Clemson Basketball Preview: Alabama A&M

Date: Friday, Nov 28Tip Time: 7:00 PMGame Location: Clemson, SC – Littlejohn ColiseumTV: ACC Network Extra (ESPN3)

Gauging Clemson So Far

I predicted Clemson to finish 22-8 (12-6) and sneak into the NCAA tournament. That seemed optimistic at the time, given they’d lost all the contributors from last year’s squad but Dillon Hunter. So far, that optimism is turning into realism. The Tigers have done a marvelous job importing a tournament team’s worth of talent from the portal while meshing personalities and playing styles. They’re able to bounce back from opposing teams making big runs because they show poise and have good leadership — especially from Dillon and Godfrey.

This is a super likable, fun-to-watch team, and I hope it sends a signal across campus that you can, in fact, use the transfer portal heavily without sacrificing team culture. This team is already showing “Clemson Grit.” It can work, folks!

One thing I’ve gotten wrong so far is where the scoring would come from. I thought Nick Davidson would be the focal point, and the depth around him would bounce around who would be the next best option. While post scoring has led the way, it is actually Carter Welling and RJ Godfrey averaging 11.6 and 11.4 points per game, respectively.

Welling had to shake some rust off from offseason foot surgery, but he is tall, athletic, and strong enough to battle in the post. He was the hero of the comeback win against West Virginia. RJ Godfrey still doesn’t have a jump shot, but has developed great post moves and plays well above his 6-foot-7 height. Nick Davidson is averaging just 7.9 points and sometimes gets bullied in the post. At 6-foot-10, 238lbs, I wouldn’t expect this to happen, but he is a bit less physical than the other posts. Last year, he shot 37% from 3-point territory, and I expect him to find his groove there. If he does that, he could be in the mix as another 10-point per game player, giving Clemson an excellent front court.

This Friday’s game is a classic letdown spot. They just played two games in three days and have thrilling victories. They hoisted a trophy and now get a break for turkey and family. Will they come back with the same focus? Luckily, only Alabama A&M is waiting.

A Brief Look at Alabama A&M

Conference: SWAC (HBCU)Record: 3-1 (0-0)

Alabama A&M is not a strong rebounding team. Going up against post-centric Clemson, that will be a problem. In their loss to Indiana, they were outrebounded 42-19. This should give the Tigers some immunity from a slow start or a cold shooting night. The formula here should be an exaggerated version of what it is in almost every game for Clemson: inside-out basketball.

The Tigers’ best players are in the post. Try to work the ball there as much as possible. Add in some 3-pointers from Jestin Porter and Zac Foster and some driving to the lane from Ace Buckner and Dillon Hunter, and you’ve got a winning formula.

Alabama A&M is coached by Donte Jackson, who was previously at Grambling St for eight years. He brought over four players with him from the Grambling State Tigers: Kintavious Dozier, Lou Hutchinson, James Flippin, and PJ Eason.

Alongside them, this is mostly a portal-built team like Clemson. They have players who joined from Louisiana, New Hampshire, Jacksonville St, and Buffalo. Some of these were guys originally recruited to bigger programs like Rhode Island (Alma Mater of Lamar Odom) and Maryland, who moved down a level.

Kintavious Dozier is the leading scorer and the name to circle. He isn’t a 3-point shooter, but he’ll attack the basket and draw fouls despite standing at just 6-foot-1. He averaged 12 and 13 points per game in his years at Grambling State and is scoring at a 14 PPG clip so far at Alabama A&M. I expect Dillon Hunter and Jestin Porter to handle him well, but that’ll be a fun matchup.

PJ Eason and Koron Davis are their leading rebounders, but both can get sucked into foul trouble. If that happens, they’re dead in the water as Clemson will dominate the glass in that scenario.

Alabama A&M likes a slower pace, and they’ll need to play really slow, limit possessions to increase randomness, and hope Clemson isn’t focused. It’ll be an uphill climb for them.

Final Thoughts

In this contest, anything short of a 20-point win will be a disappointment. I’d like to see them come out sharp, but I’ll take a blowout win in any fashion, really. It would be ideal to see Jestin Porter and Butta Johnson build on their great performances in Charleston. I don’t love the idea of relying on freshman Ace Buckner and Zac Foster to carry the load at guard, and I love the defense we’ve gotten from Porter and Johnson, so continued offensive contributions would be great.

A big day from Nick Davidson or a bounce back from Ace Buckner, who really struggled in Charleston, would be great as well. It may be time for a Jake Wahlin game, though. He has been a very solid glue guy, playing great defense and making big shots in clutch moments. He is the Tony Kukoc of this team, and it feels like it is his turn to go off for 15+ points.

KenPom: Clemson 83, Alabama A&M 58

Kantor:Clemson 79, Alabama A&M 57