Clemson basketball 2024-25 schedule: 3 biggest games for Tigers in the upcoming season

There have been further developments in the Clemson Tigers’ schedule for the 2024-25 season. The program was slated to play seven home games and seven road games in the fixture release in May. Now, they will play an additional game at home and on the road as part of the non-conference games.

The Tigers are coming off a promising 2023-24 season. They mounted huge wins over rivals in nonconference plays, garnered their second-highest-ranked road win in program history against UNC and secured a sixth seed in the ACC tournament.

Now, as Brad Brownell and the Tigers aim to top it in the 2024-25 season, let's look at the biggest matchups that could define their year.

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Biggest games for Clemson Tigers in the 2024-25 season

Cross-conference challenge against Kentucky

Clemson visited the Alabama Crimson Tide last year for the SEC/ACC Challenge and clinched an 85-77 win. They will now host their other rivals Kentucky Wildcats for the in-season series on Dec. 3.

The Tigers have played 16 games against Kentucky, having won just four contests. Even though they are 1-4 at home versus Kentucky, their last matchup came in 1997.

Moreover, Clemson could benefit from the consistency in their program. They have four returning core players and a coach heading towards his 15th season with the school. Meanwhile, Kentucky saw a complete roster shakeup this offseason and will be spearheaded by first-year coach Mark Pope.

The battle for bragging rights with South Carolina

Another checkpoint in Clemson’s 2024-25 run will come as part of the Palmetto Series game against the state rivals South Carolina. The school will face off against South Carolina in 13 different sports, earning a point for each win and eventually lifting the Palmetto trophy.

The Tigers clinched a 72-67 win last season against the Gamecocks despite South Carolina’s double-digit lead at a point. Lamont Paris will have a lot on his plate with the non-conference game. as only one starter from the previous season’s roster returns to the program.

The top player from the Dec. 7 game at Clemson, Meechie Johnson Jr, has returned to Ohio State.

Redemption against the Blue Devils

Duke basketball will be one of the most-watched college teams in the 2024-25 season, as the Blue Devils welcome the top recruit in the 2024 class, Cooper Flagg. Clemson will play Duke at Littlejohn Coliseum and will aim to redeem the last-second 72-71 loss to a Tyrese Proctor free throw.

Top playmaker Chase Hunter and rebounder Ian Schieffelin are returning for Clemson. However, Brownell needs to first fill out the roles of scoring leaders PJ Hall and Joseph Girard III.