Despite the abundance of fifth-year veterans on the roster, Andrew Carr stands out as the sole player on this experienced Kentucky team who has faced the Clemson Tigers before. Mark Pope, with his nine seasons at Utah Valley State and BYU, has never faced Clemson as a head coach. However, that changes tonight when the Tigers host Kentucky in the Wildcats' first true road game of the 2024-25 season. Only Carr has been there before.

Carrying Past Experience into the Present

The Pennsylvania native had a 2-1 record against Clemson during his previous two seasons at Wake Forest. His performances in the wins were spectacular, but the lone loss was a different story. That defeat came on the road early in his junior season. However, Carr learned from his mistakes and dominated the Tigers in the following two home games - one just a month after the loss and the other near the end of his senior campaign.In December 2022 at Clemson (77-57 L), Carr scored 4 points, had 6 rebounds, and 1 turnover in 23 minutes, shooting 2-5 from the field and 0-3 from beyond the arc with 0 free throws. In January 2023 against Clemson (87-77 W), he had an outstanding performance with 18 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and 0 turnovers in 36 minutes, shooting 7-12 from the field, 1-2 from three-point range, and 3-4 from the free throw line. And in March 2024 against Clemson (81-76 W), he contributed 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 0 turnovers in 35 minutes, shooting 6-7 from the field and 2-3 from three-point range with 3-4 from the free throw line.

New Roster, Familiar Faces

Although this season's Clemson roster is different from the one that reached the Elite Eight last spring, there are a couple of holdover players that Carr knows well. Guard Chase Hunter and forward Ian Schieffelin were on the team in 2023-24 and have taken on even larger roles in 2024-25. Carr was matched up against the 6-foot-8 Schieffelin in last season's contest and is likely to face him again tonight. Schieffelin, who has been a star for Clemson this season and is averaging a double-double, had a relatively quiet game against Carr in March, scoring just 5 points (2-7 FG) and having 6 rebounds in 27 minutes. But he has upped his game in the offseason, particularly as a playmaker, presenting a physical challenge for Carr and the rest of Kentucky's big men. Having Brandon Garrison back in the rotation after missing the last game will be significant. However, Carr has already proven that he can shine against Clemson and Schieffelin in the past.

Looking for a Big Win

If Carr can deliver a similar performance in a Wildcat uniform, it could lead to a huge win for the 'Cats as they head into Saturday's showdown with Gonzaga in Seattle. Carr's experience and ability to perform against Clemson give Kentucky an edge. His past performances show that he can rise to the occasion and make a significant impact on the game. With the challenges presented by Schieffelin and the rest of the Clemson team, Carr will need to bring his A-game. But based on his past record, there is reason to believe that he can lead Kentucky to victory and continue his success against the Tigers.