NR/NR CLEMSON TIGERS 16 - 7 (7 – 4 ACC, tie 7th)
NCAA NET 37 (UNC 21); Massey Rating 42 (UNC 20); RPI (Nolan) 68 (UNC 31); Torvik 42 (UNC 21); WAB 44 (UNC 23)
Last Season: 14-17 (6-12, 13th), 1-1 ACCT (Lost to Louisville 68-70 in OT), no postseason
Note that the NCAA is now including yet another ranking system, called WAB (Wins Above Bubble) It is, we are told, a complementary system to NET, the NCAA Evaluation Tool. It will be used to help set the brackets for the NCAA Tournament. I sometimes think the NCAA itself is made up of a bunch of tools.
Thursday evening’s game is with Clemson at Carmichael. This will be the 93nd meeting between the schools. The overall record stands at 64-28
Last year UNC had a road win 53-51 in a physically tough match. Reniya Kelly had 17 points as did Loyal McQueen for the Tigers. Of the starters from last year’s Clemson team that faced UNC just one has returned: Hannah Kohn, who had 12 points. Otherwise just three players are back, with the remainder of the team all new.
Since 2001 Carolina has gone 32-3 with the Tigers. Carolina’s last loss to Clemson anywhere was in 2017 and at home 2012. The Heel’s 91.4% win rate with Clemson since 2001 the best against any ACC team.
For Thursday’s game, #25/21 and 18-5 Carolina is a 12-point favorite according to Massey but Nolan thinks it will be 15 points. Torvik gives UNC a 10-point edge. The NCAA is not particularly impressed by either schedule: Clemson is #125 and UNC #62: Keep in mind that these experts every one predicted NCSU would beat Carolina.
Clemson’s non-conference schedule had an ambitious 13-game lineup, although one game with UL Monroe was “postponed” (in NCAA-speak that probably means “cancelled”). Four of the games were at Littlejohn, Clemson winning all of them. As is true most years, South Carolina was on the schedule and was a loss 37-65. Alabama, the ACC/SEC Challenge opponent, was also a loss 48-72. Clemson ventured down south and played the Baha Mar Championship, splitting games with W. Carolina (W 77-44) and Michigan State (L 64-72).
The other non-conference games included four home wins and four road wins, all against mid-majors. This brought their n/c record to 9 and 3.
Conference play has Clemson at 7-4, putting them a game behind Carolina which sits alone in 6th. The Tigers are tied with Virginia. They played an early season game with Louisville, losing 54-65. Following games were Pitt (W 73-41), at Virginia (L 63-73), at Miami (W 70-55), with NCSU (W 75-65), at Georgia Tech (L 55-58), with Wake Forest (W 78-71 in OT), at Virginia Tech (L 68-71), at Notre Dame (W 65-58), with SMU (W 83-54), and most recently with FSU (W 77-58).
It should not be overlooked that Clemson beat both N C State and Notre Dame, the latter win at South Bend where UNC took a 23-point loss. Those two wins are impressive.
As with so many teams in the transfer portal and NIL era teams have to rebuild every season. Clemson has four players returning from 2025. Two start now: Mia Moore, a 5-6 senior PG (11.6 ppg//5.4 rpg) and Raven Thompson, a 5-10 senior F (8.6/3.9). Moore leads the team in assists and steals. A third returnee is Hannah Kohn, a 5-9 junior G (5.0/1.4) who has started several games but most recently has been 6th player. The fourth returnee is Morgan Miller, a 6-2 sophomore F who rarely leaves the bench.
From the portal Clemson acquired Rusne Augustinaite, a 6-0 junior wing (11.7/2.9). From Lithuania, she was last seen at Georgia Tech. Rachel Rose, a 5-7 senior PG (10.3/2.7) was a 2-time POY at Wofford. Tulsa provided Hadley Periman, a 6-2 senior F (3.2/6.3) All three start for Clemson; Hadley is the leading rebounder.
Depth has been provided by DePaul’s Taylor Johnson-Matthews, a 5-9 senior G (9.2/2.3), by Demeara Hinds, a 6-3 GS F (8.7/6.2) whose name may be familiar as she spent the last four years at Wake Forest, and Morgan Lee, a 6-5 senior C (1.1) who was a starter at Marist but hasn’t cracked the rotation at Clemson.
The Tigers signed three freshmen. Two of them, Holland Harris, a 6-1 G and Amaia Jackson, a 5-8 G, will on occasion get some court time. The third, Ja”Kerra Butler, a 6-1 W, has not played.
Likely Thursday starters: Moore, Thompson, Augustinaite, Periman and Rose. Reserves: first off the bench Kohn, then Johnson-Matthews and Hinds.
As for stats, the fact is that Clemson and UNC have remarkably similar numbers. As of today the conference numbers show UNC as #9 in scoring (69.5 ppg), #8 in FG% (.428), #11 in 3P% (.312), #9 in assists (14.4 per game), and #11 in FT% (.652). Clemson’s numbers would be competitive in most of those categories: at 69.2 ppg they are #10, FG% .440 (#6), 3P% .317 (#9), assists 12.64 (#12). FT% however is a decided weakness: .661, (#18).
One thing is clear: this year as last the Tigers like and rely on the three. They have 581 attempts so far (all games), the most of any ACC team. That’s 25 per game. Currently they have three players who average 35% or better on threes. Thompson is at .389 (14/36), Johnson-Matthews at .370 (27/78), but the one to watch is Augustinaite at .433 (61/141).
Defensively, UNC has a decided edge in one area that may count. The Heels are #2 in defending the three, .259 and .360 (#1) against all field goals.
Shawn Poppie is in year 2 at Clemson, and definitely seems to have them headed in the right direction. Overall he is 30-24 (13-16).
This is a dangerous team. Any team that relies on perimeter shooting can be a problem if their shooters are able to get to their spots and are hitting shots. The Tigers have performed this year, although that #125 schedule may be cautionary. Still, they beat Notre Dame on their court despite 30 points from Hidalgo.
Every win is critical now. Carolina has eight games remaining, four on the road. A loss to Clemson would be a major blow. The Tigers would move ahead of the Heels if they win, and would hold the tiebreaker. If UNC wins they would keep pace with teams 3-5, against two of which (Moo U and Syracuse) the Heels hold tiebreakers.
Game time Thursday is 6 PM EST and there will be radio from GoHeels. The ACCN will broadcast the game live.
NCAA NET 37 (UNC 21); Massey Rating 42 (UNC 20); RPI (Nolan) 68 (UNC 31); Torvik 42 (UNC 21); WAB 44 (UNC 23)
Last Season: 14-17 (6-12, 13th), 1-1 ACCT (Lost to Louisville 68-70 in OT), no postseason
Note that the NCAA is now including yet another ranking system, called WAB (Wins Above Bubble) It is, we are told, a complementary system to NET, the NCAA Evaluation Tool. It will be used to help set the brackets for the NCAA Tournament. I sometimes think the NCAA itself is made up of a bunch of tools.
Thursday evening’s game is with Clemson at Carmichael. This will be the 93nd meeting between the schools. The overall record stands at 64-28
Last year UNC had a road win 53-51 in a physically tough match. Reniya Kelly had 17 points as did Loyal McQueen for the Tigers. Of the starters from last year’s Clemson team that faced UNC just one has returned: Hannah Kohn, who had 12 points. Otherwise just three players are back, with the remainder of the team all new.
Since 2001 Carolina has gone 32-3 with the Tigers. Carolina’s last loss to Clemson anywhere was in 2017 and at home 2012. The Heel’s 91.4% win rate with Clemson since 2001 the best against any ACC team.
For Thursday’s game, #25/21 and 18-5 Carolina is a 12-point favorite according to Massey but Nolan thinks it will be 15 points. Torvik gives UNC a 10-point edge. The NCAA is not particularly impressed by either schedule: Clemson is #125 and UNC #62: Keep in mind that these experts every one predicted NCSU would beat Carolina.
Clemson’s non-conference schedule had an ambitious 13-game lineup, although one game with UL Monroe was “postponed” (in NCAA-speak that probably means “cancelled”). Four of the games were at Littlejohn, Clemson winning all of them. As is true most years, South Carolina was on the schedule and was a loss 37-65. Alabama, the ACC/SEC Challenge opponent, was also a loss 48-72. Clemson ventured down south and played the Baha Mar Championship, splitting games with W. Carolina (W 77-44) and Michigan State (L 64-72).
The other non-conference games included four home wins and four road wins, all against mid-majors. This brought their n/c record to 9 and 3.
Conference play has Clemson at 7-4, putting them a game behind Carolina which sits alone in 6th. The Tigers are tied with Virginia. They played an early season game with Louisville, losing 54-65. Following games were Pitt (W 73-41), at Virginia (L 63-73), at Miami (W 70-55), with NCSU (W 75-65), at Georgia Tech (L 55-58), with Wake Forest (W 78-71 in OT), at Virginia Tech (L 68-71), at Notre Dame (W 65-58), with SMU (W 83-54), and most recently with FSU (W 77-58).
It should not be overlooked that Clemson beat both N C State and Notre Dame, the latter win at South Bend where UNC took a 23-point loss. Those two wins are impressive.
As with so many teams in the transfer portal and NIL era teams have to rebuild every season. Clemson has four players returning from 2025. Two start now: Mia Moore, a 5-6 senior PG (11.6 ppg//5.4 rpg) and Raven Thompson, a 5-10 senior F (8.6/3.9). Moore leads the team in assists and steals. A third returnee is Hannah Kohn, a 5-9 junior G (5.0/1.4) who has started several games but most recently has been 6th player. The fourth returnee is Morgan Miller, a 6-2 sophomore F who rarely leaves the bench.
From the portal Clemson acquired Rusne Augustinaite, a 6-0 junior wing (11.7/2.9). From Lithuania, she was last seen at Georgia Tech. Rachel Rose, a 5-7 senior PG (10.3/2.7) was a 2-time POY at Wofford. Tulsa provided Hadley Periman, a 6-2 senior F (3.2/6.3) All three start for Clemson; Hadley is the leading rebounder.
Depth has been provided by DePaul’s Taylor Johnson-Matthews, a 5-9 senior G (9.2/2.3), by Demeara Hinds, a 6-3 GS F (8.7/6.2) whose name may be familiar as she spent the last four years at Wake Forest, and Morgan Lee, a 6-5 senior C (1.1) who was a starter at Marist but hasn’t cracked the rotation at Clemson.
The Tigers signed three freshmen. Two of them, Holland Harris, a 6-1 G and Amaia Jackson, a 5-8 G, will on occasion get some court time. The third, Ja”Kerra Butler, a 6-1 W, has not played.
Likely Thursday starters: Moore, Thompson, Augustinaite, Periman and Rose. Reserves: first off the bench Kohn, then Johnson-Matthews and Hinds.
As for stats, the fact is that Clemson and UNC have remarkably similar numbers. As of today the conference numbers show UNC as #9 in scoring (69.5 ppg), #8 in FG% (.428), #11 in 3P% (.312), #9 in assists (14.4 per game), and #11 in FT% (.652). Clemson’s numbers would be competitive in most of those categories: at 69.2 ppg they are #10, FG% .440 (#6), 3P% .317 (#9), assists 12.64 (#12). FT% however is a decided weakness: .661, (#18).
One thing is clear: this year as last the Tigers like and rely on the three. They have 581 attempts so far (all games), the most of any ACC team. That’s 25 per game. Currently they have three players who average 35% or better on threes. Thompson is at .389 (14/36), Johnson-Matthews at .370 (27/78), but the one to watch is Augustinaite at .433 (61/141).
Defensively, UNC has a decided edge in one area that may count. The Heels are #2 in defending the three, .259 and .360 (#1) against all field goals.
Shawn Poppie is in year 2 at Clemson, and definitely seems to have them headed in the right direction. Overall he is 30-24 (13-16).
This is a dangerous team. Any team that relies on perimeter shooting can be a problem if their shooters are able to get to their spots and are hitting shots. The Tigers have performed this year, although that #125 schedule may be cautionary. Still, they beat Notre Dame on their court despite 30 points from Hidalgo.
Every win is critical now. Carolina has eight games remaining, four on the road. A loss to Clemson would be a major blow. The Tigers would move ahead of the Heels if they win, and would hold the tiebreaker. If UNC wins they would keep pace with teams 3-5, against two of which (Moo U and Syracuse) the Heels hold tiebreakers.
Game time Thursday is 6 PM EST and there will be radio from GoHeels. The ACCN will broadcast the game live.
