The Clemson Tigers stand between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the program’s first Final Four. Unlike North Carolina, Alabama basketball is a favorite, though not a heavy favorite. Various predictions have the Crimson Tide winning by two or three points, with one forecaster calling for an 84-78 win for Alabama.The fact that Clemson beat Alabama in November means nothing.
The fact that Alabama is somewhat favored means nothing. The perceived gap between the Tide and Tigers should not distract from the fact that both teams are capable of winning the game.Clemson’s roster contains several concerns about Nate Oats and the Alabama Crimson Tide.
The first is a size mismatch. Clemson often starts two 6’10” players and they have a third who plays almost as many minutes as one of the starters. The heaviest of the trio is 238-pound senior PJ Hall. At nearly 19 years old, Hall is the most Clemson’s leading scorer. points per game. He averages 29 minutes per game, which reduces his chances of injury and keeps him fresh.6’8″ and 238 pounds. Junior Ian Schieffelin is Clemson’s top rebounder and the fourth big body to be drafted by the Crimson Tide. against . How Nate Oats will try to neutralize Clemson’s size advantage will be the key to the outcome.Another potential challenge for Alabama is that two of Clemson’s big men can go three-and-out. Clemson’s top three is 6’2″ guard, Joseph Girard.
Girard is another senior, and he hits threes at a 41% rate. But Schieffelin is Clemson’s best three-point shooter at 48.9%. Clemson has two other reliable three point shooters.. RJ Godfrey, 6’8″ makes threes at a 42.9% clip. Another Clemson Senior, 6’4″, Alex Hemenway is 42.1% from beyond the arc. The Alabama defense’s strategy of pressuring the lane to double the bigs is less effective against Clemson than it was against North Carolina. Encouraging open Clemson shooters to take deep shots may not work.Alabama has another problem. While he is not Clemson’s leading scorer, 6’4″ senior Chase Hunter is on a hot streak. Hunter is averaging just 12.9 points per game this season. But in four of the last five games, he scored 18, 20, 21 and 17 points. Despite missing all five of his threes against Arizona, Hunter had 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists..
