Tag: Shawn Poppie

Clemson basketball falls to Dawn Staley’s South Carolina Gamecocks, 77-45

Clemson led in the first half but a big South Carolina run led the Gamecocks to a win over the Tigers at Littlejohn Coliseum Wednesday night.

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Clemson Tigers (3-1) led for more than 11 minutes in the first half against No. 1 South Carolina, but couldn’t overcome a big run from the Gamecocks (5-0), who pulled away for a 77-45 win in Littlejohn Coliseum in the Palmetto Series presented by the South Carolina Education Lottery.

Graduate Loyal McQueen led the Tigers with 15 points, while Mia Moore added 12 points and six rebounds. The Tigers shot .389 from outside, knocking down seven three pointers on 18 attempts and hit all 12 of their free throw attempts in the contest.

The low-scoring first quarter saw Clemson’s defense, which entered the game ranked first in the nation in scoring defense and third in field goal percentage defense, hold the Gamecocks to just five field goals over 27 attempts (.185) in the first 12 minutes of gameplay. Clemson was able to open up a modest 7-4 lead behind McQueen, and the Tigers led 11-10 after the first quarter.

The Tigers opened up a 17-12 lead on Mia Moore’s three-pointer from the top of the key with 5:18 to play in the half, and led for more than 11 minutes in the first half. However, South Carolina scored the game’s next 23 points, spanning halftime, to take a 35-17 lead early in the third quarter. Clemson cut it to 37-26 midway through the third quarter, but South Carolina again responded, closing on a 14-5 run.

UP NEXT: The Clemson Tigers will travel to Florida to Destin November 25-26 where they will compete in the Emerald Coast Classic.

CLEMSON LEADERS: Loyal McQueen 15 points 2 assists (4-15 FG, 1-2 3FG, 6-6 FT), Mia Moore 6 rebounds, Tessa Miller 2 assists

NOTABLES:

  • This was Coach Poppie’s first meeting with South Carolina.
  • Loyal McQueen’s fourth consecutive game scoring in double figures.
  • The Tigers held the Gamecocks to 14% from 3FG on one made three in the first half.
  • Clemson shot 7-18 from behind the arc.
  • Clemson shot 12-12 from the free throw line.

—via Clemson Athletic Communications

Clemson lands All-Conference forward Raven Thompson

Poppie continues to make waves in the transfer portal.

CLEMSON, S.C. – Clemson Head Women’s Basketball Coach Shawn Poppie announced the signing of junior transfer Raven Thompson.

Thompson, a 5’10” junior from Atlanta, Ga., comes to Clemson after being selected to the 2024 Southern Conference First Team All-Conference in her sophomore campaign. In her 32 games for the Mocs last season, Thompson averaged 14.2 points per game, seven rebounds per game, shot 45 percent from the floor and 38 percent from beyond the arc.

As a scorer, Thompson put up double-digit points 26 times last season, including five games with 20 or more points. Her career high of 27 points came last season against Richmond. She closed the year out making her second-consecutive SoCon All-Tournament Team.

In her freshman season with the Mocs, Thompson was named the 2023 SoCon Freshman of the Year after averaging 14.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per outing. She shot 51 percent from the floor for the whole season and was named to the SoCon Second Team All-Conference, the SoCon All-Freshman Team, SoCon All-Tournament First Team, and was named the SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Player.

During her prep years in Atlanta at Langston Hughes High School, Thompson’s teams had an 85-29 record over four years. She finished her career with 1,365 points and 1,008 rebounds, and averaged 18 points, 10 boards, three assists and three steals per game. She also played for the Panthers’ softball team.

Thompson is the seventh transfer to join the 2024-25 Tigers. There are now 14 players on Clemson’s roster.

POPPIE’S THOUGHTS

I’m thrilled to add Raven Thompson to our Clemson family. Raven and I have had two years together in which she was the Freshman of the Year and a two-time All-Southern Conference selection. She will add some versatility to our roster as she doesn’t really have a true position. Raven’s ability to stretch the floor and be a playmaker off the dribble make her very guard like. With that said, she has the ability to make plays with her back to the basket as well like a post player. Raven is a high character kid whose personality and bright smile becomes contagious. I’m looking forward to continuing Raven’s development on and off the court.

TICKETS: Deposits for season tickets can be made at https://bit.ly/3TSTzQ9.

-Via Clemson Athletic Communications

Clemson women’s basketball adds two players in transfer portal

Clemson Women’s Basketball: The Clemson Tigers announced two new additions to the team’s 2024-25 roster.

The Clemson women’s basketball program has announced the addition of two new players to coach Shawn Poppie’s first roster via the transfer portal.

One of them is North Carolina graduate transfer Anya Poole, who signed with Clemson on Monday after spending four seasons in Chapel Hill. A 6-foot-2 forward from Raleigh, N.C., Poole started 74 games for the Tar Heels and was a part of three NCAA Tournament teams.

Her two best seasons were in 2021-22 and 2022-23. As a sophomore, Poole started all 32 games and averaged 20.2 minutes and 7.5 points a night with 6.5 rebounds. In her junior season, she averaged five points and 5.9 rebounds in 21.2 minutes. Poole saw action in 30 games a season ago, making six starts and averaging 12.3 minutes.

Poole was a five-star recruit out of Southeast Raleigh High School by ESPNW in 2020.

“I’m extremely excited to announce the addition of Anya Poole to our Clemson family,” Poppie said in a statement released by Clemson Athletic Communications Monday. “Anya will fill a big void in our front court. As we identified a need at that position, we looked for experience at this level, a physical presence, and someone with the ability to be versatile. Anya checked all of our boxes and finished the last check as being our type of kid. I initially recruited Anya and her family during the high school process and our relationship picked right back up throughout this process. Anya will represent our program in a great way on and off the court while I know she looks forward to getting involved with our ClemsonLIFE program.”

Clemson also announced Monday the addition of senior transfer Addie Porter, a starting point guard on Poppie’s two NCAA Tournament teams when he was head coach at Chattanooga. A 5-foot-4 guard, Porter started all 33 games for the Mocs last season, averaging 7.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

“Addie is the definition of toughness and high character,” Poppie said in a statement. “She helped lead our Chattanooga program to back-to-back tournament championships from the point guard position. Addie understands our culture and lives it out on a daily basis. I believe her leadership skills will bridge the gap to the culture we plan on establishing here at Clemson. As a coach, I pride myself on building strong relationships with my players that allows us to grow together. I couldn’t be more proud as a coach that Addie chose to finish her senior season at Clemson, allowing me to play a part not only in this upcoming year but the next forty years.”

Poppie’s roster is now up to 13 players with the additions of Poole and Porter. The coach’s transfer class also includes former Chattanooga guard Hannah Kohn and former Mercer guard Summah Evans, the Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2022-23.

Former Belmont standout and All-Missouri Valley Conference selection Tessa Miller also transferred to Clemson earlier this month, as did former Alabama starter and South Carolina native Loyal McQueen. McQueen averaged 9.8 points per game in almost 31 minutes a night as the Crimson Tide’s starting point in all 34 games a season ago.

Clemson lands former Alabama starter in transfer portal

Clemson Women’s Basketball: Loyal McQueen, a former Alabama Crimson Tide starter, has landed with the Clemson Tigers via the transfer portal.

The Clemson women’s basketball team has landed a big commitment via the transfer portal.

The Tigers announced the signing of former Alabama starting point guard and South Carolina native Loyal McQueen in an official social media post to X, formerly known as Twitter, Wednesday.

A native of Florence, S.C., McQueen chose Alabama over coach Dawn Staley and South Carolina in 2022. McQueen spent two seasons in Tuscaloosa, where she was the Crimson Tide’s starting point guard in all 34 games in 2023-24, averaging 9.8 points per game in almost 31 minutes a night.

McQueen was part of an Alabama team that won 24 games and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to Texas. A graduate transfer student, McQueen set career highs last season for games played, points scored (332), rebounds (99), assists (105) and steals (25).

In all, McQueen played in 65 games in two seasons for Alabama. The former standout at Wilson High School was the 2020 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year.

Tigers coach Shawn Poppie shared his thoughts on Poppie returning to her home state to play for Clemson.

“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Loyal and her family back home. I’ve known Loyal for quite some time as I recruited her at an early age while I was at Virginia Tech. She’s one of those I’ve always watched and been a fan of from afar due to how strong our relationship was during the initial recruiting process. As Loyal and I reconnected in this process, our relationship together grew even tighter. I believe she is a perfect fit here at the perfect time. She has had a phenomenal college career up to this point, but I truly believe she has so much more to accomplish. I’m thrilled to add her experience and playmaking ability to our backcourt. With that said, I’m confident the Clemson family and the state of South Carolina will be proud of how Loyal will represent our program on and off the court as we welcome her back HOME.”

McQueen becomes the second addition Poppie has made via the transfer portal this week. On Tuesday, the Tigers announced the commitment of sophomore transfer Hannah Kohn, who became a standout shooter at Chattanooga last season. Kohn reunites with Poppie, the former Mocs coach, at Clemson.

WATCH: Shawn Poppie introduced as Clemson women’s basketball coach

Clemson women’s basketball: Shawn Poppie formally met with the media as part of his introduction as Clemson’s new women’s basketball coach Tuesday.

Clemson has a new face for its women’s basketball program.

Shawn Poppie was officially introduced as the school’s new coach at an introductory press conference with reporters Tuesday.

Poppie was hired last month after Clemson parted ways with Amanda Butler, who had led the program for six years. Clemson hasn’t been to the NCAA women’s basketball tournament since 2019, Butler’s first season.

“This (hire) coincides with the tremendous growth of women’s basketball,” Clemson athletic director Graham Neff said during his opening statement at Tuesday’s press conference. “It’s undeniable, watching games (Monday) and certainly over the last couple weeks, couple years. .. Really, really significant growth in that sport and really, really exciting for Clemson to double down on our anticipation, our excitement, and our investment in all 21 of our programs. But in particular, on this day, women’s basketball.”

Poppie joins Clemson after two seasons at Chattanooga. He posted a 48-18 record as head coach there and led the Mocs to NCAA Tournament appearances in both years.

Here’s everything Poppie said at Tuesday’s introductory press conference, as well as remarks from Neff.

With Shawn Poppie hire, Clemson hopes to turn its women’s basketball program into contender

NCAA Women’s Basketball: Clemson is hoping to turn its women’s basketball program into an annual contender. To do so, the university tabbed Chattanooga’s Shawn Poppie as its new head coach on Tuesday.

Clemson is hoping to turn its women’s basketball program into an annual contender.

To do so, the university tabbed Chattanooga’s Shawn Poppie as its new head coach on Tuesday. The 38-year-old Poppie replaces Amanda Butler, whom the university parted ways with after a disappointing 12-19 season that included just five wins in conference play. Butler had led the program for six seasons. Clemson hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2019, Butler’s first year.

In two seasons at Chattanooga, Poppie led the Mocs to a 48-18 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances. Poppie was named the 2023-24 Southern Conference Coach of the Year. Chattanooga won the Southern Conference championship in each of the past two seasons. They lost, 64-45, to No. 3 seed NC State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday.

“We are thrilled to welcome Shawn and his family to Clemson,” Clemson athletic director Graham Neff said Tuesday. “As we worked through our search process, his name kept coming up in several circles, and the on-court results speak for themselves. He’s coached and recruited at a high level, has experience in the ACC and in the upstate, and we are confident in his ability to get our program to the next level.”

Poppie received a six-year contract from Clemson worth $3.375 million annually through the 2029-2030 season. The agreement was officially approved by the Board of Trustees’ compensation committee on Tuesday. Poppie will earn $500,000 next season, plus an additional $25,000 until the final year of the contract when he’s expected to be paid $625,000. He will also receive a signing bonus of $435,000.

More details about Poppie’s contract, including bonuses, can be found at The Clemson Insider, which first reported the news of Poppie’s hire.

“I am beyond excited to be joining the Clemson Tiger family as the next head women’s basketball coach,” Poppie said in a statement Tuesday. “I am thankful to Graham Neff, Stephanie Ellison-Johnson, and the Clemson University administration for making our family feel welcome. It truly has been a humbling experience getting to know why Clemson is so special — it’s the people. With the resources in place and everyone moving in synergy together, I believe we can compete in the ACC, the best women’s basketball conference in the country.”

Poppie has ties to the ACC, having spent six years as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech. Before becoming the head coach at Chattanooga, Poppie had been promoted to associate head coach on Kenny Brooks’ Virginia Tech staff ahead of the 2020-21 season.

TAKEAWAY

The popularity of women’s basketball, particularly at the college level, is at an all-time high because of celebrated players like Iowa’s Caitlin Clark, LSU’s Angel Reese, and more. Understandably, Clemson wants to become a serious player in the sport. Doing so won’t be easy, but every program has had to start somewhere.

Look no further than the Tigers’ in-state rival in Columbia.

South Carolina was hardly a national or even regional power prior to the late 2010’s. Now, the Gamecocks regularly offer one of the best programs in the country. They have won two national championships since 2017 under coach Dawn Staley and are bidding for a third. South Carolina is a perfect 34-0 this season, and their 109-40 win over Clemson back in November was their 13th straight victory over the Tigers.

While short on championships, the ACC has been a premier women’s basketball league for several years. A total of eight league schools — Virginia Tech, NC State, Notre Dame, Syracuse, Louisville, Florida State, Duke, and North Carolina — reached the 2024 NCAA Women’s Tournament. It’s the sixth straight year that eight ACC teams made the tournament.

To that end, Poppie’s familiarity with the ACC from his time in Blacksburg is something Clemson and Neff clearly valued.

What’s also clear is that the Tigers’ five-year drought from the NCAA Tournament was unacceptable to Neff and others within the administration — as well it should be.

In Poppie, Clemson has hired a coach with a proven record of getting teams to the NCAA Tournament. True, Poppie will face an uphill battle to build the Tigers into a program that consistently competes in March, but there’s nothing to suggest that he isn’t a good fit for the school, or that the Tigers were in better hands prior to his arrival.

Case in point: South Carolina 109, Clemson 40.

Clemson women’s basketball hires new head coach, per report

Clemson women’s basketball has their new head coach.

The Clemson women’s basketball team has found their new head coach.

According to reports from our friends over at the Clemson Insider, the program is hiring former Chattanooga head coach Shawn Poppie. Clemson’s head coaching search has come to an end, landing one of the better coaches in the country.

Poppie made significant strides as head coach of the Chattanooga women’s basketball team, guiding them to consecutive Southern Conference Tournament championships and securing NCAA Tournament appearances each season. Under his leadership, the Mocs boasted an impressive 48-18 overall record, including an outstanding 28-5 mark in the 2023-24 season.

Before his tenure at Chattanooga, Poppie contributed to the success of various programs. He served as an assistant coach at Virginia Tech, where he played a key role in six consecutive winning seasons and helped lead the team back to the NCAA Tournament after a 15-year absence. Prior to that, Poppie gained coaching experience at Furman University and USC Upstate, showcasing his dedication to developing winning teams. Starting his coaching journey at Limestone College, Poppie’s stellar playing career and coaching acumen earned him induction into the school’s Hall of Fame in 2017.