Clemson Tigers
Conference: Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
Head Coach: Brad Brownell (438-275 overall)
In his 15th Season at Clemson (271-190: .588)
Schedule (Record: 7-1)
11/04 Charleston So. W 91-64
11/08 Saint Francis W 88-62
11/12 Eastern Ky. W 75-62
11/17 at Boise St. L 71-84
11/21 Radford W 79-51
11/25 vs San Francisco W 70-55
11/26 vs Penn St. W 75-67
11/29 Florida A&M W 86-58
12/3 Kentucky (Littlejohn Coliseum: 9,000)
Game Info: Kentucky at Clemson: 9:30pm EST
This game is part of the ACC/SEC Challenge.
TV: ESPN (Karl Ravech and Jimmy Dykes)
Radio: UK Sports Radio (Tom Leach and Jack Givens)
Streaming: ESPN+, ESPN App
Probable Starters
#1 G Chase Hunter 6-4 202 Gr 16.4pts, 3.0reb, 2.4ast, 1.6blk, 46.5% 3fg
#4 F Ian Schieffelin 6-8 240 Sr 12.5pts, 11.6reb, 3.6ast, 1.1stl, 1.0blk, 22.2% 3fg
#0 C Victor Lakhin 6-11 245 Rs-Sr 11.1pts, 5.4reb, 1.3ast, 1.3stl, 1.4blk, 27.3% 3fg
#7 F Chauncey Wiggins 6-10 216 Jr 9.8pts, 2.9reb, 1.0ast, 40.0% 3fg
#11 G Jaeden Zackery 6-1 218 Gr 8.0pts, 2.8reb, 2.9ast, 1.9stl, 33.3% 3fg
Key Reserves
#2 G Dillon Hunter 6-3 192 Jr 6.4pts, 2.9reb, 38.1% 3fg
#10 G Del Jones 6-2 187 Fr 5.5pts, 1.9reb, 1.3ast, 31.6% 3fg
#6 F Myles Foster 6-7 245 Gr 4.1pts, 2.9reb, 66.7% 3fg
#3 G Jake Heidbreder 6-5 180 Rs-Jr 3.7pts, 0.7reb, 0.7ast, 53.8% 3fg
#14 C Christian Reeves 7-2 253 Rs-So 1.9pts, 1.6reb, no 3pt threat
Team Statistics
Points per game 79.4
Points allowed 62.9
Scoring margin +16.5
Field goal pct .477
FG% allowed .408
3-point FG pct .398
3FG% allowed .326
Free throw pct .730
Rebounds per game 37.8
Rebounds allowed 30.9
Rebounding margin +6.9
Assists per game 14.8
Turnovers per game 11.1
Assist/turnover ratio 1.3
Steals per game 8.0
Blocks per game 3.1
KenPom Stats
Overall Offense: #36
Overall Defense: #24
Best Numbers
Offensive Block %: #15 (they don’t get blocked)
3pt%: #17 (39.8%)
Off Reb%: #37
Effective FG%: #56
Worst Numbers
FTA/FGA: #216 (they don’t get to the line)
3pt% defense: #160
Defensive Block%: #160
2pt%: #149
Analysis: On Tuesday night at 9:30pm EST, Kentucky travels to Clemson for the primetime matchup on ESPN for night 1 of the ACC/SEC Challenge. This will be UK’s first true road game on the young season, though the Cats have played away from home, on a neutral court in Atlanta, against Duke back on November 12. Kentucky enters the game at 7-0 with an average win of 96.7-68.1 for a 28.6 margin, though these numbers have been compiled mostly at home and against inferior competition. UK’s toughest challenge to date came against Duke, which ended in a 77-72 victory. As for Clemson, they’ve played a few tougher teams than UK's home schedule, though they did suffer a loss in their lone true road game at Boise State by a score of 84-71. The Tigers have played 2 other games on neutral courts (at Daytona Beach, FL) against a couple better teams. They beat San Francisco 70-55 and they beat Penn St 75-67. It should be noted, Boise State has since lost 61-63 to #127 Boston College on a neutral court. Regardless, there is no question, this will be Kentucky’s 2nd toughest game to date, given that it's their first true road game and against a major conference foe.
Looking at Clemson, the first thing that jumps out at me is the fact that they were an Elite 8 team last season and return 3 key starters from that team. They’ve been a solid team for 2 consecutive seasons. And though they lost 2 starters and a 3rd key player from last year’s team, their size, rebounding, and 3pt shooting percentage this season are very impressive. They are expected to finish 4th overall in the ACC according to their preseason media vote. Looking at their starting 5, they put 3 guys 6-8 and taller on the floor. Considering this, it’s no wonder they are strong on the boards, grabbing 36% of their offensive rebounds and averaging a +7 rebounding advantage overall. By the numbers, their strongest offensive stat is their 3pt shooting. They average 39.8% from 3, which is #17 in the nation, although, they don’t shoot a huge number of threes. Because of their size advantage over most opponents, they are more of an inside-out attack offensively. They’re also very solid defensively. They don’t have any huge defensive efficiency numbers, though they don’t have any glaring deficiencies, either.
Looking at Clemson’s personnel, their leading scorer is #1 Chase Hunter, a 6-4 202lb Graduate shooting guard who averages 16.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 blocks, and shoots 46.5% from 3. He does a little bit of everything for the Tigers. The big man who is averaging a double-double is #4 Ian Schieffelin a 6-8 240lb Senior power forward averaging 12.5 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steal, 1.0 blockk, and shooting 22.2% from 3. He’s another stat stuffer for the Tigers and will definitely require UK’s full attention. He even leads the team in assists from the power forward position. The center for Clemson is #0 Victor Lakhin, a 6-11 245lb Rs-Sr averaging 11.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals, 1.4 blocks, and shooting 27.3% from 3. Between Schieffelin and Lakhin, it's easy to see why Clemson’s offense is inside-out, despite their excellent numbers from 3. The 3rd big man, who actually plays small forward, is #7 Chauncey Wiggins, a 6-10 216lb Junior averaging 9.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and shooting 40.0% from 3. He’s really tough for most teams to guard because of his height and length and his ability to make threes. The point guard for the Tigers is #11 Jaeden Zackery, a 6-1 218lb Graduate averaging 8.0 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and shoots 33.3% from 3.
From the bench, their leading scorer is #2 Dillon Hunter a 6-3 192lb Junior (brother of Chase) averaging 6.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and shooting 38.1% from 3. Also from the bench, a back-up point guard is #10 Del Jones , a 6-2 187lb Freshman averaging 5.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and shooting 31.6% from 3. The back-up power forward is #6 Myles Foster a 6-7 245lb Graduate averaging 4.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and shooting 66.7% from 3 (though he’s only shot 2-3 on the season. The backup at small forward is #3 Jake Heidbreder , a 6-5 180lb Redshirt-Junior averaging 3.7 points and shooting 53.8% from 3. The back-up center is #14 Christian Reeves a 7-2 253lb Redshirt-Sophomore averaging 1.9 points, 1.6 rebounds and has played in every game, but only about 6 minutes.
I think some of the respect Clemson has received from various services is because of that Elite 8 run they made last season. The problem they have right now is that they got the attention of college basketball, but they lost PJ Hall, Joseph Girard, and RJ Godfrey from that Elite 8 team. PJ Hall may be the best player who has ever played at Clemson, he's definitely one of the best. He averaged 18.3 points, led the team in blocks and steals, and was 2nd in rebounds. And then they lost Girard who made 105 threes last season while shooting 41.3% and also shot 93.5% from the FT line. Godfrey didn’t score like those 2, but he was a defensive stopper, which we all know is vitally important to a good team. All of that to say, I think the numbers still need to catch up for Clemson. On a neutral court, I think UK wins by 10+. Still, they will be tough to beat at home, I have no doubt. And it is UK’s first true road game with a brand new team facing a solid defensive squad. The thing I love about our team is our experience. It will be very important in this game. KenPom predicts Clemson to win a one-point game 77-76. Haslametrics (77-76) have the Tigers winning by one point as well. Bart Torvik says UK 76-Clemson 75) and EvanMiya says UK 77- Clemson 76. So, the numbers guys are split. I think UK will face a tough test and it will be close to the end, but ultimately the Cats get the win.
My Prediction: Kentucky 81 Clemson 76
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