Duke @ Clemson: The Game Every Clemson Fan Has Been Waiting For

Clemson Basketball vs Duke | Preview

Ian Schieffelin and Andrew Latiff during player introductions. Photo By: Charles Mays/Tiger View Media

The Clemson Tigers will host the second-ranked Duke Blue Devils, who have not lost a basketball game since November 26 against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Vegas Showdown. The Blue Devils are currently 20-2 overall on the season and 12-0 within the ACC, which has them in first place, two games ahead of Louisville and Clemson. Duke is a lock for the NCAA tournament and is currently the second favorite team to win it all, behind the Auburn Tigers. Head Coach Jon Scheyer is in his third season with the team, succeeding the legendary Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, who won five national championships in his 42 years with the Blue Devils. Last season, Duke finished the year 27-9, making the elite eight before being knocked out by rivals, North Carolina State. This season, the Blue Devils will hope to be able to get over the hump and win their first national championship in a decade. They won't be able to do it without the consensus National Player of the Year and projected No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft, Cooper Flagg. The 6'9" freshman from Newport, Maine, is averaging 19.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game on 48.6% shooting from the field. There are many ways to describe Cooper Flagg, but his coach, Jon Scheyer, describes him perfectly as a "force on the court" and "the best player in the country." Although no single player in the country can shut down Flagg, Ian Schieffelin and this Tiger defense will have to throw the kitchen sink at him to have any chance in this game. Cooper Flagg isn't the only freshman who starts for this Blue Devil team. Kon Knueppel is a 6'7" guard from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who averages 13.5 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists on 44.5% shooting from the floor. Knueppel has been the perfect sidekick for Flagg this season, as they have scored double-digit points in every game besides six, showcasing just how dominant the first-year players are. Duke has one of the deepest teams in the country, with even more impact players like Tyrese Proctor, Khaman Maluach, and Sion James; the Tigers will need some Littlejohn magic to stop this elite Blue Devil team. 

Clemson comes into this game off the back of a deflating triple-overtime loss to Georgia Tech. After dropping that game, the Tigers are now 18-5 overall on the season and 10-2 within ACC play, which has them tied for second place with Louisville. In their game against the Yellow Jackets, the Tigers struggled offensively, shooting 36.4% from the field and 32.4% from behind the arc. Although Chase Hunter had 28 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and four assists, he struggled with efficiency and turning the ball over. The Tigers' star went 9/24 from the field, 4/12 from behind the arc, 0/3 on game-winning shots, and turned the ball over six times. The 6'4" guard from Atlanta, Georgia, will have to be more efficient and careful with the ball if the Tigers have any hope of leaving Littlejohn with a win. Another player who has to step up if Clemson is to win this game is Viktor Lakhin. The 6'11" center fouled out after just 16 minutes of play against Georgia Tech. In his 16 minutes of playtime, Lakhin amassed 5 points, three rebounds, and two blocks. Lakhin fouling out with a few minutes left in the second half left the Tigers without their starting center for all three overtimes, which led to Georgia Tech dominating the offensive glass and eventually winning the game in triple overtime. Although some of the Tigers' star players struggled in their loss to the Yellow Jackets, Ian Schieffelin had his best game of the season. Chef, as many Clemson fans lovingly call him, put up 23 points, eight rebounds, and three blocks while going 6/10 from the field and 2/4 from downtown. Schieffelin has been dealing with calf issues and back spasms all season and may have reinvigorated one of those injuries during the Georgia Tech game. By the end of triple overtime, Schieffelin struggled to run or jump for rebounds, which proved costly for the Tigers. Schieffelin will play against the Blue Devils on Saturday night, but his range of motion is something to look out for throughout the game. Game time is set for 6:30 on February 8 at Littlejohn Coliseum and is available to watch on ESPN, with the legendary Dick Vitale making his return to broadcasting for the first time since April 23, 2023.