QUICK NOTES: Clemson vs. Hofstra

The Tigers take on the Pride Friday night at 9:30 PM in the inaugural Charleston Classic.

Clemson vs. Hofstra Series
Friday’s game will mark just the third meeting ever between Clemson and Hofstra on the hardwood. the two schools played a home-and- home series in 1988-89 and 1989-90. the tigers claimed both contests over Hofstra under the direction of then Head Coach Cliff Ellis.

Clemson won the 1988-89 game by a score of 77-63 at Hofstra, then claimed a 91-58 victory in 1989-90 at home.

Clemson’s imposing frontcourt tandem of Elden Campbell and Dale Davis contributed mightily in the Tigers’ wins over Hofstra those years. Campbell posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds in the 1988-89 matchup, while Davis was one of 12 players from Clemson to score in the 1990 victory.

The Tiger program is 14-3 all-time against teams currently in the Colonial athletic association. most recently, Clemson defeated Caa foe old Dominion last season at home.

Scouting Hofstra
Hofstra returns four starters and 10 lettermen from the 2007-08 team that went 12-18 overall. Hofstra owns a 115-100 record in seven years under current Head Coach Tom Pecora.

Leading the way for the Pride this season should be Charles Jenkins, the CAA Rookie- of-the-Year last season. Jenkins, a 6-3 guard, averaged 15.0 points per game last year. the leading returner in the post is Darren townes,a 6-7 senior that averaged 8.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game last season.

Hofstra’s last postseason appearance came in 2007 in the national Invitation tournament.

The Charleston Classic Field
The 2008 field features eight teams: College of Charleston (host), Clemson, East Tennessee State, Hofstra, SIU-Edwardsville, Temple, TCU, and Western Michigan.

In the second round, the winner of the Clemson/Hofstra game will take on the winner between TCU and Western Michigan. the Broncos posted a 20-12 record last season, while TCU will be under the direction of first-year Head Coach Jim Christian. Temple, like Clemson, was an NCAA Tournament team last season. The Owls finished the year with a 21-13 record and won the atlantic 10 Conference tournament.

College of Charleston is under the direction of second-year coach Bobby Cremins, a name certainly familiar to Clemson fans. Cremins was in charge of the Georgia Tech program from 1981-2000. The Cougars were 16-17 in Cremins’ first year with the program.

East Tennessee State is 95-61 in five years under current Head Coach Murry Bartow. the tigers and Buccaneers played each other in the 2007 NIT,with Clemson coming out on top 64-57 at Littlejohn Coliseum.