Clemson men’s basketball heads to Greenville on Sunday for one final non-conference test before ACC play, squaring off with Cincinnati at Bon Secours Wellness Arena.
The Tigers bring a 9-3 record into the matchup and have started to settle in after a pair of home wins earlier in the week. Clemson took care of Mercer and then edged South Carolina in a physical rivalry game, closing out December with some momentum as the calendar turns toward league play.
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Cincinnati comes in at 7-4 after cruising past Alabama State and recently added an important piece back into the rotation. Junior guard Jizzle James made his season debut in that win and wasted little time making an impact, scoring 16 points in just 20 minutes. The Bearcats have leaned on defense all season, ranking among the top teams nationally on that end of the floor, while their offense continues to evolve.
Numbers suggest Clemson holds the edge. ESPN’s matchup predictor favors the Tigers, and Clemson currently sits comfortably inside the top 35 in national efficiency rankings. Cincinnati trails in overall metrics but balances that with physicality and defensive pressure that can make games uncomfortable.
The teams have both seen Georgia already this season, with Clemson surviving an overtime battle in Athens and Cincinnati suffering a road loss to the Bulldogs. While Sunday’s game falls into the NET Quad 3 category, it still offers Clemson a meaningful tune-up before the schedule stiffens.
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After wrapping up non-conference play, the Tigers will turn their attention fully to ACC action, opening league play on the road before returning home in early January.
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson takes on Cincinnati, another big opportunity for the Tigers
