Here’s the previous teams we ranked in this series:

53. New Mexico Lobos

54. Arizona State Sun Devils

55. Utah State Aggies

56. Colorado State Rams

57. Seton Hall Pirates

58. SMU Mustangs

59. South Carolina Gamecocks

60. Nevada Wolfpack

61. TCU Horned Frogs

62. Villanova Wildcats

63. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

64. Saint Louis Billikens

65. Syracuse Orange

66. Nebraska Cornhuskers

67. Pittsburgh Panthers

68. Iowa Hawkeyes

69. NC State Wolfpack

70. Butler Bulldogs

71. Princeton Tigers

72. Virginia Cavaliers

73. Saint Joseph’s Hawks

74. Oklahoma Sooners

75. West Virginia Mountaineers

76. Georgia Bulldogs

77. UAB Blazers

78: Wisconsin Badgers

79. San Diego State Aztecs

80. Missouri Tigers

81. Northwestern Wildcats

82. Loyola Chicago Ramblers

We are back to our 82 in 72 countdown at The Center Hub! I hope you were able to catch Cody’s preview on #53 New Mexico because today we are taking a look at our #52 team in our countdown to college basketball, the Clemson Tigers!

Steven	Maxwell	Kam	Cody
66	64	31	63

For a school that has played the game of basketball since 1912, the Clemson Tigers are coming off the most remarkable season in their school’s history. Before the 2023-2024 season, The Clemson Tigers had made just one Elite Eight in school history(1980)and four Sweet Sixteens(1980, 1990, 1997, and 2018). Coming off the Elite Eight loss to Alabama, head coach Brad Brownell signed a new five-year extension totaling 20 million dollars, locking in the program’s all-time wins leader for the foreseeable future. Brownell is one of the more underrated coaches in college basketball and has proven he can produce a consistent ACC contender at Clemson. As Brownell loses PJ Hall to the NBA and others to graduation and the portal, He has positioned Clemson in 2024-2025 to get back to the dance, and it starts with the return of Chase Hunter.
At 6 ‘4, 210 lbs, Chase Hunter can often be a problem for opposing guards. Per Cerebro Sports, Hunter was one of eight guards last season to be listed above 6’4, 200 lbs(playing at least 30 mpg and having a usage of over 20%)to post a 7+ CRAM score. With Joe Girard no longer in the fold, Chase Hunter figures to be the leader in the backcourt for Clemson this season. Hunter is coming off of a phenomenal tournament run, which saw him claim All-region honors and post a split of 17.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, and 5.8 apg. For what will be Chase Hunter’s final season of college basketball, coming off a stellar tournament and a few NBA team workouts, I expect an all-ACC level year from Hunter.
Ian Schieffelin is also returning for the Tigers and coming off a campaign in which Schieffelin won ACC Most Improved Player and All-region honors in the dance; the stock is UP heading into 2024-2025 for Ian Schieffelin. With PJ Hall gone, Ian Schieffelin is positioned to vault himself into an All-ACC level of player, similar to Chase Hunter. Schieffelin shot 58% on 2s last season and 47% on 3s on 49 attempts last season, solidifying himself as one of the best rebounders in the ACC.
I expect Clemson to lean into their 1-2 punch of Chase Hunter and Ian Schieffelin this season. Still, Brad Brownell is a top-tier developer, and he has a few horses in the stable who will be ready to run for Clemson this year; the first that comes to mind is Dillon Hunter. The brother of Chase Hunter, Dillon, appeared in every game for the Tigers last season and saw all his numbers rise from his previous campaign. Primarily a defensive guard, Jones will look to improve his shooting splits and overall shot volume, as Clemson will be looking for production on that end. Chauncey Wiggins also returns for the Tigers this year and should find himself on the racetrack rather than the stables. Wiggins also appeared in every game for the Tigers last season but is a rather interesting player, finishing last season with more 3pm than total steals and blocks combined. 
Jake Heidbreder is the last horse in the stable returning for coach Brownell this year. Heidbreder is an interesting case, having sat out all last season with a hip injury and coming from Air Force, where he had posted back-to-back seasons averaging 10+ points per game on positive shooting splits.
Clemson was also active in the transfer portal to solidify their rotation for the upcoming season. The Tigers brought in a pair of big men, Christian Reeves(from Duke) and Viktor Lakhin(from Cincinnati), who should supplement some of the lost minutes from PJ Hall’s departure. Both have much to prove this season, but they will also receive some definite help and contributions in the frontcourt from fellow transfer Myles Foster, who has produced at both Illinois State and Monmouth as a starter.
The glue guy for Clemson this year could be Boston College transfer and ACC veteran Jaeden Zackary. Zackary will bring leadership, toughness, and, most importantly, experience to a Clemson team that is looking to stick…stick at the top of the ACC, stick in the dance for a second straight season(would be the first time in Brownell’s coaching history), stick in the second weekend of the dance…This Clemson team under Brad Brownell is capable and should be feared, especially after the 2023-2024 season and their recent NIL boost in their basketball program. Don’t catch yourself sleeping again on the Clemson Tigers!