Clemson Vs. NC State Preview: Jennings, Booker Lead Tigers

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Clemson hasn't changed much from year two to year three of Brad Brownell's tenure--offense is a major struggle at times for the Tigers, but they're still solid defensively. The offense lost a couple of efficient starters after last season, though neither one--Andre Young, Tanner Smith--was a major difference-maker. This year they've gotten more efficient play from Devin Booker and Milton Jennings, which has essentially allowed them to tread water.

The Tigers have been an average three-point shooting team this season, and they don't take a ton of them. So we at least probably don't have to worry about this team going bombs away on us. But anything can happen in a single game, obviously. It's a solid-shooting team inside the arc (49.2% from two), but again that's not a particularly scary figure. Like State, the Tigers are having a rough go of it at the free throw line, and their turnover rate is way up in conference games.

Startery types:

Rod Hall (6-1, 210) -- Hall's assist rate is way up this year as he's assumed the distributor role, but like last season, he doesn't figure to shoot the ball very often, and he will only rarely take a three (2 3FGAs this year). He's hitting around 49% of his twos and his free throw rate is good...his free throw shooting not so much.

Adonis Filer (6-2, 190) -- Decent three-point shooter (34.2%), not so good inside the arc (43.1%). He's taking pretty good care of the basketball, and his free throw rate is outstanding, which suggests he's pretty quick off the dribble.

K.J. McDaniels (6-6, 200) -- McDaniels' workload is the highest on the team, which is maybe not the best distribution of possessions possible for the Tigers. McDaniels' major issue is three-point shooting--he hit just seven of 25 threes last year, and he's 16-54 (29.6%). And as you can see, this lack of success clearly has not deterred him from shooting out there. If he focused more of his game inside the arc, where he's shooting better than 53%, he could be come a more efficient contributor. The most impressive thing about him is his block rate, which ranks 50th nationally. There are only three other players 6-6 or shorter in the top 50.

Milton Jennings (6-9, 225) -- Jennings is having his most efficient season ever, and a big reason for that is his dramatically improved three-point shooting. He came into this season a career 27.9% shooter from outside; this year he is shooting 46.2%. His accuracy inside the arc is about the same as ever (high 40s), and he's been able to cut down on turnovers a bit, though that remains a problem.

Devin Booker (6-8, 250) -- Clemson had to have Booker step it up this season, and so far he's done that. His 56.1% shooting inside the arc is the best mark since his freshman season, and his workload (not to mention minutes) was lighter then. He's posting career-best numbers in offensive rebounding percentage, defensive rebounding percentage, and block rate.

Bench

Damarcus Harrison (6-4, 200), Jordan Roper (5-11, 165), Landry Nnoko (6-10, 245), Bernard Sullivan (6-7, 230). Harrison and Roper are not the least bit shy about shooting the ball when they are on the floor, which is...you know, good and bad. Harrison is fine inside the arc (50%), but he's 7-35 from three. Roper is an excellent three-point shooter, but a liability inside the arc.

Nnoko is struggling considerably, which is not at all uncommon for very tall and unheralded gentlemen in their first college season. He'll bother some shots, though, and he's a good offensive rebounder. He also has five fouls to give, and they can never take that away from him.

Clemson's interior defense is considerably better this year--it helps to have a top-20 block rate--and so far at least, it's holding up in ACC play. The Tigers played a non-conference schedule that Pomeroy ranks 336th, and that can make it difficult to get an accurate picture sometimes.

NC State hopefully will not need them in order to win this game, but second chance opportunities should be there.

The Pomeroy Predictor likes NC State by eight.