Brad Brownell shares importance of Jack Clark in Miami win

The Clemson Tigers are back on track, winning their third-straight game on Wednesday night defeating Miami 77-60 at home on Valentine’s Day. Representing the Tigers’ 26th win in school history on February 14, more wins than any other date on the calendar historically for the program.

Love was in the air in Littlejohn Coliseum and head coach Brad Brownell loved the way forward Jack Clark played for Clemson on Wednesday. And after the win, Brownell broke down how big his impact was on the Tigers’ 17th win of the season.

“Really big. We didn’t have Jack in the first game and it just helps with matchups, it helps us when we need to play smaller he can play some 4,” Brownell explained. “We can play three guards to match them and it just changes our team a little bit. We can play he and [Chauncey] Wiggins occasionally, obviously he can be the big 3 when he’s playing with Ian [Schieffelin] or RJ [Godfrey].”

Clark’s defensive versatility paid off for Clemson on Wednesday night, especially down the stretch when the Tigers went on a 29-6 run in the last 9:50 to secure the win.

He’s started in the last three games for Clemson, logging season-highs in minutes and scoring a season-high eight points for the Tigers versus the Hurricanes. Joining the team this offseason as a graduate transfer after spending the previous season at NC State and the prior three with La Salle. But according to Brownell, his impact went far beyond just scoring on Wednesday’s game.

“So his six defensive rebounds I think he had, he had no turnovers, he had three assists, had a great steal and layup, made a three. There’s one shot I didn’t like, but I thought he played a really good game and he’s an older guy,” Brownell explained. “So he’s been through some things and he was significant tonight.”

The 6-foot-10 forward from Pennsylvania has been very impactful in the past three games for Clemson, especially on the defensive end of the floor where he’s recorded four blocks, three steals, and 23 rebounds in his last three outings.

The Tigers have won their last three games when Clark’s been in the starting lineup, with his last start prior to the three-game stretch coming in the team’s upset win over Alabama in November.

He’s only played in 14 games this season due to injury, but has come back strong and may be the key ingredient in the Tigers’ recent winning ways. As Clemson takes on some familiar faces to Clark in their next matchup hosting NC State on Saturday at 7:45 p.m. ET.