CHARLOTTE — Despite all the new faces, the Clemson basketball team is dreaming big.

In past years, Brad Brownell and the Tigers have been content with just making it into the NCAA Tournament. After having now made back-to-back appearances, Clemson is now setting its sights on a bigger prize.

“We are consistently trying to play meaningful games in March, with a chance to advance,” Brownell said during the ACC Tipoff from the Hilton Uptown in Charlotte on Wednesday. “If you are doing that then you are fielding a very competitive team. When you get a chance to play in the tournament, anything can happen. That’s my dream, to take Clemson to the Final Four.”

Senior guard Dillon Hunter is the only non-freshman who returns from last season’s team that was bounced in the first round by Drake. However, Hunter was sidelined most of the postseason with a broken hand, a loss that had a drastic impact on the Tigers’ chances of advancing.

Brownell landed six transfers during the offseason. He added a lot of size to the roster, signing four post players, while also adding two guards to play alongside Hunter in the backcourt.

Despite having so many new pieces, this team wants more. Having experienced playing in the Elite Eight during the 2023-24 season, Hunter says the team has even bigger goals this season.

“I feel like at Clemson, we have a different motto now,” Hunter said. “Early on, it was just we’re going to the tournament, but now we’re trying to win national championships.”

One of those goals is to help bring home the program’s first-ever ACC Championship. Only twice since its inception in 1953 have the Tigers even reached the championship game in the ACC Tournament.

For Hunter, this year feels different, and he feels like this team has a shot at making some history.

“I would love to win a championship,” Hunter said. “That’s all that’s on my mind, championships and winning the ACC championship. We were short last year. National championship, we have it written all over the board.”