Busting Brackets
Fansided

NCAA Basketball: 5 teams off to surprising starts in 2020-21 season

By Jason Burgess

SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 05: General view of Nike basketballs caught in the basket prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on February 5, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY - FEBRUARY 05: General view of Nike basketballs caught in the basket prior to the game between the Florida State Seminoles and the Syracuse Orange at the Carrier Dome on February 5, 2019 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
NCAA Basketball Clemson Al-Amir Dawes Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Basketball Clemson Al-Amir Dawes Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports /

Clemson Tigers 5-1

In the ACC, Brad Brownell’s Clemson Tigers were picked to finish 10th in the preseason poll and currently find themselves at 5-1 and were ranked No. 24 in the country, before falling to Virginia Tech 66-60 in the conference opener for both teams. Prior to that, the team had wins over the likes of Mississippi State, Purdue, Maryland, and Alabama, with only the last one coming by single digits.

Senior Aamir Simms has been leading a deep Tigers’ squad that has 11 players averaging double-figure minutes so far this season. Simms, an All-Conference selection, is playing like one averaging 12 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting over 58% from the field. Sophomore guard Al-Amir Dawes is the only other Tiger in double figures with 10.8 points per game, but it has been Clemson’s defense that has been elite so far this season.

Not only is Clemson giving up just 53.8 points per game, but they have also forced nearly 19 turnovers per game thanks to 8.5 steals per game. From the field opponents are shooting just 35.8%, giving Brownell and his Tigers a chance to never be out of a game this season. Now that conference play has begun, so has the real test, but Clemson is certainly better than most thought.

Home/NCAA Basketball News