Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Score prediction after Tigers' first ACC loss

Todd Shanesy, Greenville News
·4 min read

Clemson basketball could be missing two of its starting guards Saturday against a Virginia Tech team that has just gotten one back.

The ACC-leading Tigers (15-4, 7-1 ACC) are ranked No. 19 in the USA TODAY coaches’ poll and by the Associated Press. They lost Tuesday for the first time in eight games, falling 87-77 at Wake Forest, and will try to get back on track and keep a national ranking 6 p.m. Saturday at home against defending league champion Virginia Tech (11-7, 6-1) at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Clemson played Tuesday without point guard Chase Hunter, who leads the Tigers in assists with 77 and is second in scoring at 14.0 points per game. He has a foot injury suffered last week in a 72-64 win against previously No. 21 Duke, a victory that vaulted the Tigers into the Top 25 and booted the Blue Devils out.

The Tigers have also been without Alex Hemenway, who hasn’t played since Dec. 17 because of plantar fasciitis, another foot injury. He is the team’s best 3-point shooter, making 50% (27-for-54).

Virginia Tech guard and 3-point specialist Hunter Cattoor, meanwhile, returned Wednesday night against Virginia after missing four games with an elbow injury. He played 34 minutes in a 78-68 loss and had 11 points, six rebounds and five assists. The Hokies were without Cattoor, last year’s ACC tournament MVP, in a 68-65 loss Jan. 4 to Clemson in Blacksburg, Virginia. That was Clemson’s fourth win in a seven-game streak that ended against Wake Forest.

Time, channels for Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech

  • What: Virginia Tech (11-7, 1-6 ACC) at No. 19 Clemson (15-4, 7-1)

  • Where: Littlejohn Coliseum

  • When: 6 p.m. Saturday

  • TV: ESPN2

  • Radio: Clemson Athletic Network (WCCP FM-105.5)

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Freshmen becoming important for Clemson basketball

With Hunter sidelined, redshirt freshman Josh Beadle made his first start and scored a career-high eight points. He played only 14 minutes, however, before fouling out. He had two turnovers and no assists. Beadle is already one of the Tigers' best perimeter defenders.

Wiggins, a 6-foot-10 true freshman, played 30 minutes against Wake Forest and had a career-high 10 points with three rebounds. Coming into the game, he had scored 12 points all season and played 34 minutes in the past 13 games. Clemson has other post players who help junior PJ Hall, namely Ben Middlebrooks and undersized post Ian Schieffelin, 6-7, but Wiggins could be an emerging piece.

RJ Godfrey, a freshman forward, hasn't scored in two games but had his best game Jan. 4 in a 68-65 win at Virginia Tech. In 16 minutes, he had 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

Jan 17, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Chauncey Wiggins (21) shoots the ball over Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Daivien Williamson (4) during the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 17, 2023; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers forward Chauncey Wiggins (21) shoots the ball over Wake Forest Demon Deacons guard Daivien Williamson (4) during the second half at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: William Howard-USA TODAY Sports

Top scorers for Clemson, Virginia Tech basketball

Clemson – Gr. F Hunter Tyson (15.8 points, 10.1 rebounds) has seven double-doubles in the eight ACC games. No player at Clemson has averaged a double-double since Sharone Wright in the 1993-94 season. ... Jr. G Chase Hunter (14.0 points, 77 assists. ... Jr. C PJ Hall (13.7 points, 4.8 rebounds) has scored 48 points in the past two games. ... Brevin Galloway (10.8 points) has scored in double figures in five straight games and eight of nine.

Virginia Tech – Soph G Sean Pedulla (16.4 points, 78 assists) was 4-for-9 on 3-pointers against Clemson but in five of the past six games is a combined 7-for-34 (20.6 percent) from long distance. ... Gr. F Grant Basile (13.8 points, 5.4 rebounds) had 26 points and 10 rebounds two games ago against Syracuse; ... Sr. F Justyn Mutts (13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds) had 21 points and nine assists vs Syracuse.

Clemson basketball RPI, NET rankings entering Virginia Tech game

RPI – Clemson 41, Virginia Tech 60; NET – Clemson 60, Virginia Tech 59; KenPom – Clemson 62, Virginia Tech 49. Scoring offense – Clemson 75.7 (No. 95), Virginia Tech (No. 135); Scoring defense – Clemson 67.8 (No. 137), Virginia Tech 66.4 (No. 101); Shooting offense – Clemson 46.8 percent (No. 65), Virginia Tech 46.6 (No. 76); Shooting defense – Clemson 39.8 percent (No. 34), Virginia Tech 41.7 (No. 99); 3-point shooting – Clemson 37.4 percent (No. 43), Virginia Tech 34.3 percent (No. 160); Rebounding – Clemson 35.0 (No. 195), Virginia Tech 35.8 (No. 161)

Clemson basketball score prediction vs. Virginia Tech

Clemson 78, Virginia Tech 75 – Clemson will be trying desperately to hang on to a national ranking and will do so. Being back home and having an extra day of rest will help.

Todd Shanesy covers Clemson athletics for the USA TODAY Network.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Clemson basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Score prediction for injured Tigers