Clemson men’s basketball tips off its 2023-2024 season on Monday when the Tigers face Winthrop, and spirits are high as Clemson is coming off one of its better seasons in years. There is still unfinished business for a team that started the 2022-2023 season with a 15-3 (7-0 ACC) record, including statement wins over NC State, Duke and Florida State.
However, the season deteriorated down the stretch, as following disappointing losses to Louisville, Boston College, South Carolina, and Loyola Chicago, Clemson fell short of the NCAA tournament.
This year’s team is striving for season-long consistency and a strong finish, allowing for a return to the big dance in March. Returning senior center PJ Hall and senior point guard Chase Hunter, the foundation is in place for Clemson’s 2023-2024 squad.
Hall, recently named to the preseason All-ACC First Team, averaged 15.3 points per game last season, shooting 39.8% from 3-point range. He was also one of the team’s best rebounders, recording 5.7 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Hunter is coming off a season in which he led the team in assists with 4.5 per game in addition to an average of 13.8 points per game.
Head coach Brad Brownell, now in his 14th season at the helm, landed four key transfers over the offseason. Shooting guard Joseph Girard III, who led Syracuse with 16.4 points last season and strongly considered entering the 2023 NBA draft, will suit up in a Clemson uniform for his fifth and final season of eligibility. The backcourt will be further supplemented by Air Force transfer Jake Heidbreder, who averaged 15.1 points and shot 39.9% from beyond the arc last season.
As for the frontcourt, former NC State forward Jack Clark and UNC Greensboro forward Bas Leyte will provide impactful shot-blocking and rebounding on the defensive side of the floor.
The Tigers will open the season against Winthrop at Littlejohn Coliseum at 7 p.m. on Monday, From there, Clemson will take part in the 2023 Asheville Championship at the Harrah’s Cherokee Center, squaring off against UAB on Friday, Nov. 10, at 9:30 p.m., followed by the winner of Maryland and Davidson on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 3 p.m.
As Brownell stated at the ACC Tipoff in Charlotte, North Carolina, “When you compete with players and coaches that you love and love being around, there’s no better feeling than accomplishing something together in that situation.”
