Tonight, Clemson and South Carolina will add another chapter to their century-old basketball rivalry. Also known as the Palmetto Series Rivalry. These two teams have faced each other 173 times since 1912-13, with Clemson holding a 38-20 advantage since South Carolina left the Atlantic Coast Conference. It has always been a heated contest whenever these two teams clash on the hardwood. But, what makes tonight’s game even more exciting is the fact that both teams have a record of 7-0 and a lot of momentum. Let’s take a look at the key players to watch out for from both teams and what to expect from this matchup.
Clemson’s PJ Hall, who was named to the Preseason First-Team All-ACC, is the one to watch out for on the Tigers’ roster. Hall is the first Tiger to receive this distinction since Aamir Simms. He was also named to the John R. Wooden Award Preseason Top 50 Watch List. He will be joined by Joseph Girard III, who is eighth all-time in ACC history for 3-pointers made (320). These two players have been on fire in recent games, and they will try to carry this momentum into tonight’s game against the Gamecocks.
Ian Schieffelin, another player for the Tigers, has been playing well lately. He has recorded 31 rebounds over a two-game period, the most by a Tiger since 1998-99. He will be looking to continue his hot streak and provide some much-needed rebounds against the Gamecocks. It will be interesting to see how he matches up against Clemson’s PJ Hall in the paint.
Clemson has already shown what they are capable of this season when they defeated No.23 Alabama in the inaugural ACC/SEC Challenge, snapping Alabama’s 19-game home winning streak and 18-game non-conference opponent home winning streak. That win has given them a boost of confidence, and they will be looking to continue that momentum tonight.
The Tigers are currently 7-0, with just three wins at home, two at neutral sites, and two on opponents’ courts. They were picked to finish fifth in the ACC by media voting before this season, which was higher than expected. Coach Brad Brownell has a record of 6-6 in the South Carolina series to date. Clemson trails 80-92 overall but leads 48-33 when playing at home. All these numbers make tonight’s game a must-watch.
On the other side, the Gamecocks’ strength lies in their four transfers: Clark, Cooper, Mack, and Stute, who collectively have participated in 430 Division I games and started in 299 of them. Of note, Ta’Lon Cooper maintains an impressive second place nationwide in assist-to-turnover ratio with his track record of 39 assists and only six turnovers across the first seven games.
The Clemson and South Carolina rivalry on the hardwood is always intense, and tonight’s game will be no different. With Clemson’s PJ Hall and Joseph Girard III in fine form and South Carolina’s Ian Schieffelin making headlines, you can expect a nail-biting contest. Clemson will be looking to continue their unbeaten streak this season, while South Carolina will be hoping to upset the Tigers on their home court. This matchup is expected to be a thrilling one, and you don’t want to miss it. So, tune in tonight and let the games begin!
