The Clemson Tigers stunned the No. 4-ranked Kentucky Wildcats 70-66 on Tuesday night in a thrilling late-night ACC/SEC Challenge matchup. The entire college basketball world had its eyes honed on Clemson’s “Grit after dark,” which tipped off at 9:30 p.m.
The Tigers’ win was fueled by a dominant performance on the glass and defensive end from Ian Schieffelin. He finished the night with a double-double, scoring 11 points, 20 rebounds and four assists.
Despite his offensive struggles shooting the ball, his ability to box defenders out in the paint led to various momentum swings and defensive stops. The eight offensive rebounds he hauled in were one of the key reasons why Clemson (8-1) was able to stay ahead for the majority of the game.
Clemson, however, did not shoot particularly well from the field. The Tigers shot 36.9% from the field, shooting 32% from behind the arc and 73.7% from the free-throw line. Despite this, though, they were able to make shots at the right points of the game to give them the edge.
In addition to the clutch gene that runs through the Tigers’ blood, they were also able to display why they are a strong team. They made up for their lack of efficiency by smothering an elite Kentucky offense. The Wildcats were rated the No. 1 offense in the country in terms of total points per game heading into the Clemson matchup, averaging 96.7 PPG.
Clemson held the Wildcats (7-1) to just 66 points. What separates a great team from an average team is how it responds to adversity, and Clemson was able to respond to the adversity it faced offensively by ensuring it would have success defensively.
“We didn’t have the shooting night we wanted, but we got the guys to defend and guard, and I’m proud of them,” guard Chase Hunter said following the win.
Clemson’s bench rotation was also key in propelling them over Kentucky. The Tigers’ bench scored 15 points, with a handful coming in pivotal moments. On the other hand, the Wildcats’ bench had just seven points.
The bench unit also played a key role in determining the pace of the game and Clemson’s ability to swing momentum to its side with crucial defensive plays.
“I’m proud of our bench. Dillon (Hunter), Myles Foster and Del (Jones) were all able to help match Kentucky’s speed,” head coach Brad Brownell said.
One of the concerns for Clemson heading into this anticipated matchup was if the team would be able to match the quickness and prowess of the Kentucky offense, and it did.
The Tigers now have a convincing win against the Wildcats under their belt, which the NCAA Tournament committee will certainly look at in March. Clemson will now head down to Coral Gables, Florida, and pay a visit to the Miami Hurricanes at noon on Saturday.
