Clemson Tigers

2023-2024 Result: 24-12 record (11-9 ACC), 6 seed, Elite 8 appearance

Projected Starting Lineup

Head Coach: Brad Brownell (15th season)

Guard: Chase Hunter (5th year)

Guard: Jaeden Zackery (SR)

Forward: Chauncey Wiggins (JR)

Forward: Ian Schieffelin (SR)

Center: Viktor Lakhin (SR)

Key Losses

PJ Hall

Alex Hemenway

RJ Godfrey

Jack Clark

Joseph Girard

Key Additions

Jaeden Zackery (Boston College)

Viktor Lahkin (Cincinnati)

Jake Heidbreder (Air Force)

Myles Foster (Illinois State)

Christian Reeves (Duke)

Dallas Thomas (4-star recruit)

The Tigers lost 2 major contributors to last season’s elite 8 run in PJ Hall and Joe Girard, but coach Brad Brownell did some solid work in the transfer portal to replace those 2. Transfers Jaeden Zackery and Viktor Lakhin may not replace everything Hall and Girard did for this program, but they are still very respectable replacements. Zackery along with Chase Hunter should make up a top tier ACC backcourt as their ability to create their own shot from all 3 levels will be big for this group that doesn’t have a ton of offensive talent outside of them. Hunter had a bit of a down year himself, but I see him bouncing back, especially in the playmaking aspect of his game. As for the frontcourt, the duo of Ian Schieffelin and Viktor Lakhin should be able to control the glass on both ends. Brownell has valued his defenses getting back to prevent transition the past few years, but he may need to take advantage of the offensive rebounding ability his frontcourt has (Schieffelin 12.1% OREB, Lakhin 12.4% OREB). The only real concern with this offense is the overall shooting ability. It’s not a major concern, but Hunter is a career 32% 3 point shooter, and there isn’t anyone else on the roster outside of Jake Heidbreder (who won’t have a big role) who has taken a high volume of 3’s. Zackery and Schieffelin have solid career numbers from beyond the arc, but on low volume. 

Despite the roster turnover, the Tigers project to be a very similar team on the defensive end compared to last year (34th Adjusted Defensive per Torvik). Brownell will most likely go back to his conservative shell style defense and control the interior with his solid frontcourt duo and a lack of perimeter athleticism. This defense has certainly had some success the last few years, but this style is susceptible to getting beat by teams with above average guard play and shotmakers. Clemson will be able to control the glass with elite frontcourt depth, but they may hit a rough stretch in the season where they are at the mercy of shot variance which has been the case the last few seasons.

Brownell will keep Clemson’s floor fairly high by valuing ball security and protecting the paint/glass, but this program may have hit their ceiling with their elite 8 appearance last year (major shot variance in their favor during the NCAA tournament). The Tigers will go as far as their backcourt creation takes them, and that projects to be a top 5 team in the ACC, but most likely not enough to make another deep NCAA tournament run this season.