Clemson Basketball: Stanford Preview

Game Information

When: Wednesday, February 3rd

Where: The Maples Pavilion, Palo Alto, California

What Time? 10 PM Est (plan your caffeine intake accordingly)

2025-2026 Season

Overall Record: 14-7

ACC Record: 3-5

Previous 3 Games

1/31: L – 88-80 vs Florida State @Away

1/28: L- 70 – 79 vs Miami @ Away

1/24: L – 66 – 78 vs Cal @ Home

Personnel

Starters

Bench

Key Analytics

(Per KenPom.com – National Rank in ())

KenPom Ranking – 80

Offense

Adjusted Efficiency: 114.6 (92)

Adjusted Tempo: 67.3 (182)

Average Possession Length: 17.5 (186)

Effective Field Goal%: 49.9 (236)

Offensive Rebound%: 33.5 (92)

Three Point%: 34.1 (173)

Two Point %: 49 (275)

Defense

Adjusted Efficiency: 104.7 (80)

Adjusted Tempo: 67.3 (182)

Average Possession Length: 17.4 (185)

Effective Field Goal%: 51.8 (212)

Offensive Rebound%: 29.3 (112)

Three Point%: 33.8 (171)

Two Point %: 52.4 (216)

Clemson Advantages

Effective Field Goal %

Clemson Offense: 117.3 (89)

Stanford Defense: 51.8 (212)

Notes:

Clemson is an average field goal percentage team. Things can get a bit gritty, and that’s fine. Stanford’s defense should grease the offense’s gears because they are bad at stopping the other team from putting the ball in the basket.

Stanford needs to keep Clemson’s offense in check while they try to crack one of the best defenses in the country; color me skeptical.

Effective Field Goal %

Clemson Defense: 46 (15)

Stanford Offense: 49.9 (236)

Notes:

Oooof, another tough stat for Stanford to overcome. They struggle to score under the best of circumstances, and Clemson’s defense is far from the best of circumstances.

Their best bet is Clemson’s offense misfiring. I don’t think the Stanford offense can keep up without help from the Tigers, which makes the next stat even more concerning for the homestanding team.

Two Point %

Clemson Offense: 55.5 (66)

Stanford Defense: 52.4 (216)

Notes:

Note to Clemson, this is how you beat Stanford.

The Tigers need to pound the Cardinal inside. Stanford is going to try to bait the Clemson offense into a three-point shooting contest. It’s up to the experienced Tigers to not take the bait, stay the course, and hit the defense where it doesn’t want to be hit. Right in the paint.

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Stanford Advantages

Location, Location, Location!

It’s a long flight out to Palo Alto for guys who don’t fit well into airplanes. It’s a 10 PM tip, East Coast time, and the atmosphere will rival a mausoleum. They knocked off a then #16 Louisville at home on January 2nd and gave North Carolina all they wanted in a wild 95-90 home loss on January 14, with Ebuka Okorie going off for 36 and Ryan Agarwal and Jeremy Dent-Smith chipping in with 20 spots.

These west coast swings are brutal. Hopefully, the Tigers’ west coast refugees from Nevada and Utah lead the team while the east coast natives try to keep their eyes open. If the Tigers bring their “C” game, this one could get touchy late.

Predictions

KenPom

Clemson: 71

Stanford: 67

Drew

Clemson: 75

Stanford: 67

Looking into my Crystal Ball

The first half is touchy. The Tigers struggle to find their shooting touch because of the West Coast gravity.

Fear not, though, this team doesn’t need to hit shots to win. Usually, I would say Stanford needs to ugly up the game, but Clemson thrives under those circumstances and pulls away at the foul line late (this is called manifesting, folks).