01-01-2025, 01:13 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-03-2025, 10:30 PM by martyup.
Edit Reason: update
)
Ten years ago, Stanford vs. Clemson on New Years Day might have been a Stanford fans dream - a College Football Playoff semifinal game pitting David Shaw against his good buddy Dabo Swinney. Today it can mean only one thing - ACC basketball!
Clemson (#34 per Massey vs. #83 Stanford) is favored by 10. The O/U is 142, so the implied score is 76-66. The Tigers are 10-3, with a big win against Kentucky and losses to Memphis, @ Boise St., & @ South Carolina. Last year they made it to the Elite 8 with wins over New Mexico, Baylor, & Arizona, before losing to Alabama.
The game is on the ACC network for anyone who wants to squeeze it in between the Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl. And if the Peach Bowl has already gotten boring for you, you can get a preview of Saturday's game at Pitt by tuning in now to watch Cal @ Pitt.
Clemson is led by Chase Hunter (#1, 6'4-1/2"/202 Gr G) who is in his 6th(!) year with the Tigers. He has started every game this season and the previous two. He averages 16.8ppg, shooting 48% from the field and 42% (32/75) on 3s. Ian Schieffelin (#4, 6'8"/240 Sr F) was named National Player of the Week in early December when he averaged 13.0ppg, 16.0rpg, & 3.1 apg in wins over Kentucky & Miami. He has started every game this season and last. For the season, he averages 13.8ppg, 11.6rpg, & 3.1apg.
The starting line-up has been the same in all 13 games. Other starters include: #0 Viktor Lakhin (6'11"/245 Sr C), a transfer from Cincinnati averaging 11.5ppg & 6.2rpg; #11 Jaeden Zackery (6'1"/218 Gr G), a 3-year starter from Boston College averaging 9.1ppg & 3.1apg); and #7 Chauncey Wiggins (6'10-1/2"/216 Jr F) averaging 4.8ppg. Jake Heidbreder (#3, 6'5-1/2"/180 Jr G), a 2-year starter at the Air Force Academy provides a spark off the bench with 12/24 shooting from 3 and 12/12 from the free throw line.
Stanford took a big step up in level of opposition when they played Oregon 11 days ago. They hung with the Ducks for most of the first half before getting blown out. Like the Ducks, Clemson is a big, veteran team. This is likely the toughest road trip of the season. It's probably a reach to hope for a win on the road at Clemson (and maybe Pitt - although they have some injuries and are currently down by 4 to Cal at the half). Coming off the Oregon experience with some time to recover and work on what they (hopefully) learned, I'll be watching for some growth & development - showing they can compete with upper echelon ACC teams. That might at least provide some optimism for more winnable games at home next week and for the rest of the season.
Clemson (#34 per Massey vs. #83 Stanford) is favored by 10. The O/U is 142, so the implied score is 76-66. The Tigers are 10-3, with a big win against Kentucky and losses to Memphis, @ Boise St., & @ South Carolina. Last year they made it to the Elite 8 with wins over New Mexico, Baylor, & Arizona, before losing to Alabama.
The game is on the ACC network for anyone who wants to squeeze it in between the Peach Bowl and Rose Bowl. And if the Peach Bowl has already gotten boring for you, you can get a preview of Saturday's game at Pitt by tuning in now to watch Cal @ Pitt.
Clemson is led by Chase Hunter (#1, 6'4-1/2"/202 Gr G) who is in his 6th(!) year with the Tigers. He has started every game this season and the previous two. He averages 16.8ppg, shooting 48% from the field and 42% (32/75) on 3s. Ian Schieffelin (#4, 6'8"/240 Sr F) was named National Player of the Week in early December when he averaged 13.0ppg, 16.0rpg, & 3.1 apg in wins over Kentucky & Miami. He has started every game this season and last. For the season, he averages 13.8ppg, 11.6rpg, & 3.1apg.
The starting line-up has been the same in all 13 games. Other starters include: #0 Viktor Lakhin (6'11"/245 Sr C), a transfer from Cincinnati averaging 11.5ppg & 6.2rpg; #11 Jaeden Zackery (6'1"/218 Gr G), a 3-year starter from Boston College averaging 9.1ppg & 3.1apg); and #7 Chauncey Wiggins (6'10-1/2"/216 Jr F) averaging 4.8ppg. Jake Heidbreder (#3, 6'5-1/2"/180 Jr G), a 2-year starter at the Air Force Academy provides a spark off the bench with 12/24 shooting from 3 and 12/12 from the free throw line.
Stanford took a big step up in level of opposition when they played Oregon 11 days ago. They hung with the Ducks for most of the first half before getting blown out. Like the Ducks, Clemson is a big, veteran team. This is likely the toughest road trip of the season. It's probably a reach to hope for a win on the road at Clemson (and maybe Pitt - although they have some injuries and are currently down by 4 to Cal at the half). Coming off the Oregon experience with some time to recover and work on what they (hopefully) learned, I'll be watching for some growth & development - showing they can compete with upper echelon ACC teams. That might at least provide some optimism for more winnable games at home next week and for the rest of the season.