Kentucky vs. Clemson: 2024-25 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
Kentucky will bring their undefeated record into Littlejohn Coliseum to square off with Clemson in a SEC/ACC Challenge bout. Will they maintain their perfect streak?
TV schedule: Tuesday, December 3rd, 9:30 pm ET. ESPN
Arena: Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, South Carolina
As part of the SEC/ACC challenge, the Kentucky Wildcats (7-0) will go on the road to Clemson to match up with the Tigers (7-1). It will be the first true road test for Mark Pope and the Wildcats, with their lone game away from Rupp Arena so far this winter coming in the neutral site State Farm Champions Classic, when they outlasted Duke, 77-72.
The month of November went about as well as could be expected for Pope and the Wildcats. Even with all the new pieces dotting this roster, the team has played with remarkable chemistry. The result has been a dominant 7-0 start that not only includes the big win over Duke, but several blowout wins.
Clemson does pose the toughest challenge yet for the Wildcats, outside of the Blue Devils. Although the Tigers lost several key players from their Elite Eight team last season, they've looked strong en route to their 7-1 start. Their lone defeat came on the road to Boise State at altitude, a game where the Tigers struggled to shoot the ball from three-point territory. In recovering to win the Sunshine Slam Beach Division, punctuated by a championship victory over Penn State, Clemson proved they should still be a factor inside the ACC this year.
Chase Hunter is leading Clemson in scoring entering this one, but it may be the battle on the block that ends up deciding who comes out on top in this game. Hard-nosed veteran Ian Schiefflein went for a double-double against Penn State, and remains a key cog for the Tiger offense underneath. More importantly, his defense is going to have be on point to slow down Andrew Carr and Amari Williams for the 'Cats. Neither are likely to put up a huge night in the scoring column, but their passing and activity in the paint makes this entire Kentucky offense flow.
This game will not only be important for conference bragging rights, but for the fact that tougher battles lie on the horizon for both teams. Kentucky gets Gonzaga in Seattle next, and for Clemson, they get a one-game ACC date on the road with Miami before Memphis and South Carolina wrap up their non-conference action.
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Littlejohn is an underrated college basketball atmosphere, and Tiger fans should be extra raucous with such a major brand coming to town. But, to pick against the Wildcats with the way they're playing feels foolish at this point in time. The Tigers play a physical brand of basketball that could disrupt the UK enough to make this one tight deep into the second, but look for the Wildcats to come out still picking against the Wildcats with the way they're playing feels foolish at this point victorious.
Prediction: Kentucky, 75 Clemson, 65