Memphis continues its treacherous non-conference schedule by facing its highest-ranked opponent to date: #13 Clemson. The two Tiger squads will do battle inside the FedEx Forum on Saturday, December 16th at 2 p.m. ESPN+ will have the matchup coverage.
What can Memphis expect out of Clemson?
Clemson Roster Preview
Clemson is led by Brad Brownell, who is in his 14th season at the helm of the program. The Tigers are undefeated at 9-0, with victories over Alabama, Pitt, South Carolina, TCU, and more. They currently rank 11th in the NCAA NET Rankings.
Clemson retained roster continuity despite losing two of their top four leading scorers from last season, Hunter Tyson and Brevin Galloway. This continuity has allowed them to run a deep rotation, with nine players playing over 13 minutes per contest.
Their depth has also helped them manage some injury issues afflicting their rotation. Senior Jack Clark, who has started three games this season, has been out since late November with an undisclosed injury. Fifth-year senior guard Alex Hemenway, who started 11 games last season, has also been out since late November. According to Brownell, neither is expected to return before Christmas, meaning they are likely out against Memphis.
Backcourt Rotation
Clemson has one of the better backcourts in the ACC with seniors Joe Girard III and Chase Hunter. Girard (15.1 PPG) and Hunter (10.4 PPG) each average double figures for the Tigers.
Joe Girard is one of the conference’s top shooters, connecting on a ridiculous 28 of 63 attempts from beyond the arc this season. That number is good for a 44.4% mark. Girard spent his first four collegiate seasons at Syracuse, where he started 123 games and racked up 1,652 career points. While he’s best as an off-ball shooter and spot-up threat, he can make plays off the bounce and run the pick and roll effectively.
Chase Hunter is in his fifth year with the Clemson program and is coming off his best season. He averaged 13.8 PPG and 4.5 APG during the 2022-23 campaign. His numbers and efficiency have taken a hit to start the season, but he is still a threat as a three-level scorer. At 6’4, 200 pounds, Hunter has a physical frame and versatile skillset to boot, able to score in various ways. He’s an above-average athlete, too, functioning as an effective transition player with a few highlight-reel dunks to his name. Hunter is a solid playmaker, leading the team in assists at 3.6 per night.
Backcourt Depth
With Alex Hemenway unavailable, sophomores Josh Beadle and Dillon Hunter have stepped up. Clemson usually sees solid contributions from one or both members of this duo in each game.
Beadle and Hunter provide instant energy and athleticism in their roles off the bench. While neither Beadle (3.0 PPG) nor Hunter (2.7 PPG) stands out on the stat sheet, they can each impact the game without scoring. This versatility makes them invaluable pieces to Brad Brownell’s team.
Hunter is the brother of star Chase Hunter and is a solid playmaker, averaging 2.2 assists per game. Beadle, meanwhile, is an athletic, slashing guard who has shot 52.6% from the floor.
Frontcourt Rotation
The strength of this Clemson team comes in the frontcourt, and they’re led by one of the best players in the ACC. Senior center PJ Hall has played like an All-ACC First-Teamer this season. He’s averaging 20.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game, shooting 55% from the floor and 40.5% from three. The 6’10 big man can score from all areas of the floor and is the engine that makes this Clemson team go. Malcolm Dandridge will have a challenging task dealing with Hall, especially with the likely absences of Jordan Brown and recent addition Nae’Qwan Tomlin.
Junior Ian Schieffelin and sophomore Chauncey Wiggins are paired with Hall in the frontcourt. Schieffelin is one of the ACC’s most underrated players. He’s one of the top rebounders in the conference on both ends of the floor, averaging 9.6 rebounds per game and 3.3 offensive rebounds per game. Schieffelin possesses a physical playstyle, working hard for position on both ends, carving out space in the post, and setting solid screens. He can step out and shoot it at a decent rate, connecting on five of eight attempts early on. Furthermore, Schieffelin has been a reliable scorer, averaging 8.9 points a night.
Chauncey Wiggins is a jumbo-sized wing at 6’10 who brings even more versatility to the Clemson frontcourt. He’s improved in his sophomore season, playing well in a catch-and-shoot role. Wiggins has connected on 34.8% attempts from beyond the arc this season. He has a high release point and can shoot over smaller defenders in the post. He can get to his shot in multiple ways and has a lightning-quick release. Wiggins scored a combined 27 points against Pitt and South Carolina.
Frontcourt Depth
Frontcourt depth for the Tigers comes from sophomore RJ Godfrey and senior Bas Leyte.
Godfrey is an athletic 6’8 forward with a nice touch around the rim. He has good footwork in the paint and is also a good defender, averaging 1.1 blocks and 0.7 steals per game. Godfrey is Clemson’s fifth-leading scorer and plays an essential role off the bench for the Tigers in 18 minutes a contest.
Leyte is a fifth-year senior who transferred to Clemson from UNC Greensboro. The 6’10 center plays just 6 minutes per contest in a reserve role from the Tigers, averaging 1.0 PPG.
Prediction
Memphis returns home for the first time in just under a month and faces arguably their best opponent of the non-conference schedule. That combination of factors should lead to a rowdy home crowd for the Tigers.
The frontcourt depth for Memphis has taken a hit with former starting center Jordan Brown reportedly leaving the program. Penny Hardaway added Nae’Qwan Tomlin to replace him earlier this week. However, the Kansas State transfer likely won’t be available for Saturday afternoon’s contest as he continues to learn the offense.
That puts pressure on Malcolm Dandridge and Nick Jourdain to defend a Clemson team that brings plenty of size to the equation. Clemson’s starting frontcourt trio has an average height of 6’9. Memphis will have to deal with this length all game long, likely playing a frontcourt of Ashton Hardaway, Jourdain, and Dandridge for extensive minutes as a result.
While Clemson doesn’t bring outstanding athleticism to the table, the combination of their length and high IQ has brought them considerable success this season. PJ Hall and Joe Girard are a formidable duo, but Clemson has plenty of depth behind them that brings different things to the table.
Despite being at home in this matchup, I’ll take Clemson to stay undefeated and hand Memphis their third loss of the season. The road Tigers have the toughness and grit to come into hostile road environments and win. This toughness is something they showed in performances against Alabama and Pitt, two very solid opponents.
Final Score: Clemson 82, Memphis 73
