K.C. Rivers News

Clemson basketball coach Oliver Purnell watched a decade ago as his grandfather, whom he considered a parent, died following a painful bout with prostate cancer.

He's fast and he's a competitive kid. He's going to push Stitt to get better. ... Baciu has a good touch around the basket.

The University of Massachusetts has agreed to hire Memphis assistant and former Minuteman player Derek Kellogg as its new basketball coach, The Associated Press learned Tuesday. via Austin American-Statesman

Clemson's K.C. Rivers has decided to return to the Tigers for his senior season. via WPDE

“Guys like Jennings and conceivably Booker are the types you need to keep it rolling”

Upon returning from the Final Four this week, UCLA coach Ben Howland offered to hop on a plane and visit standout recruit Milton Jennings if it might delay his college decision. via The State

“The people in Memphis really look up to us. There's some crime problems and we've given them hope.”

Doneal Mack, the last Charlotte kid standing in this NCAA tournament, has been paying attention.

'Man, I was glad to see Stephen do so good this year,' said Mack, a Memphis reserve guard who's certain to see significant playing time today when the Tigers face UCLA in a national semifinal game at the Alamodome. 'If you talk to him, tell him Doneal Mack's been rooting for him.'

Mack was referring to Davidson's Stephen Curry, a friend of Mack's and the talk of the tournament until the Wildcats lost last week in the Elite Eight against Kansas. They've known each other for years, playing on the same AAU teams and, since they've gone off to college, summer ball together. Read more

“The key is Lawson. It seems like he's gotten another year (healthier) since we played them. It looks like he's really all the way back.”

CLEMSON -- Do not be surprised if Clemson junior guard K.C. Rivers tests the NBA draft waters, coach Oliver Purnell said Friday.

Purnell suggested that if Rivers would be invited to the Orlando pre-draft camp in late May, he perhaps ought to.

That is not to suggest Purnell recommends turning pro. But NCAA rules allow underclassmen to declare early entry once in the college careers and still return to school so long as they pay for travel and accommodations to NBA workouts.

'The way the rule is structured, it almost begs you to do it,' Purnell said. Read more

“The guys, our seniors, that was it for them. There's no more college basketball for them. It's above and beyond.”

Chalk it up to another step forward in the journey, and perhaps the pain will subside quicker. via The Greenville News

“I definitely took it off at the right time”

No more broken bones about it, Clemson's team doctors were not thrilled when senior forward James Mays discarded his hand brace. via Thestate.com

“I thought, if anything, what happened today got our guys ready to go”

For college basketball fans everywhere, Friday's first-round NCAA games at the St. via The Post and Courier

“The thing that impressed me most about them”

One of the two coaches who faced both Clemson University and Villanova University this season believes this might be the best first-round pairing in the NCAA Tournament. via GreenvilleOnline.com

“We came out flat in Tallahassee in Atlanta, and no way that happens on a stage like this.”

Wasn't able to provide any updates from the St. Pete Times Forum because the lovely NCAA is charging something like $500 for Internet access. via Post and Courier

“We feel privileged to be in this position right now”

Villanova coach Jay Wright spent the last three days talking to his team about avoiding a letdown following the emotional high of getting into the NCAA tournament. via News Observer

“We pretty much single-handedly devoured Duke in the paint”

Last week's second-half surge in a landmark triumph over Duke was more than the fruition of what coach Oliver Purnell has spent five seasons patiently building. via Post and Courier

“That's what we've done all year long. Most particularly after a loss, we've found a way to dig down. That is a characteristic that should serve us well.”

Of all the areas coach Oliver Purnell could be concerned about before Clemson's first NCAA tournament trip in a decade, he worries least about the Tigers' psyche. via Charlotte Observer

The school record for conference wins in a season is 11 set by the 1951-52 team that finished 11-4 in the Southern. via Inside Carolina

“We want another crack at them”

CHARLOTTE -- Fool with Clemson once, shame on North Carolina.

Fool with them twice, though, shame on the Tigers.

Third-seeded Clemson (24-8) has proven nobody's fool in this weekend's ACC tournament, but one lingering item has festered on the to-do list for its breakthrough season.

Having squandered a pair of overtime games to the No. 1-ranked Tar Heels (31-2), the Tigers got their wish for a grudge match after Saturday's landmark 78-74 semifinal victory against Duke.

'I don't want to give them any bulletin-board material, but we've given ourselves a chance to take advantage of,' senior forward James Mays said. Read more

The ACC's second-leading scorer will have to single-handedly shoot the Eagles to an upset. via Thestate.com

“We've won our share of those, and that's the reason we're in third place in the ACC”

Amid the emotional aftermath of Sunday's victory, coach Oliver Purnell took the public address microphone and told the crowd that the win was a perfect exclamation point to Clemson's regular season. via Thestate.com

Clemson guards K.C. Rivers and Cliff Hammonds were among the players selected for the All-ACC teams announced on Monday by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association . via The Greenville News