Clemson Tigers play the McNeese Cowboys in first round of NCAA Tournament
McNeese Cowboys (27-6, 21-1 Southland) vs. Clemson Tigers (27-6, 19-3 ACC)
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Tigers -7.5; over/under is 134.5
BOTTOM LINE: No. 12 Clemson and McNeese square off in the NCAA Tournament first round.
The Tigers' record in ACC games is 19-3, and their record is 8-3 in non-conference play. Clemson ranks sixth in the ACC with 14.4 assists per game led by Jaeden Zackery averaging 3.2.
The Cowboys are 21-1 against Southland opponents. McNeese ranks fourth in the Southland with 33.5 rebounds per game led by Joe Charles averaging 7.1.
Clemson makes 46.5% of its shots from the field this season, which is 6.3 percentage points higher than McNeese has allowed to its opponents (40.2%). McNeese has shot at a 47.9% clip from the field this season, 5.2 percentage points higher than the 42.7% shooting opponents of Clemson have averaged.
TOP PERFORMERS: Chase Hunter is scoring 16.4 points per game and averaging 3.0 rebounds for the Tigers. Zackery is averaging 1.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Javohn Garcia is shooting 44.3% and averaging 13.3 points for the Cowboys. DJ Richards is averaging 3.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 9-1, averaging 74.0 points, 32.2 rebounds, 14.6 assists, 7.7 steals and 3.8 blocks per game while shooting 47.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 62.3 points per game.
Cowboys: 10-0, averaging 78.0 points, 34.4 rebounds, 15.0 assists, 8.1 steals and 4.3 blocks per game while shooting 47.5% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 61.7 points.
___
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
CBS Sports identifies Clemson's run game as what the Tigers must address for 2025 success
CBS Sports identifies Clemson's run game as what the Tigers must address for 2025 success Clemson enters the 2025 season with expectations as high as ever — and for good reason. The Tigers return more production than any team in college football, according to ESPN. Dabo Swinney also made rare moves in the transfer portal to strengthen the top of the depth chart and brought in former Indiana head coach Tom Allen to take over the defense. But despite the talent-laden roster, CBS Sports points to one remaining question: the run game. With Phil Mafah off to the NFL and Will Shipley gone as well, Clemson's backfield now features a less experienced group. Freshman Gideon Davidson, redshirt freshman David Eziomume, and third-year sophomore Jay Haynes — who is coming off a torn ACL — are expected to carry the load. Davidson enrolled early and impressed this spring, while Haynes averaged 6.9 yards per carry last season before the injury. Eziomume saw time in the Playoff but didn't record a touch. During the CFP semifinal loss to Texas, with Mafah limited and Haynes out, Adam Randall — a converted wide receiver — broke off a 41-yard run and finished with 44 yards on four carries. Jarvis Green and Keith Adams Jr. also saw light action, but the room enters 2025 unproven. Even with Cade Klubnik expected to lead one of the more pass-oriented Clemson offenses in recent years, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley will need short-yardage consistency if the Tigers are to contend for a national title. Clemson kicks off the season on August 30 against LSU (7:30 p.m., ABC), a matchup CBS cautioned LSU to approach with focus amid growing pressure on Brian Kelly and the Tigers to start fast after five straight season-opening losses. Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Clemson Product Eli White Carves Out Key Platoon Role in Braves' Outfield
Clemson Product Eli White Carves Out Key Platoon Role in Braves' Outfield originally appeared on Athlon Sports. From the ACC battlegrounds at Doug Kingsmore Stadium to a defined role in the Show, former Clemson Tiger Eli White is making his alma mater proud. The 30-year-old outfielder's recent torrid stretch at the plate has not only turned heads but has now officially earned him a significant spot in Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker's lineup strategy. Advertisement Snitker announced that White, a right-handed hitter, will get the starting nod in left field against southpaw pitchers. This move creates a strategic platoon, with the left-handed hitting Alex Verdugo stepping in against right-handers. Verdugo himself has been productive against righties, hitting .309 with eight extra-base hits and a .760 OPS. Jul 9, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Braves pinch hitter Eli White celebrates after hitting an RBI triple in the eighth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports But the big news for the Clemson faithful is White solidifying his place. This opportunity is a direct result of White seizing his moment. While primarily filling in due to injuries and other roster moves, he's slashed an impressive .291/.368/.447 against right-handed pitching, good for a potent .814 OPS with nine extra-base hits in 87 plate appearances. An eye-popping eight-game hitting streak, during which he launched two homers and drove in 12, essentially forced his way into more consistent playing time. "Yeah, it's been special," White said of his recent performance, a stretch he feels has been "a long time coming." Advertisement "My plan when we got Ronald (back) was, it's gonna obviously push Eli off of right field," Snitker explained. "And I think I felt like we'd have kind of a good right-left option in left. Honestly, I'm not going to rule out anything." That role now looks like the strong side of a left-field platoon. It's a testament to White's impact that the Braves shifted their outfield plans, having previously optioned both Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz. For White, the Easley, S.C. native who starred at Clemson before being drafted by the A's in 2016, it's a significant step. As Snitker commented on players who find their stride, "You never know when these guys might click." Right now, the Clemson Tiger is clicking, and the Braves are banking on his continued production as they strategically deploy him in their pursuit of wins. Related: Hunter Renfrow Making 'Huge Strides' in Panthers Camp After Health Battle This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
CBS Sports Analyst Has Serious Questions About This National Title Contender
CBS Sports Analyst Has Serious Questions About This National Title Contender originally appeared on Athlon Sports. CLEMSON, S.C. — The roar of a Death Valley season opener is just 86 days away, but the echoes of Clemson's last national championship are what truly reverberate around Dabo Swinney's program. Fresh off a 10-win season, an ACC crown, and a College Football Playoff appearance, the Tigers are reloading for another title run in 2025, and the arsenal looks formidable. Advertisement You want a franchise quarterback? Cade Klubnik is coming off a staggering 3,639-yard, 36-touchdown season that solidified his place among the nation's elite. Worried about weapons on the outside? Senior Antonio Williams leads a ferocious receiving corps, complemented by the explosive talents of Bryant Wesco and T.J. Moore. On the other side of the ball, a defense anchored by a menacing front four featuring T.J. Parker and Peter Woods is poised to suffocate offenses. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images By all accounts, Clemson has the championship pedigree and the star power. Yet, as the Tigers march toward a primetime August 30 showdown with LSU, one glaring question mark looms over an otherwise stacked roster: Who will carry the rock? The departure of senior running back Phil Mafah, who rumbled for 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns last season, has left a void in the backfield. For the second straight year, Clemson is breaking in a new starting tailback, a challenge that hasn't gone unnoticed by national pundits. Advertisement "Find comfort in run game," wrote CBS Sports' Brad Crawford, who pinpointed the issue as the one area the Tigers must address to meet their lofty expectations. "This will be a pass-happy team with Cade Klubnik, but offensive coordinator Garrett Riley needs to be able to breathe easy in short-yardage situations, too." The task of replacing Mafah's production will fall to a talented but unproven trio. The backfield committee is expected to feature third-year sophomore Jay Haynes, dynamic redshirt freshman David Eziomume, and highly-touted true freshman Gideon Davidson. While the group possesses explosive potential, they lack the extensive experience of their predecessor. Last season, Mafah was the reliable workhorse, the thunder to Klubnik's lightning. Now, Riley and Swinney must find a new rhythm on the ground to maintain a balanced attack and keep defenses honest. The success of their season may depend on how quickly the next generation of Tiger running backs can get up to speed. The first test will be a monumental one. The LSU Tigers roll into Memorial Stadium for a clash under the lights, a game that will serve as an immediate referendum on Clemson's ability to answer its biggest question. Can the Tigers find their footing in the run game, or will the backfield prove to be the Achilles' heel of a potential champion? The countdown has begun. Clemson's 2025 Gauntlet Aug. 30: vs. LSU (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC) Sept. 6: vs. Troy Sept. 13: at Georgia Tech Sept. 20: vs. Syracuse Oct. 4: at North Carolina Oct. 11: at Boston College Oct. 18: vs. SMU Nov. 1: vs. Duke Nov. 8: vs. Florida State Nov. 14: at Louisville Nov. 22: vs. Furman Nov. 29: at South Carolina This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
