SUNSET — It made sense Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell held his annual media golf tournament some 40 minutes away from Clemson on Wednesday. Like the basketball team, he needs to make sure the media gets used to the 40-minute commute it will experience for home basketball games this year.

Brownell held his media golf outing at The Reserve on Lake Keowee in Sunset, S.C., as it officially tipped off the college basketball season in Clemson. The men’s basketball team started practice last week.

While Littlejohn Coliseum is in the middle of its $63.5 million upgrade, the Tigers will play all of their home games this year at The Bon Secours Wellness Arena (The Well) in Greenville, which is about 45 minutes from Clemson.

“It is a challenge or an opportunity. You can view it either way you want,” Brownell said. “Certainly, there are some challenges. It is a unique season. There are some differences, but it is also an opportunity for us to continue to build our brand, build our fan base and build excitement in the program.”

The challenges for the Tigers lay in the logistics of practice, meetings and games. Clemson will continue to work out and practice in Clemson as the men’s team shares Jervey Gymnasium with the women’s program as well as the volleyball team. They will also travel a few times to Greenville for practice so they can get used to playing in that arena, while adjusting to that visual perspective when it comes to shooting the basketball.

“We just have to get more familiar with the building,” assistant coach Mike Winiecki said. “The more we can practice there and play there the better we will be shooting the ball there.”

Clemson scrimmaged at The Well on Monday, and they plan to make another trip there next week. Clemson will also host an exhibition game there on Nov. 5 against Lenoir-Rhyne.

“I think our athletic department has done a great job working with Bond Secure Wellness Arena and the city of Greenville to help market us and to make people aware that we are going to be playing up there,” Brownell said. “Some of the things they have done to the arena have really looked nice.

“It was a little fun for us to go up there and have a little bit of a dry run. Although a little chilly for us certainly. It is a nice arena.”

In Tuesday’s instrasquad s scrimmage, the Orange Team—led by Jaron Blossomgame—won 70-63 over three 12-minute segments. Blossomgame, the Tigers’ leading scorer from last year, scored a game-high 24 points, while connecting on 7 of 11 shots from the floor and 9 of 11 from the free throw line.

“I was pleased.” Brownell said. “We took care of the ball well for an early-season scrimmage. We did not turn the ball over much, which I think is important.”

Brownell said the Orange team, which he described as his starters, played very clean basketball.

“That’s something we have talked about … Taking care of the ball and trying to get quality shots. We are passing the ball a little bit better which is good. Jaron is certainly an outstanding player for us and is a guy you can watch him play and see that it is slowing down for him. He is making better decisions and is certainly playing with better confidence.”

Now they just have to get used to playing in a new arena.

“If we can get fans in there, it is going to be a great home court,” Brownell said. “There are some challenges with timing, practicing and guys wanting to get back in the gym and getting more shots. Certainly, there are some inconveniences, but it should not keep us from having a good year.”