Clemson is bracing for what is expected to be its first real challenge of the season when it visits Georgetown on Saturday afternoon in Washington, D.C.

The Tigers (3-0) had little trouble in recording three lopsided home wins to start the campaign.

Despite coming off the bench, Ace Buckner (13.7 ppg) leads a balanced Tigers attack that includes five players averaging in double figures. Clemson head coach Brad Brownell has had the luxury of having 10 players in for at least 14 minutes per game, as his team has won by an average of 38.3 points per game.

A step up in difficulty begins on Saturday afternoon for the Tigers.

“Major step up in class,” Brownell said about facing the Hoyas (3-0). “They just went to Maryland, won at Maryland. That doesn’t happen very often. I’ve been there. It will be a great challenge on the road. It’s what we need to do after playing three games at home. We need to go on the road against a high major opponent and see how we do and learn and grow from it.”

Georgetown is off to its best start since 2019 in coach Ed Cooley’s third season at the helm.

“Saturday is a really, really important game,” Cooley said on Thursday. “A Big East-ACC matchup on our home floor. If you’re going to be a tournament team these are the games that the selection committee will come back to.”

Georgetown has failed in recent years to register marquee wins that would boost a potential postseason resume. The Hoyas’ last home nonconference victory over a power conference school came in December 2021 against Syracuse.

KJ Lewis has fit right in for Cooley’s Hoyas since transferring from Arizona. Lewis leads the team in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.0 rpg) and earned a spot on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll.

–Field Level Media