2014-15 Boston College Basketball Opponent Previews: Clemson Tigers

Team Name: Clemson Tigers

Conference: ACC

Head Coach: Brad Brownell, 74-58 (.561) overall, 32-36 (.471) ACC in four seasons with the Tigers.

SB Nation Community: Shakin The Southland

Last Year Record: 23-13, 10-8, 6th place in the ACC

Final Kenpom Ranking: 50

Key Losses: K.J. McDaniels (17.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.6 apg), Devin Coleman (5.4 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 0.2 apg), Adonis Filer (3.9 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.2 apg)

Key Returnees: Rod Hall (9.7 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.0 apg), Damarcus Harrison (7.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 1.3 apg), Jordan Roper (7.4 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 1.3 apg), Landry Nnoko (6.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 0.5 apg)

Additions (Transfers, Recruits): Gabe DeVoe (freshman from Shelby, N.C.), Donte Grantham (freshman from Martinsburg, W. Va.), Riley McGillan (junior from Fort Mill, S.C., former student manager / walk-on)

Games vs. BC: January 31 in Clemson, 12:00 p.m., RSN/NESN

Projected Starting Lineup:

G Rod Hall, senior
G Jordan Roper, junior
G Damarcus Harrison, senior
F Jaron Blossomgame, junior
C Landry Nnoko, junior

He's a Dude: Rod Hall, senior guard. Started all 36 games for the Tigers last season, finishing second on the team in scoring with 9.7 points per game. Led team with 143 assists. Hall will likely be asked to do more on his own this season following the loss of K.J. McDaniels.

All-Time Series vs. Boston College: 11-7 Clemson

Last Meeting: Clemson 62, Boston College 60 (January 4, 2014)
Last Meeting at Littlejohn: Boston College 68, Clemson 61 (March 5, 2013)

Last Five Meetings:

L - Clemson 62, Boston College 60 (January 4, 2014)
W - Boston College 68, Clemson 61 (March 5, 2013)
W - Boston College 75, Clemson 68 (February 2, 2013)
W - Boston College 59, Clemson 57 (January 12, 2012)
L - Clemson 70, Boston College 47 (March 11, 2011)

How they match up with Boston College: Last year Clemson put together a nice 23-win season and a run in the NIT. This year, Brownell will have to replace the production of K.J. McDaniels. The Tigers have a solid backcourt with Rod Hall, Demarcus Harrison and Jordan Roper, but continue to have question marks in the front court. Jaron Blossomgame and Larry Nnoko both return as starters, but there's surprisingly little depth here for a team that has dominated in the paint the last few years (last season excepted).

GIF if Boston College wins:

GIF if Boston College loses:

Way Too Early Prediction: Clemson 75, Boston College 70

Last season, the Clemson game was one of a handful of games that BC just let slip away--an infinitely winnable contest where they let the opposing team's star player take over down the stretch. I like BC to be competitive here, but they haven't had much luck down at Littlejohn in recent years. If this game was in Chestnut Hill, I'd be more comfortable predicting the win. But look for BC's Clemson road woes to struggle as the Tigers' talented backcourt again puts away the Eagles.