Clemson basketball vs. South Carolina: Scouting report, score prediction
The rivalry game between Clemson and South Carolina in football is always at the end of the season. But in a basketball rarity this season, they'll play at the start.
After opening games for each against mid-majors, Clemson (1-0) plays Friday (7 p.m., SEC Network plus) against South Carolina (1-0) at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia.
Both teams began the season earlier this week with victories against in-state schools. Chase Hunter scored a career-high 23 points as Clemson beat The Citadel, 80-69. South Carolina held on to beat South Carolina State, 80-77.
It's the earliest this rivalry game has ever been played. The only meeting before December since the series began in 1913 was Nov. 17, 2013, when Clemson took a 71-57 win at home.
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Here are some things to know:
Clemson will be finding its way without P.J. Hall
Clemson will be without center P.J. Hall for at least the early part of the schedule as he recovers from a knee injury which followed offseason foot surgery. Hall is a dominant presence who led the Tigers in scoring last season and was second in rebounding as well as being an elite shot-blocker. Until he returns, Clemson will rely on 6-foot-10 Ben Middlebrooks and 6-7 Ian Schieffelin inside. Middlebrooks started against The Citadel but played only nine minutes and was rather ineffective. Schieffelin, however, had 20 points and 14 rebounds with two assists and a blocked shot in 31 minutes. He's undersized and playing out of position, but he's the best option without Hall.
Freshman GG Jackson leads new-look South Carolina
South Carolina's best player is 17-year-old GG Jackson, a Columbia native who entered college early after being considered the No. 1 national prospect in the 2022-23 class. He's a future NBA star who won't stay at South Carolina for four years, either. Jackson (6-9) had 18 points and 10 rebounds in his debut for the Gamecocks. USC has five new starters this season under first-year coach Lamont Paris, who led Chattanooga to the Southern Conference championship last season. The Gamecocks have five transfers, including former Byrnes High School standout Hayden Brown from The Citadel and Meechie Johnson from Ohio State.
Clemson's 3-point shooters need to be on target
Clemson has the potential to be one of the best 3-point shooting teams in the ACC, but the Tigers sure didn't show it against The Citadel. The long-distance sharpshooting trio of Alex Hemenway, Hunter Tyson and Brevin Galloway were a combined 3-for-16. Hemenway (1-for-6) last season shot 41 percent on 3s and that is expected to be a strength he adds as a full-time starter for the first time in his career. South Carolina allowed South Carolina State to go 11-for-26 (42.3 percent) from 3-point range, including 8-for-16 in the second half to make it close.
Prediction
Clemson 72, South Carolina 70: The Tigers will have a difficult time trying to handle Jackson but should be strong enough on the perimeter to spread it out and get some good looks. It will be tight the whole way, but Clemson ends up on top.
Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at todd.shanesy@sh.com or on Twitter at ToddShanesySHJ.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson basketball at South Carolina scouting report, score prediction
