The Clemson men’s basketball team will travel to Raleigh, North Carolina, to take on the NC State Wolfpack on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers are off to one of their strongest starts in ACC play and will look to continue this success on the road.
Clemson (17-4, 9-1 ACC) has shown resilience and consistency in recent weeks, with strong performances fueled by guard Chase Hunter, who is averaging 17.1 points a game, and forward Ian Schieffelin, who is grabbing 9.7 rebounds per game.
The Tigers’ offensive efficiency and defensive pressure have been the foundation of their success. The team is scoring 77.4 points per game and shooting 46.8% from the field, highlighting its ability to control the pace of the game.
Head coach Brad Brownell has emphasized the importance of limiting turnovers and staying out of foul trouble. Clemson is second in the turnover margin in the ACC, averaging 1.39 assists per turnover ratio this season.
The team in first? The Tigers’ opponent this weekend, the Wolfpack.
Across the court, NC State (9-11, 2-7 ACC) is led by a backcourt of Marcus Hill, who has averaged 12.8 points per game, with Jayden Taylor, who averages 12.5 a night.
Clemson will also face the former Tiger forward Ben Middlebrooks, who is now suiting up for NC State for his second season. Middlebrooks has been a defensive force for the Wolfpack, leading the team in blocks with 1.6 per game. Middlebrooks is proving to be a strong presence in the paint and averages 8.7 points a contest.
NC State will aim to dictate the tempo and force Clemson into foul trouble. This would open opportunities for its bench players to contribute, a factor that could swing the game in the Tigers’ favor.
The Tigers and the Wolfpack will face off at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on The CW Network.
