ACC In 2024 NCAA Tournament
Elite Eight Preview: #6 Clemson vs. #4 Alabama
By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
School: Clemson University
Location: Clemson, S.C.
Previous NCAA Conference Affiliations: Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (1896-1921), Southern Conference (1921-53)
ACC Member Since: 1953-54
ACC Ranking Among 32 Leagues (KenPom): 5th (2024), 7th (2023), 5th (2022), 5th (2021), 4th (2020)
NCAA Tournament Bids: 14 (1980, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2024)
Sweet 16s: 5 (1980, 1990, 1997, 2018, 2024)
Elite Eights: 2 (1980, 2024)
Final Fours: none
NCAA Titles: none
Head Coach: Brad Brownell (55 years old, 14th season at Clemson)
As A Player: DePauw University (1988-91)
Record At Clemson (Through March 29): 265-188 (.585) in 13+ seasons
Previous Head Coaching Experience: UNC Wilmington (2002-06), Wright State (2006-10)
College AC Experience: Evansville (1991-92), Indianapolis (1992-94), UNC Wilmington (1994-2002)
Assistant Under: Jim Crews, Royce Waltman, Jerry Wainwright
2023-24 Record (Through March 29): 24-11, 11-9 ACC (5th place)
2023-24 Rankings (AP Poll/BPI/KenPom/NET): NR/#20/#19/#35
2023-24 Offensive/Defensive Efficiency (KenPom): #24/#32
2024 NCAA Tournament/West Region:
#6 Clemson 77, #11 New Mexico 56 in Round of 64
#6 Clemson 72, #3 Baylor 64 in Round of 32
#6 Clemson 77, #2 Arizona 72 in Sweet 16
#6 Clemson vs. #4 Alabama, Saturday, 8:49 pm, TBS
(Clemson-Alabama winner will face UConn-Illinois winner in Final Four)
2023-24 Clemson Tigers
(24-11, 11-9 ACC; Through March 29)
Starters
PG Chase Hunter*, 6-5/200, 5th-Year Sr.
33 mpg, 13 ppg, 3 rpg, 42% FG, 85% FT, 32% threes, 110/63 ATO, 10 blocks, 23 steals
32 mpg, 14 ppg, 5 apg in 2022-23; Westlake HS; Atlanta, Ga.
G Joe Girard III, 6-2/189, Gr., 2024 Honorable Mention All-ACC
33 mpg, 15 ppg, 3 rpg, 43% FG, 94% FT, 41% threes, 103/55 ATO, 4 blocks, 22 steals
2023 Syracuse transfer (4-year starter); Glens Falls HS; Glens Falls, N.Y.
F Jack Clark, 6-10/207, Gr.
23 mpg, 5 ppg, 5 rpg, 40% FG, 83% FT, 29% threes, 34/14 ATO, 13 blocks, 18 steals
2023 NC State transfer (starter); Cheltenham HS; Cheltenham, Pa.
F Ian Schieffelin*, 6-8/238, Jr., 2024 HM All-ACC/Most Improved
27 mpg, 10 ppg, 9 rpg, 57% FG, 75% FT, 49% threes, 78/45 ATO, 18 blocks, 21 steals
20 mpg, 6 ppg, 4 rpg in 2022-23; Grayson HS; Loganville, Ga.
C PJ Hall*, 6-11/238, Sr., 2024 1st-Team All-ACC
29 mpg, 18 ppg, 7 rpg, 49% FG, 79% FT, 32% threes, 49/62 ATO, 51 blocks, 28 steals
3-year starter; 2023 3rd-team All-ACC; Dorman HS; Spartanburg, S.C.
Key Reserves
PG Dillon Hunter, 6-4/187, So.
15 mpg, 2 ppg, 2 rpg, 40% FG, 42% FT, 27% threes, 46/14 ATO, 2 blocks, 15 steals
12 mpg, 1 ppg in 2022-23; brother of Chase; Westlake HS; Atlanta, Ga.
G Josh Beadle, 6-4/180, So.
11 mpg, 3 ppg, 1 rpg, 47% FG, 69% FT, 14% threes, 26/20 ATO, 1 block, 6 steals
13 mpg, 2 ppg in 2022-23; Cardinal Newman HS; Columbia, S.C.
F RJ Godfrey, 6-8/228, So.
16 mpg, 6 ppg, 3 rpg, 59% FG, 61% FT, 43% threes, 27/33 ATO, 22 blocks, 16 steals
9 mpg, 3 ppg, 2 rpg, in 2022-23; North Gwinnett HS; Suwanee, Ga.
F Chauncey Wiggins, 6-11/210, So.
18 mpg, 6 ppg, 2 rpg, 45% FG, 71% FT, 35% threes, 32/26 ATO, 10 blocks, 6 steals
9 mpg, 2 ppg, 1 rpg in 2022-23; Grayson HS; Grayson, Ga.
*—returning starter (started at least 50% of current team’s games last season)
2023-24 Alabama Crimson Tide
(24-11, 13-5 SEC; Through March 29)
Head Coach: Nate Oats (49 years old, 5th season at Alabama)
Record as Head Coach (Through March 29): 212-96 (.688) in 8+ seasons; 96-43 (.691) in 4 seasons at Buffalo; 116-53 (.686) in 4+ seasons at Alabama
2023-24 Rankings (AP Poll/BPI/KenPom/NET): #19/#12/#12/#9
2023-24 Offensive/Defensive Efficiency (KenPom): #4/#102
Starters
PG Aaron Estrada, 6-3/190, Gr., 2023 Hofstra Transfer
31 mpg, 14 ppg, 5 rpg, 46% FG, 86% FT, 31% threes, 163/79 ATO, 8 blocks, 58 steals
G Mark Sears*, 6-1/185, Sr., All-American, 1st-Team All-SEC
33 mpg, 21 ppg, 4 rpg, 51% FG, 86% FT, 43% threes, 144/87 ATO, 3 blocks, 59 steals
G Latrell Wrightsell Jr., 6-3/190, Sr., 2023 Cal-Fullerton Transfer
23 mpg, 9 ppg, 3 rpg, 45% FG, 100% FT, 44% threes, 42/19 ATO, 1 block, 33 steals
G Rylan Griffen, 6-6/190, So., 1st-Year Starter
26 mpg, 11 ppg, 3 rpg, 45% FG, 82% FT, 39% threes, 60/49 ATO, 8 blocks, 18 steals
F Grant Nelson, 6-11/230, Sr., 2023 North Dakota State Transfer
26 mpg, 12 ppg, 6 rpg, 49% FG, 81% FT, 28% threes, 54/47 ATO, 57 blocks, 23 steals
Key Reserves
F Mouhamed Dioubate, 6-7/215, Fr.
8 mpg, 3 ppg, 3 rpg, 49% FG, 47% FT, 9% threes, 13/12 ATO, 16 blocks, 10 steals
F Nick Pringle, 6-10/220, Sr., 2022 Dodge City CC Transfer
18 mpg, 7 ppg, 5 rpg, 63% FG, 54% FT, 0 threes, 20/31 ATO, 22 blocks, 10 steals
F Jarin Stevenson, 6-11/210, Fr., Hometown = Chapel Hill, N.C.
17 mpg, 5 ppg, 3 rpg, 40% FG, 69% FT, 29% threes, 16/34 ATO, 10 blocks, 8 steals
F Sam Walters, 6-10/198, Fr.
13 mpg, 6 ppg, 3 rpg, 43% FG, 83% FT, 40% threes, 15/17 ATO, 9 blocks, 8 steals
*—returning starter (started at least 50% of current team’s games last season)
