The Clemson Tigers stayed undefeated in basketball, knocking off their in-state rival.
Clemson defeated South Carolina 72-67 Wednesday night in a battle of the unbeatens in Clemson. The Tigers improved to 8-0, while South Carolina’s loss drops them to a still-impressive 7-1 record on the season.
South Carolina started out hot, leading by 8 early, and as much as 11 in the second half. From the 7:40 mark in the first half to the 19:13 mark in the second half, the Tigers didn’t score a single point. Behind a home crowd, however, Clemson starting hitting the shots they needed to hit, and Chauncey Wiggins made key baskets down the stretch to hold off the ‘Cocks.
Meechie Johnson scored 26 for South Carolina, while PJ Hall recorded 14 points, 8 boards, and 4 blocks inside.
Takeaway #1: Both Palmetto State Power 6 teams are tournament-worthy
Clemson and South Carolina both came into Wednesday night with unblemished records, and it wasn’t hard to see why. The two teams shared quick runs on offense while coming up clutch on the defensive side of the ball. The road environment of Clemson was enough to drive the Tigers to a win but make no mistake, these teams are close in talent, and they’re both talented enough to make the tournament while not having to sweat on Selection Sunday.
Clemson has a bevy of talent in the frontcourt, and both teams are excelling from beyond the arc on offense, combining for an 18-for-48 (37.5%) mark from deep Wednesday night. Both teams entered the game shooting better than 40.0% from three on the year, a strength that will help both teams once March rolls around.
Takeaway #2: Meechie Johnson is an NBA talent
Meechie Johnson wasn’t often a factor in his two seasons at Ohio State, averaging 3.2 PPG in 43 games in Columbus. That’s when he decided to team up with Lamont Paris in Columbia, and while he was impressive in his first year with the ‘Cocks, he has emerged as a very talented first-option offensively in his second season. Johnson scored 26 points against Clemson on Wednesday night, marking the 6th time he’s scored 24+ points in a game, with 4 of those performances coming in the past three weeks.
His 3PT% has improved to over 40% this season after a 32.7% mark last year, and he came into Wednesday’s game leading the Gamecocks in rebounding despite his 6’2 frame. Johnson tested the draft waters last year but decided to return to Columbia, a decision that looks like it’s already paying dividends, not just for himself, but for the Gamecock program as a whole. Johnson will be playing in the association sooner rather than later.
Takeaway #3: Brad Brownell thrives on the hot seat
The Clemson coach has been in the Upstate since 2010, but he sports just a 58.4% winning percentage overall and a 118-117 record in conference games in 14 seasons. Seemingly every time the Evansville native starts to hear the rumors of a coaching change, he brings his A-game. This year is no different. After barely missing out on the NCAA tournament last season, there was chatter of a possible ouster in Clemson if this season didn’t meet expectations. Consider that chatter quashed.
Clemson is now 8-0, ranked, and with wins over three solid Power 6 opponents. Brad Brownell has one of his best teams in years, with contributors both in the starting lineup and coming off the bench. PJ Hall is an all-ACC level of player, and Brownell deserves tons of credit for bringing in Syracuse transfer Joe Girard III, who’s stepped up multiple times when the Tigers have needed a big-time play. No one will be putting Brad Brownell in a heated chair this offseason.
Next up for Clemson: vs. TCU (Dec. 9 – 4 p.m.)
Next up for South Carolina: at East Carolina (Dec. 9 – Noon)