Last season, Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin earned most improved player honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference and helped the Tigers get within one game of their first Final Four trip.
The senior doesn’t appear to be resting on his laurels. The 6-foot-8 forward finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the Tigers’ 70-55 win over San Francisco on Monday in the Sunshine Slam semifinals in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Schieffelin and Clemson aim for the tournament title Tuesday against unbeaten Penn State in what figures to be a classic contrast in styles.
The Tigers (5-1) will try to slow the game down and use their size advantage, specifically Schieffelin, to neutralize the Nittany Lions (6-0) and their pressure defense.
Schieffelin is averaging 12.8 points and 10.8 rebounds. He’s the only player in the Atlantic Coast Conference to average at least 11 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.
“He is so physically tough,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said of Schieffelin. “He just wills himself to rebound the basketball. We need him to score double-figure points.”
Guard Chase Hunter paces the Tigers’ offense at 16.3 ppg, while Cincinnati transfer Viktor Lakhin chips in 11.8.
Meanwhile, Penn State will attack with a potent backcourt and constant full-court pressure. It reached the championship game with an easy 85-66 win in Monday’s first semifinal against Fordham, establishing a 22-point lead with less than 10 minutes left and cruising from there.
Nick Kern came off the bench for 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Nittany Lions, leading five scorers in double figures.
“Nick Kern, he’s a hard-rocking dude. That’s the best way to explain him,” Penn State coach Mike Rhoades said. “He listens, he’s coachable, but in competition he’s just tough.”
Zach Hicks’ 15.8 ppg leads five Nittany Lions in double figures. The backcourt of Ace Baldwin (15.7) and Puff Johnson (11.5) can’t be overlooked. Penn State is averaging 96 ppg and entered Monday second in Division I with 13.8 steals per game.
This will be the first matchup of these two programs.
