My prediction for the game tomorrow night is Cal 74, Clemson 66. In the Bear's 13 victories, no opponent has scored more than 66 points. In their only loss, Michigan State erupted for 30 points in the final period to overcome a dozen point Cal lead, winning 78-72. The defense has improved a great deal this season as compared to 2023-24.
I don't expect Cal to play great offensively after an eleven-day layoff. I am expecting Marta Suarez to return to the lineup, but she has not played in eighteen days. I am also figuring that Clemson cannot match their best game of the season at North Carolina State. I watched the 1st half. The Tigers have a new coach in Shawn Poppie and he has brought in 9 transfers. Out of his nine-player rotation, eight are transfers and only one is a returnee from the prior regime. It could be that this group is beginning to find themselves and come together. All four quarters at NC State were close with only a one basket differential (2-3 points). Btw-Poppie has never coached against a former Pac 12 team.
The Tigers are 8-5 and have lost all five of their games against high caliber opponents. They have lost to four SEC teams and the Wolfpack from the ACC. Clemson was blown out by #3 South Carolina and # 19 Alabama by 32 & 34 points, respectively. The Crimson Tide held the Tigers to 1 of 15 from three-point range on their home court. The ACC squad also fell short at home to Florida (77-64). Clemson lost to Georgia by 7 at a neutral site. The 83-79 loss to #22 NC State on the road was impressive. The Tigers connected on 15 of 31 three-point attempts but still lost. The Bears have had two such games against Stanford & Temple when they hit 18 and 16 treys, respectively. The difference in the results was that Cal ran away from these opponents by 20 & 26 points. The Bears have dramatic triumphs over 5 of the 6 NCAA tournament teams that they have faced.
The way Clemson runs their offense, and their personnel remind me of Cal this year. Both teams pass the ball around the perimeter, set screens, etc. to open up the outside shot. The Bears average 10.5 treys while the Tigers register 8.4 per game. Each team is guard oriented. Clemson & Cal average 16.3 & 15.9 assists per game. Their shooting percentages are nearly identical on FG% & 3 PT%. The Tigers are superior on free throw shooting.
IMO, the Bears have three reasons to feel optimistic about the outcome of this matchup. First of all, the Tigers do not force 20 turnovers per game like several recent opponents. Clemson generates 13.5 opponent TOs per game and only caused 7 versus North Carolina State. Second, Cal should control the boards and will have two 6-3 "bigs" inside. Clemson employs one 6-2 power forward. Finally, the Bears have more firepower with five double-digit scorers in their starting lineup. The Tigers have two guards that average low double-digits. They have two others that add nine points +. The Bears outscore their opponents by 19.1 while the Tigers win by 11.7.
Roster Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site
Clemson's best offensive threats are two very fast guards. Their PG Loyal McQueen is 5-8 and an excellent passer. She tallies 13.4 ppg and loves to drive to the basket. She has an accurate pullup jumper and/or she'll pass the ball back outside to her three-point shooters. She is a grad transfer who averages 5.7 assists per contest. She rang up nine assists vs NCS. Mia Moore is lightning in a bottle. The junior transfer is only 5-6
but loves to take the ball all the way to the hoop. This young lady is 2nd in scoring (11.5), 2nd in rebounding (5.6), 1st in steals & 2nd in three-pointers made (17).
Their designated three-point specialist is 5-9 soph transfer, Hannah Kohn. Ninety percent of her field goal attempts are threes. The blond bomber contributes 9.9 points to the offense. She hit six treys in her last game and has 37 on the season. Another grad transfer, Summah Evans, is a 6-0 wing that adds 6.5 ppg and is 2nd in steals and 3rd in threes (16). Their primary post player is senior transfer, 6-2 Tessa Miller. She is a key player on their team. She leads in rebounds (7.1) and registers 9.5 points per game.
I for see 5-7 Kayla Williams defending fellow point guard, Loyal McQueen. Lulu Twidale will matchup with Mia Moore, but I don't think that she is fast enough to stay with her. Jayda Noble will probably come off the bench to aid in the defense of these skilled backcourt players. Perhaps HC Charmin Smith will employ the 1-3-1 zone, again, that busted open the Temple game in the third quarter. An obvious matchup would seem to be the two long distance shooters: Ioanna Krimili vs Hannah Kohn. Marta Suarez should dominate inside vs Summah Evans at forward and Michelle Onyiah should have the advantage against Tessa Miller. I hope that Onyiah can stay on the floor because she'll need to defend the basket against those two speedy guards.
I don't expect Cal to play great offensively after an eleven-day layoff. I am expecting Marta Suarez to return to the lineup, but she has not played in eighteen days. I am also figuring that Clemson cannot match their best game of the season at North Carolina State. I watched the 1st half. The Tigers have a new coach in Shawn Poppie and he has brought in 9 transfers. Out of his nine-player rotation, eight are transfers and only one is a returnee from the prior regime. It could be that this group is beginning to find themselves and come together. All four quarters at NC State were close with only a one basket differential (2-3 points). Btw-Poppie has never coached against a former Pac 12 team.
The Tigers are 8-5 and have lost all five of their games against high caliber opponents. They have lost to four SEC teams and the Wolfpack from the ACC. Clemson was blown out by #3 South Carolina and # 19 Alabama by 32 & 34 points, respectively. The Crimson Tide held the Tigers to 1 of 15 from three-point range on their home court. The ACC squad also fell short at home to Florida (77-64). Clemson lost to Georgia by 7 at a neutral site. The 83-79 loss to #22 NC State on the road was impressive. The Tigers connected on 15 of 31 three-point attempts but still lost. The Bears have had two such games against Stanford & Temple when they hit 18 and 16 treys, respectively. The difference in the results was that Cal ran away from these opponents by 20 & 26 points. The Bears have dramatic triumphs over 5 of the 6 NCAA tournament teams that they have faced.
The way Clemson runs their offense, and their personnel remind me of Cal this year. Both teams pass the ball around the perimeter, set screens, etc. to open up the outside shot. The Bears average 10.5 treys while the Tigers register 8.4 per game. Each team is guard oriented. Clemson & Cal average 16.3 & 15.9 assists per game. Their shooting percentages are nearly identical on FG% & 3 PT%. The Tigers are superior on free throw shooting.
IMO, the Bears have three reasons to feel optimistic about the outcome of this matchup. First of all, the Tigers do not force 20 turnovers per game like several recent opponents. Clemson generates 13.5 opponent TOs per game and only caused 7 versus North Carolina State. Second, Cal should control the boards and will have two 6-3 "bigs" inside. Clemson employs one 6-2 power forward. Finally, the Bears have more firepower with five double-digit scorers in their starting lineup. The Tigers have two guards that average low double-digits. They have two others that add nine points +. The Bears outscore their opponents by 19.1 while the Tigers win by 11.7.
Roster Clemson Tigers Official Athletics Site
Clemson's best offensive threats are two very fast guards. Their PG Loyal McQueen is 5-8 and an excellent passer. She tallies 13.4 ppg and loves to drive to the basket. She has an accurate pullup jumper and/or she'll pass the ball back outside to her three-point shooters. She is a grad transfer who averages 5.7 assists per contest. She rang up nine assists vs NCS. Mia Moore is lightning in a bottle. The junior transfer is only 5-6
but loves to take the ball all the way to the hoop. This young lady is 2nd in scoring (11.5), 2nd in rebounding (5.6), 1st in steals & 2nd in three-pointers made (17).
Their designated three-point specialist is 5-9 soph transfer, Hannah Kohn. Ninety percent of her field goal attempts are threes. The blond bomber contributes 9.9 points to the offense. She hit six treys in her last game and has 37 on the season. Another grad transfer, Summah Evans, is a 6-0 wing that adds 6.5 ppg and is 2nd in steals and 3rd in threes (16). Their primary post player is senior transfer, 6-2 Tessa Miller. She is a key player on their team. She leads in rebounds (7.1) and registers 9.5 points per game.
I for see 5-7 Kayla Williams defending fellow point guard, Loyal McQueen. Lulu Twidale will matchup with Mia Moore, but I don't think that she is fast enough to stay with her. Jayda Noble will probably come off the bench to aid in the defense of these skilled backcourt players. Perhaps HC Charmin Smith will employ the 1-3-1 zone, again, that busted open the Temple game in the third quarter. An obvious matchup would seem to be the two long distance shooters: Ioanna Krimili vs Hannah Kohn. Marta Suarez should dominate inside vs Summah Evans at forward and Michelle Onyiah should have the advantage against Tessa Miller. I hope that Onyiah can stay on the floor because she'll need to defend the basket against those two speedy guards.
