The Miami Hurricanes are one of college basketball’s hottest teams. Winners of their last 10 games, Jai Lucas’ squad has made people quickly forget about the dismal events of last season. The Canes are no longer pushovers or laughing stocks. They are a legitimate NCAA Tournament team and even a contender for an ACC regular-season title.
So far, Miami is 15-2 and 4-0 in conference play. They have defeated Pitt and Georgia Tech at home while beating Wake Forest and Notre Dame on the road. Now, UM transitions
and faces its toughest test of the season. On Saturday afternoon, the Hurricanes travel to Clemson and will take on the No. 22 Tigers, one of three undefeated ACC teams.
UM has had two previous cracks at upsetting a ranked opponent. They dropped both of those contests earlier in the season to Florida and BYU. Fans hope that the third time will be the charm. An upset in Clemson would give the program its first win over a ranked opponent since a January 3, 2024, home victory against these same Tigers.
Game Info
Date: Saturday, January 17
TV: The CW Network
Time: 2:15 PM ET
FanDuel Odds:
ESPN Analytics Matchup Predictor: Clemson wins (72% chance).
All-Time Series History: Clemson leads 19-17
Clemson Tigers Overview:
No. 22 Clemson is led by longtime head coach Brad Brownell. The school’s all-time leader in wins is in 16th season at the helm. Before coaching the Tigers, Brownell had successful stints at mid-major schools. First, he coached UNC Wilmington to two NCAA Tournament trips between 2002 and 2006.
Then, he moved on to coach Wright State, holding the job from 2006 to 2010. He also led the Raiders to an NCAA Tournament appearance in his first year. After the 2009-10 campaign, he left to take the Clemson job. During his tenure with the Tigers, Brownell has experienced both success and struggles.
Under Brownell’s stewardship, Clemson has made five trips to March Madness, including a run to the Sweet 16 in 2018 and a run to the Elite 8 in 2024. However, the Tigers have also posted six seasons of 15 or more losses. Fortunately for Brownell and the Clemson faithful, that won’t be the case this year.
The Tigers have raced out to a fast start. They are currently 15-3 and 5-0 in ACC play. A team-first approach has been the catalyst for Clemson’s early dominance. Not one player stands out and carries the load. Their roster consists of several combo guards and floor stretchers.
The man leading the Clemson attack is senior Dillon Hunter from Atlanta, Georgia. Hunter is a career-long Tiger who has seen his role evolve each year. Averaging just a hair under nine points per game, he has become Clemson’s leading playmaker (2.9 APG) and long-distance shooter (42% 3P).
RJ Godfrey is the team’s leading scorer (12.1 PPG) and is one of three players averaging double figures. He is the one player in Clemson’s starting lineup that doesn’t space the floor and occupies a more traditional role for a big man. Most of his scoring comes from inside the paint.
Jestin Porter (11.3 PPG) is a senior transfer from Middle Tennessee who specializes in 3-point shooting. Hunter’s backcourt partner has taken 100 of 168 shot attempts from beyond the arc. Porter has cashed in, placing second on the team for 3-point percentage (36%).
If he’s not letting shots fly from far, he’s slashing past the defense and attacking the basket. Lastly, Carter Welling (10.1 PPG) is a junior who is playing for his third school in as many years. The native of Draper, Utah, played his freshman season at UC-Irvine and then spent his sophomore year at Utah Valley before transferring to Clemson.
Similar to Godfrey, Welling excels most when given the ball inside. However, he does have the ability to splash from deep as well. He’s not a high-volume shooter from beyond the arc (10-for-34) but takes shots when given the chance. The final frontcourt starter is Nevada transfer Nick Davidson.
Davidson is another player who can stretch the floor admirably and is multifaceted in his scoring abilities. His bread and butter is finishing near the rim, but he can hit mid-range shots as well. The former two-time All-Mountain West performer is averaging 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
The starters have been great and have coalesced together seamlessly, but what makes this team dangerous is their highly productive bench. Anyone can make the argument that Clemson has the best bench unit in the ACC and is one of the most elite in the country.
Jake Wahlin, Efrem ‘Butta’ Johnson, and Ace Bucker have all given this team solid minutes. Each has contributed to scoring, playmaking, defense, and rebounding. They are dealing with a major blow to the rotation, however, as backup guard Zac Foster tore his ACL in a December win over rival South Carolina. Still, Clemson hasn’t lost a step.
Players to Watch
Miami: Tre Donaldson
When facing a team with a collection of capable guards, it’s important that your backcourt matches their output, blow for blow. That’s where Tre Donaldson comes in. As of late, Miami’s floor general has put together a string of amazing performances.
Dating back to Miami’s win over North Florida on December 21, Donaldson has scored 19 points or more in five consecutive games. His last three contests have seen the Tallahassee native shoot over 50% from the field. He has a clutch gene and a ‘killer mentality.’
While Malik Reneau has been Miami’s most consistent offensive producer all season, the Michigan transfer has completely taken over the ball in key situations that win or lose games. Jai Lucas is comfortable with the rock in his hands, and his teammates have full trust in him to deliver when needed.
With Miami being an underdog, the Hurricanes are going to have to make every trip down the court count. As the game gets deeper into the second half, Donaldson will get the keys to generate points once again. He has to be on his A-game for UM to get the upset.
Clemson: Dillon Hunter
As mentioned earlier, Dillon Hunter is at the head of Clemson’s attack. His ability to make others around him better is admirable. His unselfish play has allowed the Tigers to quickly evolve into one of the top contenders in the ACC.
Hunter is the player who’ll be on the floor for Clemson the most. He is the glue that keeps everyone together. His impact will be seen from the start. Miami will have to pay extra attention to Hunter, since he has an IQ that keeps the Tigers’ offense organized.
His smart decision-making allowed Clemson’s main scorers to operate more freely. His poise and toughness allow this team to excel in high-pressure situations. Similar to Donaldson of UM, Hunter’s impact on the defensive end is just as important.
He can pick up full court, disrupt passing lanes, and has a consistent and aggressive motor. The senior might not have the offensive upside that his counterpart has, but Hunter contributes to every aspect that leads to winning basketball. The level of intensity that Clemson plays with comes from Hunter.
Miami’s Keys to Victory
Establish Identity on Offense Early: Offensively, Miami has run the show through its bigs. It’s not a secret that UM’s top option for buckets is Malik Reneau. Jai Lucas always has him set on the blocks to do his thing. Shelton Henderson has also proven to be a solid frontcourt scorer with his strong frame.
The backcourt duo of Donaldson and Tru Washington can always get downhill and attack the paint at will. Clemson doesn’t have the best rim protection in the world, and they’re second to last in the ACC in blocked shots. Miami should test its rim protection early, which could generate a fast start.
Control the Offensive Glass: Rebounding was a point of emphasis for Miami before the Notre Dame game. The Canes lost that battle but still escaped. If they think that they could repeat that feat against this opponent, they are sadly mistaken.
All season long, UM has been able to create second-chance opportunities by rebounding its own misses. The Hurricanes are going to have to do that on Saturday if they are going to keep this winning streak going. Clemson is great at clearing the defensive glass, so this will be a challenge for Miami. The defensive end doesn’t seem to be a big issue as Clemson is not a great offensive rebounding team.
Maximize Number of Possessions: Defensively, Miami thrives on creating turnovers. However, they will be facing a Clemson team that is extremely stingy with the ball. The Tigers have recorded the second-fewest turnovers in the conference (171). This team prides itself on limiting possessions for the opposition.
For the Canes to pull off the upset, they need to find a way to get Clemson to cough up the ball. They are going to have to create more possessions. That, in turn, can enable them to get into transition, which this team thrives on. Make Clemson beat themselves.
