Clemson vs. Boston College: College basketball game preview, TV schedule

Clemson and Boston College are two of the more surprising teams early on in the ACC. Who prevails in this battle?

TV schedule: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 7:00 p.m. ET. ACC Network

Arena: Silvio Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Coming into the season, Brad Brownell was on the hot seat after a few underwhelming years in the ACC despite having NBA caliber talent on the roster. This season has been different. Even though there isn’t that All-ACC player on the team like in previous years (Marcquise Reed make me eat my words), there’s more talent up and down the roster thanks to an influx of transfers.

For Clemson 12-1 (1-0), the defense has gone from average to borderline elite this season — with just 62 points allowed against the NC State Wolf Pack in the first league game served as evidence. Besides Reed, Donte Grantham, Shelton Mitchell, and Elijah Thomas have made the Tigers a legit threat to be a top-four ACC team.

Boston College 10-4 (1-1), was close to being on the same level as Clemson, losing by just a point at Virginia. If the Eagles would’ve won, combined with the previous Duke upset, that would’ve put them in the right in the thick of an at-large bid.

In this season’s first edition of Busting Brackets Bracketology, there were eight ACC teams that were given bids. Boston College was not one of them. Besides the Blue Devil victory, there’s no other quality wins to date. That Nebraska loss also isn’t going to look good either. That makes home games like this all the more important, and winnable too.

Next: Missed chances theme in latest ACC power rankings

The Eagles have possibly the best trio of guards in the conference, with Jordan Chatman, Jerome Robinson, and Ky Bowman each a threat to go for 30 any given night. But the loss of Deontae Hawkins in the frontcourt is going to really show in conference play. That includes this game, with Thomas of Clemson having a big night.

Prediction: Clemson 77 – Boston College 68