Notre Dame travels south for a daunting challenge on Wednesday night, facing eighth-ranked Clemson in a crucial ACC matchup at Littlejohn Coliseum. The Fighting Irish (12-15, 6-10 ACC) arrive looking to build off a hard-fought 76-72 victory over Pittsburgh, but they’ll be stepping into a charged atmosphere against a surging Tigers squad that has emerged as a conference frontrunner.
Clemson (22-5, 14-2 ACC) has been nearly unstoppable on its home floor, boasting a 13-2 record at Littlejohn this season. Led by senior guard Chase Hunter, who averages 17.0 points per game while shooting 42.7% from three, the Tigers have carved out an identity as a disciplined, defensive-minded group. Forward Ian Schieffelin has provided a dominant presence in the paint, tallying 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per contest, while Viktor Lakhin (11.2 ppg, 6.1 rpg) adds depth to Clemson’s frontcourt.
Notre Dame will need a near-flawless performance to pull off an upset, and that starts with Markus Burton, the freshman guard who has been the Irish’s offensive catalyst, averaging 20.3 points per game. Forward Tae Davis has also been a steady contributor, posting 15.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per outing. If the Irish hope to keep pace, they will need to take care of the basketball—Notre Dame averages 11.0 turnovers per game, while Clemson thrives on disruption, forcing nearly 13.4 turnovers per contest.
A key storyline will be Notre Dame’s ability to stretch Clemson’s defense. The Irish shoot 36.2% from beyond the arc, and Braeden Shrewsberry (14.0 ppg) has been a sharpshooter, converting 37% of his three-point attempts. However, the Tigers counter with one of the ACC’s top perimeter defenses, holding opponents to just 32.6% from deep.
Shrewsberry and Matt Allocco missed the Pitt game due to injuries.
Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET at Littlejohn Coliseum, with the game airing on ACC Network.
Sen Len Clark's full prediction at the Len Zone!