NCAAB insider claims Clemson can only reach deep into the March Madness with help of Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin
The returns of combo guard Chase Hunter and power forward Ian Schieffelin to the Clemson lineup for the 2024-25 college basketball season would solidify their chances of going deep into March Madness, an NCAA Basketball insider claimed.
CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander believes that the Brad Brownell-coached Tigers can have another deep run in the 2025 NCAA Tournament if Hunter and Schieffelin can deliver ridiculous March Madness performances and lead the team to postseason victories.
“What encore is in store for the team that made its first Elite Eight in 44 years? The Tigers have a healthy chance at a fifth NCAA Tournament push under Brad Brownell (and it would be the first time ever under him that Clemson made back-to-back Big Dances) with the return of Chase Hunter at combo guard and power forward Ian Schieffelin," Norlander wrote.
Last season, Hunter averaged 12.9 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game and was a major contributor to Clemson's impressive run to the Elite Eight. Schieffelin tallied 10.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 2.2 apg and had an efficient 56.4% clip from the field in 36 games last year.
Matt Norlander believes PJ Hall's departure to the NBA will affect Clemson in its NCAA Tournament quest
CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander believes that Clemson's quest to repeat as Elite Eight qualifiers would be easier if they didn't lose big man PJ Hall.
Hall, who signed a two-way contract with the Denver Nuggets this summer after deciding to forego his college eligibility to pursue a career in the NBA, averaged 18.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 1.4 apg for Clemson this past season.
The big man was selected in the All-ACC first team and set a school record for points in a season with 659. Norlander stressed that the Tigers could have been an easy pick for the AP preseason Top 25.
Clemson boosted its lineup on defense with the addition of 6-foot-11 center Viktor Lakhin from the transfer portal. The Russian posted 8.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg and 1.7 apg in 91 games with Cincinnati and has the skills to fill the void left by Hall on defense.
Clemson needs to improve on its conference regular season record this year to be taken seriously by the NCAA selection committee. The Tigers made it to the 68-team NCAA Tournament despite finishing fifth in the ACC with an 11-9 mark.
They beat New Mexico in the first round before surprising higher seeds Baylor and Arizona in the next two rounds. Clemson's impressive run was stopped in the Elite Eight after Alabama outplayed them in the West regional finals.
The Tigers will start their 2024-25 college basketball campaign against Charleston Southern on Nov. 4.
Will the Clemson Tigers duplicate or surpass their Elite Eight finish last season? Let us know your insights in the comments section.