Coming off a pivotal victory against the SMU Mustangs, Clemson men’s basketball is returning to Littlejohn Coliseum for an ACC matchup against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Wednesday night.
The Tigers are on a roll in the final stretch of the season, having won their last four matchups and nine of their last 10. With a win, Clemson (22-5, 14-2) will break its record for most ACC wins in a season.
The Fighting Irish (12-15, 6-10) have struggled throughout the season, and current standings show they may hold a losing record for the third straight year. The team has stalled on both sides of the ball, averaging 73.3 points per game and allowing 71.9 a contest. Notre Dame has shown some signs of life recently, winning two of its last four, including a 4-point victory over Pittsburgh this past Saturday.
This matchup is pivotal for both teams in terms of ACC seeding. Sitting at No. 14 in the conference, the Fighting Irish are vying for a spot in the 15-team ACC Tournament in March. Clemson is currently No. 2 in the conference and would clinch a double-bye in the tournament with a win. Just one game behind Duke, the Tigers likely need to win out for any opportunity at their first regular season ACC crown in 35 years.
The Tigers have caught fire at the perfect time, led by an array of exceptional scorers. Jaeden Zackery dazzled against SMU, scoring 19 points and a career-high five 3-pointers to help elevate the Tigers to victory.
While the transfers have been exceptional this season, the homegrown talent has stood out most importantly. Chase Hunter is averaging 17 points per game, notching over two 3-pointers a game while shooting 42% from beyond the arc.
For Notre Dame, guard Markus Burton has been an electrifying spark plug for a dormant offense. The sophomore is averaging 20.3 points on the season. Junior Tae Davis took control in Notre Dame’s last matchup, scoring 21 points in the win against Pitt. The forward is averaging 15.8 points per game.
As is the case with most games, the key component for Clemson comes on the defensive side of the ball. Brad Brownell has been excellent at neutralizing star power, and it will be vital for the Tigers to take care of business against Burton and Davis. If Clemson can force the Fighting Irish to rely on other members of the Notre Dame offense, the Irish will have a difficult path to victory on Wednesday.
Offensively, the Tigers need to continue to facilitate well. Their 24 assists against SMU was the highest team total since November 2023. Moving the ball fluidly and playing a selfless offense is where this team shines and is vital for this contest.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m., as the Tigers hope to build upon their winning streak.
