ACC hoops offseason outlook: Clemson

Most basketball teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) have solidified their rosters. NC State did so with the addition of North Carolina A&T guard Kam Woods in June. How did the Wolfpack’s league rivals, like Clemson, fare this offseason?

TheWolfpacker.com takes a school-by-school look at the other teams in the conference and how they fared following the spring’s “silly season.”

Clemson 2022-23 Recap

Of the teams in the ACC that did not make the NCAA Tournament, Clemson was considered one of the biggest snubs. The Tigers case was built strongly behind winning three games over tournament entrant NC State, including two in lopsided fashion, each away from home.

Clemson instead went to the NIT, where the Tigers suffered an inexplicable first-round loss to Morehead State. Those types of defeats plagued Clemson in the regular season, including a costly loss at ACC bottom-feeder Louisville late in the season to go with earlier defeats away from home to unimpressive South Carolina and Loyola Chicago squads.

However, Clemson was also good enough to be in contention for an ACC regular season title.

Tigers’ Offseason

If looking for an ACC team that may be a winner in the offseason, Clemson is a candidate. The Tigers lost via exhausted eligibility All-ACC forward Hunter Tyson and double-digit scorer guard Brevin Galloway. Plus, top post reserve Ben Middlebrooks transferred to NC State.

However, Clemson also signed via the portal NC State starting forward Jack Clark (9.0 points per game for Pack), Air Force wing and leading scorer Jake Heidbreder (15.1 points) and Syracuse veteran starting guard Joe Girard III (16.1 points) to offset the losses of Tyson and Galloway. UNC Greensboro grad transfer and center Bas Leyte will help replace the depth left from Middlebrooks’ departure.

The big news however was that star post player P.J. Hall, as expected, withdrew from the NBA Draft and decided to return. After averaging 15.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season, Hall is likely to be one of the preseason favorites for ACC Player of the Year.

Initial Outlook For 2023-24

The returns of Hall and second-leading scorer guard Chase Hunter (13.8 points per game) gives Clemson a potent 1-2, inside-out veteran core to build its rotation around. Throw in the impressive transfer portal additions, and Clemson will be an older group with established talent. The depth should be solid, too.

With better luck on injuries and scheduling, Clemson has the look of a team that should be in the NCAA Tournament next March.

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