March is here, and for Clemson and LSU, it brings excitement with a side of concern.
Both teams are gearing up for deep tournament runs, but injuries to key players could change everything.
Clemson’s Chase Hunter is dealing with a calf injury, while LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson is out with shin inflammation.
Their teams are adjusting, but with the biggest games ahead, their recoveries could make or break the season.
- Clemson’s Chase Hunter is recovering from a calf injury, and coach Brad Brownell is optimistic about his return ahead of the ACC tournament.
- LSU’s Flau’Jae Johnson is sidelined with shin inflammation and will miss the SEC tournament, but the team expects her to return for March Madness.
- Both teams are preparing for major postseason runs, with Clemson aiming for ACC success and LSU prioritizing Johnson’s recovery to strengthen their NCAA tournament bid.
Clemson’s Hot Streak and Hunter’s Injury Worries
Clemson has won six straight games, proving they can win in different ways—inside, outside, or with tough defense. They’ve already secured a double-bye in the ACC Tournament, which starts March 11. But now, they need Chase Hunter, their All-ACC guard, to be fully healthy.
Hunter injured his calf in practice before last week’s game against Notre Dame. Though he played, the injury still lingers. Clemson coach Brad Brownell gave an update but kept things cautious.
“It’s better,” Brownell said. “I’ll find out today where he is. He had treatment yesterday, and I do think it’s heading in the right direction. I’m optimistic he’s going to be fine and playing our games this week, but again, I have not seen him today.”
With Hunter limited, Clemson has leaned on Del Jones, a former four-star recruit, who stepped up in their win against Virginia. Jones scored eight points in 20 minutes, showing confidence and energy on the floor. Brownell praised his fearlessness.
“He doesn’t play like a freshman who’s afraid to make a mistake,” Brownell said.
As Clemson prepares for the ACC Tournament, they remain confident. They’ve found ways to win no matter the situation, which Brownell sees as their biggest strength.
“We’ve won different ways,” he said. “That’s why we’re a good team. We scored a lot of balls inside against Virginia on Saturday. We’ve had games where we’ve made 13, 14 threes and won. We’ve won with our defense. So, I think this year’s team is impressive. We can win a bunch of different ways, and we have so this year.”
With talks of expanding March Madness beyond its 68-team field, Brownell supports the idea, believing more players deserve the experience.
“It’s what kids dream about,” he said. “It’s something they talk about when they’re older. I don’t like the answer being no for so many guys.”
LSU Takes a Big Risk Resting Flau’Jae Johnson
While Clemson hopes Hunter can keep playing, LSU is taking a different approach. Flau’Jae Johnson, the team’s leading scorer at 18.9 points per game, is being shut down for the SEC Tournament to recover from shin inflammation.
Coach Kim Mulkey made the call, prioritizing her long-term health over the conference tournament.
“I know she’s trying to mask the pain she’s in,” Mulkey said. “It’s not a stress fracture. It’s just rest. We’ll get that inflammation down, and we’ll see the Flau’Jae we need when playoffs start.”
Johnson had been playing through pain since mid-February, even scoring 16 points against Texas on February 16, but her last game against Alabama showed signs of struggle. She finished with just six points on 2-for-12 shooting, her worst performance in over a year.
Without her, LSU lost 85-77 to Ole Miss, blowing a 13-point halftime lead. The Tigers missed her scoring and defense, but Mulkey remains focused on the bigger picture.
“Win or lose, we are still a No. 3 seed,” she said. “The most important thing is getting her healthy before the NCAA Tournament.”
Johnson, part of LSU’s 2023 national championship team, has high expectations.
“Anything less than a Final Four I’m not gonna be happy about because I know what this team is capable of,” she said.
The good news is LSU’s medical staff says it’s just inflammation, not a stress fracture, so with rest, she should be ready for the tournament starting March 18.
But will missing high-level competition in the SEC Tournament leave her rusty?
That’s the risk LSU is taking.
Can Clemson and LSU Overcome These Setbacks?
Both teams are built for big moments, but their March Madness hopes depend on the health of their stars.
Clemson has proved they can win in different ways, but without Hunter at full strength, they’ll have to keep adjusting.
LSU is betting that resting Johnson now will pay off later, but if she’s not 100% by March 18, they could struggle.
The unpredictability of March Madness makes every decision critical.
For Clemson and LSU, the pressure is on—not just to win but to get their best players back in time.
