The Clemson men’s basketball team outclassed Winthrop, handing them a resounding 78-56 defeat in the season opener at Littlejohn Coliseum.
It was clear that Clemson’s PJ Hall was the driving force behind this victory. The Spartanburg native put up an impressive 20-point performance, marking his 12th consecutive double-figure scoring game. Not only did he lead the offensive charge with an 8-for-15 shooting performance from the floor, but he also contributed to the defense with a block and a steal, while chipping in two assists and five rebounds.
Ian Schieffelin, hailing from Loganville, Georgia, was a force to be reckoned with right from the opening stanza. With 16 points and a team-best seven rebounds, Schieffelin demonstrated why he is a vital cog in this Tiger machine.
Brad on Ian Schieffelin and his 3-point shooting,
Brad Brownell
“He’s good, I think he is a good player. He made 2 out of 3 3-pointers. We have really worked hard with him for a year and a half, in the start of his freshman year.”
Adding to the Tigers’ onslaught was RJ Godfrey, who provided a significant boost off the bench with a career-high 12 points and five boards. Alex Hemenway and Jack Clark further bolstered Clemson’s bench strength with nine and six points, respectively, combining for five threes.
Speaking on the depth of the team,
Brad Brownell
“I think that we have had guys that have played, we have confidence in all of them and they practice well and that will lead to more minutes.” Said Brownell, “We are not afraid to sub and put a guy or two in the game.”
Brownell said about Alex Hemenway, coming off an injury,
Brad Brownell
“He was very confident and got some open looks. If we had him all of last year it would have made a big difference.”
Despite leading by just nine points at the break, the Tigers showcased their mettle in the second half, exploding for 45 points to secure a 22-point victory.
Grayson’s own, Chauncey Wiggins, made his presence felt, setting a personal best with six rebounds in just one half.
The Tigers were disciplined in the second half, committing just two turnovers and racking up a total of 21 assists by the end of the game. This is reminiscent of last season when they achieved 20+ assists five times.
This excellent start to the season sets the stage for Clemson’s next game against UAB as part of the 2023 Asheville Championship on Friday, Nov. 10. With this win, Clemson has improved its all-time record against Winthrop to 10-2 and marked its 13th season opener victory in 14 seasons under Head Coach Brad Brownell.
As they don their home white uniform, a symbol of success with an 80-19 record since its debut in 2017-18, the Tigers will be looking to continue their winning streak. With a shooting percentage of 40.6 from three, which historically leads to a Tiger win under Coach Brownell, the team is well on its way to another successful season.
With Hall’s 20 points propelling him into 40th place on the all-time scoring list and Godfrey and Wiggins setting new career highs, it’s clear that this Clemson team is one to watch this season.
