By Will Vandervort.

Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said on Wednesday the men’s basketball program is pointing to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville to play home basketball games for the 2015-’16 basketball season, while a new arena is being built.

The women’s basketball program will more than likely play some of their home games somewhere else.

“We are excited about the opportunity of going to Greenville and playing the 2015-‘16 season because it gives us the opportunity to not only expose Clemson basketball, but ACC basketball to the Greenville area in hopes of making great momentum and having some of those fans come back to the rebuilt Littlejohn Coliseum when it opens in November of 2016,” Radakovich said.

From what The Clemson Insider has learned in talking with Graham Neff, Associate AD for Finances & Facilities at Clemson, the new arena project could begin as early as the completion of the 2014-’15 basketball season and no later than May.

Of course none of this has been finalized and things could change.

“Everything from the timing (of new a Littlejohn) is moving along well,” Radakovich said. “We have had three planning meetings with our programming used groups here on campus and the architects. They have gone really well and we are really excited about that. We will continue to have those through the month of August and begin to crystallize what it is going to look like and how it is going to be phased in the construction.

“It is an interesting project because it will include a practice facility for our men and women. So it is just not a redo of the inside.”

If the project is to start after the basketball season that could help alleviate the issue on where the basketball teams might practice once the project begins. If they start in March or April, it will give the builders a couple of extra months to begin the new practice facilities and coaches offices. That might allow the builders to get those things done or in a working order at least where the teams can practice.

Again, this is all still under discussion.

Other things Clemson is looking at in regards to practice facilities include, Fike, where the players and coaches will do individual workouts in the spring and summer, as well as using the Indoor Track Facility.

Clemson has two full length hardwood portable courts they use for basketball camps that are stored there and they can be set up for use. From what we understand, these basketball courts were bought by Oliver Purnell and they are in great shape. For the basketball coaches, this seems to be the more logical choice if the new practice facilities are not built in time when practice begins.

There are a couple of contingency plans as well in case neither one of the others work out. They are also still talking about where the two locker rooms might be located at and where the teams will workout during their off-season training.

“We are working on that right now,” Radakovich said. “We have few opportunities here on campus. Coach Brownell and Coach Smith—what I like about them—is that they see what is coming and they understand there might be a little bump in the road associated with some of those things.

“There might be a little bit of inconvenience along the way but the end result is going to be really positive for the programs. But we are working hard to try and find a spot here or one relatively close to campus.”