 20 games, win the ACC Championship and get in the NCAA Tournament,” Davis said. “Our league will be very competitive this year and if we win the league this would be a great accomplishment for this team.
“The characteristics for this team will be similar to last season. This will be a team that can play up-tempo, be very creative, and hopefully be a team that can press and run. We have all of our perimeter players returning. I think Krystal Scott, Marci Glenney, Julie Aderhold, Lakeia Stokes and Kanetra Queen will all be very valuable to our team.
“Offensively, we will be explosive in the open court,” Davis continued. “We will have much more of a power game. My philosophy of the game is to beat the ball to the blocks and get on the free throw line. We struggled to score on the inside last year. Our inside scoring will be better this year.”
Back Court Clemson will feature one of the best backcourts in the nation with the return of second-team All-ACC performer Chrissy Floyd, who was also a Kodak District II All-American.
“In my opinion, I think our back court is the best in the ACC,” Davis said. “With returning starters Krystal Scott and Chrissy Floyd, sophomores Julie Aderhold back, I think we are solid on the perimeter.
“We have quickness, shooting ability, and athleticism. I like our guard situation and how it is shaping up. This back court compares to some of the best we have ever had at Clemson. I think this will be the deepest and strongest we have been in my tenure.”
Chrissy Floyd led the team in scoring for the second straight season with 16.9 ppg in 2000-01. She also led the ACC in free throw percentage and was the team leader in steals. She was second on the squad in assists.
“Floyd has been our leading scorer for the past two years,” Davis said. “She has improved in every phase of the game since she has been here. She gained great experience playing with the World University team this past summer.”
Krystal Scott was third on the team in scoring with 9.8 ppg. She led the team in assists with 115. Scott started 29 games last season and shot .479 from the floor. “Krystal Scott is a veteran player,” Davis said. “She is always among the leaders in assist-turnover ratio in the ACC. She is a strong player and will probably be a three-year starter. She knows what we are looking for and how to direct our team from the point guard position.”
Kanetra Queen played in 27 games last season. “Kanetra is a tremendous athlete and gained valuable experience last season,” Davis said. “She has great leadership qualities. Kanetra creates lots of problems for opponents with her defensive pressure.”
Lakeia Stokes played in 26 games last season and finished her freshman season with 3.2 ppg and 1.9 rpg. She also had 17 assists and 13 steals. “Stokes could potentially be one of the finest to ever play at Clemson University,” Davis said. “With her size and reach, she can create matchup problems for the opponents. Her slashing, cutting, driving abilities all compliment her aggressive style of play.”
As a freshman last season, Julie Aderhold played in all 31 games and started three. She averaged 5.5 ppg and 2.9 rpg. She was 25-32 from the three-point line and finished the year with 23 assists and 12 steals. “Julie is one of the finest pure shooters we’ve had at Clemson,” Davis said. “She led the team in three point field goal percentage. She has improved at shooting off the dribble and is a good rebounder from the guard position.”
Front Court At the small forward position, Clemson returns Marci Glenney and Heather Crowe from last year’s team. Glenney averaged 9.6 ppg in 24 starts. She was the Lady Tigers’ fourth leading scorer. She averaged 3.7 rpg and had 78 assists and 37 steals. “Marci is the most versatile member of our basketball team,” Davis said. “Her tough aggressive style of play and her ball-handling abilities make her a tough matchup at the small forward position.”
Crowe saw limited action last season due to a back injury. She only played in 12 games and saw 38 minutes of playing time. “Heather’s outside shooting ability is her strength. She has been hampered with injuries and that has slowed her development.”
Clemson signed two talented newcomers to the three position in Leah Roper and Khaili Sanders. Roper was an All-American from Gulf Coast Community College. On the inside, Clemson graduated its leading rebounder, Erin Batth, who averaged 12.1 ppg and 8.7 rpg. The only returnee to the four and five position is Maggie Slosser, who played in all 31 games averaging 2.8 ppg and 2.2 rpg.
Clemson added three newcomers, Lacey Shafer, Monica Blackmon and Tia Andrew to the four and five positions.
Sam Blackman is the associate sports information director at Clemson.
April 24, 2024
