Clemson basketball has finally gained the national recognition it deserves, climbing into the top 25 after a stellar week. At 9-1 on the season, the Tigers are now ranked No. 16 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Poll, marking their first appearance in the rankings this year. This surge comes after key victories, including a 70-66 win over No. 4 Kentucky at home and a 65-55 road win at Miami to open ACC play.
The Tigers saw the biggest jump of the week, rising 10 spots, while Kentucky slipped one spot to No. 5, despite their narrow win over No. 7 Gonzaga in Seattle.
A key factor behind Clemson’s success is forward Ian Schieffelin, who was named the ACC Player of the Week. This honor comes after an impressive two-game stretch where Schieffelin averaged 13 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 assists. He recorded double-doubles in both games, including 11 points, 20 rebounds, and four assists against Kentucky, and 15 points and 12 rebounds against Miami.
Schieffelin leads the nation in rebounds per game (12.5) and total rebounds (125), while ranking third in defensive rebounds (8.4) and eighth in offensive rebounds (4.10).
Clemson’s next challenge comes this Saturday when Memphis visits Littlejohn Coliseum. Despite Memphis falling out of the rankings after a surprising loss to Arkansas State, they remain a formidable opponent, and Clemson will need another strong performance from Schieffelin and the team to maintain their momentum.
