Just a few weeks ago most were discussing how ugly the season could get for Brad Brownell’s Tigers. They were on a three game losing streak that saw them unable to even buy a bucket.
Since that time the Clemson faithful have seen the Tigers win three in a row, including a home win over then #5 Louisville. With this, the narrative has changed. Can the Tigers make more noise? What do the Tigers need to do to get into the post season?
Brad Brownell and the Tigers(14-12, 8-8 ACC) head to McCamish Pavilion on Tuesday for a 9pm matchup with Georgia Tech (13-14, 7-9 ACC). The game will be televised on the ACC Network. This is a must win game if they want to get above .500 in conference play and to keep any glimmer the NCAA tourney alive.
In the win over Boston College, Clemson’s leading scorer was Al-Amir Dawes with 22 points. Aamir Simms (12 points; 11 rebounds; three assists) and John Newman (11 points; 10 rebounds three assists) each doubled up for Clemson as well.
Georgia Tech is 2-2 in their last four games, with wins over Louisville and Wake Forest pancaked between losses to Pittsburgh and Syracuse. In their most recent loss to Syracuse, the Yellow Jacket’s Moses Wright posted a double-double with 33 points, 10 rebounds, and two assists. Michael Devoe was also in double-figures for the Yellow Jackets scoring 11 points while bringing down two rebounds, and four assists.
During the Tigers three game winning streak, they have been playing their best ball of the season. They’ve posted 72 plus points in each of those games. They’ve beaten a ranked Louisville team by 15 and followed that up with an 18-point road win over BC. This Tiger team is hot and on a roll, at what seems to be exactly the right time of year.
Georgia Tech could pose a few issues for Clemson, however. Because the Jackets are pretty good scorers themselves. They also will be in a comfortable home atmosphere. It is hard to win on the road in the ACC and the way the Tigers do that is to make the most of their scoring opportunities and keep up the stellar defense.
Projected Lineups:
Clemson:
#0 Clyde Trapp (Junior Guard)
#2 Al-Amir Dawes (Freshman Guard)
#15 John Newman, III (Sophomore Guard)
#13 Tevin Mack (Graduate Student Forward)
#25 Aamir Simms (Junior Forward)
Georgia Tech:
#0 Michael Devoe (Sophomore Guard)
#10 Jose Alvarado (Junior Guard)
#4 Jordan Usher (Junior Forward)
#5 Moses Wright (Junior Forward)
#1 James Banks (Senior Center)
This is huge game for the Tigers season without question, but all of them from this point will be. Brad Brownell and company should approach each of them as a playoff game. Hopefully this team has gelled now that they are healthy, is peaking at the right time, and play to the level we’ve seen over the past three games.
