The No. 18 Clemson Tigers will head back to Littlejohn Coliseum on Friday night as they are set to play the Queens Royals (6-7) at home.
The meeting is special between the two teams, as the Tigers (9-1, 1-0 ACC) will face the Royals for the first time in program history. It also marks the first game after a loss this season for head coach Brad Brownell and his squad, who suffered a loss to Memphis in a hostile environment last weekend.
“I thought both teams played very well in stretches,” Brownell said after the loss. “Unfortunately, they played better than us in the second half and were able to close us out a little bit.”
Brad Brownell
After a game where many Tigers looked physically tired, a six-day hiatus from gameplay can play a huge role in how Friday night’s game goes, with Clemson’s starters ready to go again for another contest.
Another pivotal factor for Clemson’s next matchup is the emphasis on the bench. Only five points from the bench in the loss against Memphis, leaving a heavy point emphasis on the starters. If the Tigers are going to get back on track on Friday, it is important that significant bench players, such as R.J. Godfrey, Dillon Hunter, and Josh Beadle, can put points up for Brownell during stretches where rotation depth is necessary.
According to the latest injury report, Alex Hemenway will be out with a lower-body issue, while Jack Clark will be sidelined due to leg and hip soreness. Regardless of the absence of Hemenway and Clark, the Tigers are relativity healthy going into the game.
The Royals are going through an up-and-down season with their toughest stretch beginning Friday, where they will face the Tigers away from home and then take a trip to Cameron Indoor to face the Duke Blue Devils.
The two teams do share a common opponent played so far though: Winthrop. The Tigers took the Eagles down in Clemson’s first game of the season, winning by double digits. However, Queens suffered a loss to the Rock Hill, SC, foe, losing by a score of 88-82.
Another advantage for the Tigers is their record at home, and their opponent’s record away from home. Clemson has an undefeated 4-0 record at Littlejohn so far, while Queens are 0-5 when they visit an opposing stadium. The Tigers have had a historic advantage when playing at home over recent years and will hope that it remains that way after the contest.
The Royals have plenty of ways to get points and keep up with Clemson, however. Leading their scoring is junior AJ McKee, who averages 17.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. Following closely behind is fellow guard Deyton Albury, who adds 15.9 points and 4.7 assists of his own a night. This explosive backcourt should be the main point of emphasis for Clemson, as stopping the two Royals standouts could be key to the Tigers’ success.
Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcasted on the ACC Network.
CLEMSON VS. QUEENS
- Littlejohn Coliseum • Clemson, S.C.
- 6 p.m.: Tipoff
- ACCN (Ariya Massoudi and Mark Adams)
- Live Stats
- Clemson Athletic Network (Don Munson, Tim Bourret and Ben Milstead)
- 📝 2023-24 Basketball Media Guide • Game Notes (PDF)
